‘I felt pressured to show skin’ – Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez reflects on the pressures of being a young woman in the industry and how she’s taken control of her own life. Gomez revealed that at certain points, she felt pressured to show skin.

The former Disney child star admitted in an interview with Allure magazine that in the past, there were expectations for her to be overtly sexual in the visuals for her music, even though she wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I just did things that weren’t really me,” the Rare singer said.

“There was pressure to seem more adult on my [2015] album, Revival. I felt the need to show skin and I really don’t think I was that person”, Gomez said.

Gomez has said she has since learned a lot more about who she is; including gaining a better understanding of her bipolar disorder; a mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings. Those with bipolar disorder experience emotional highs, known as mania, and lows, or depression.

“I have always had so many different emotions and I didn’t know how to control them quite well,” she said. “It was complicated. But I think I’m happy to understand it. Once I did find out more about who I was, I was proud. I also felt comfortable knowing that I wasn’t alone, and I was going to get through it. So I will always be passionate about that. It’s something I will continue to talk about.”

Now, with music, acting, producing and her new makeup line Rare Beauty, Gomez, 28, says she’s in full control of every aspect of her life.

“I am in full control of my life and everything that I do, what is out there, everything,” she says. “So I would like to say, yes. I’m in charge of everything in my life.”