Selena Gomez has firmly shut down body shaming speculation after appearing at the American French Film Festival in Los Angeles. The singer and actress, known for her role in Disney Channel’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ walked the red carpet in a stylish asymmetrical black dress. Some TikTok users, however, took to the platform to speculate that Gomez was attempting to hide her figure while posing on the red carpet, with hands placed on her hips.
While the specific TikTok posts have been removed, Gomez responded with a powerful message, stating, “I’m so sick of this. I’m not a model and I never will be. It’s not my job to be. I’m not supposed to be stick thin. I’m not that person. It’s not my job to be that person. I’m not a victim. I’m just a human.”
Gomez has been open about her health journey, having been diagnosed with lupus in 2013 and receiving a kidney transplant in 2017. Her latest response to body shaming centers around a condition known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which she suffers from. As per the pharmaceutical company MSD, SIBO occurs when an abnormal increase of bacteria in the small intestine causes digestive issues like diarrhea and malabsorption of nutrients, often leading to uncomfortable symptoms like abdominal bloating.
This isn’t the first time Gomez has boldly addressed body image pressures. In past TikTok videos, she has declared, “I’m not a model and I never will be.” She has also acknowledged the fluctuating weight she experiences due to her lupus medication, stating that “I tend to gain water weight when I’m on it, but that’s normal. When I go off of it, I tend to lose it. To anyone who is struggling with anything, whether it’s mental health, weight, or anything else, just know that you are beautiful and you are amazing.”
In January of this year, Gomez took to her Instagram Stories to share a comparison of past and recent swimsuit photos. She wrote, “I’m not perfect. But I love myself… sometimes I forget that’s okay.”
Selena Gomez’s courageous and candid approach to discussing her health struggles and body image is a refreshing reminder that self-acceptance and celebrating one’s individuality is paramount, regardless of societal pressures.
