Selena Gomez Opens Up About Her Personal Life

In a Business of Fashion interview done through FaceTime, Selena Gomez revealed much about her personal life and her struggle with mental health. 6 things we all learned about Selena:

On crediting her mom with surviving through the early years of her career:

“I’ve been doing it since I was 7. To be honest I don’t think I know anything different. It was good training, but I’m going to give the credit to my mom, because she was very aware, for some reason, of what could happen to me. She always said to me that I should have fun, and if it wasn’t fun or if I wasn’t learning something or I wasn’t growing as a person, she wanted to take me out of it. She said, 'This entire industry is going to tell you you’re perfect and you’re great, and I’m going to tell you that you’re no better or bigger than anyone. You are the person that you are, and you are very lucky.'"

On the dark side of fame:

“I remember just feeling really violated when I was younger, even just being on the beach. I was maybe 15 or 16 and people were taking pictures — photographers. I don’t think anyone really knew who I was. But I felt very violated and I didn’t like it or understand it, and that felt very weird, because I was a young girl and they were grown men..”

On finding support from people you respect rather than just anyone:

“I asked teachers, coaches, managers, people that I respected [because of] the way they’ve lived their life. I asked them, 'How did you get to this place? What were you like when you were 25? What were the things that you were thinking about?' And then from there, being with like-minded people.”

On having a small social circle that are trustworthy and respect boundaries:

“You have to figure out the people that are in your circle. I feel like I know everybody but have no friends. [Laughs] I have like three good friends that I can tell everything to, but I know everyone.”

On struggling with mental health issues, regardless of her fame:

“I think I would have all of the same issues. I think mine are amplified just a little bit only because of the public aspect, but I do think they’re very similar. When it comes to the internal stuff - the insecurities, growing up, friendships, family, mental health, all of that stuff.”

On her Instagram fame:

“I don’t even understand it, no. I really don’t. I love the app, and that’s all that happened. I think I was probably too vocal on it. Maybe too real, and have gotten myself into a little bit of trouble occasionally, but I think people liked the authenticity that I represented -- poorly sometimes. I don’t have a formula, I don’t really think about it. Maybe that’s why, because I don’t think about it.”