Selena Gomez: Vulnerability as a Form of Bravery

Known for her relatability, openness, and authenticity, Selena Gomez rose to fame and overcame personal battles of health and public scrutiny. Her career began as a teen idol and later grew into a pop icon, actress, and businesswoman. She seamlessly transitioned from her Disney image into one of the highest ranked artists in America. She was listed on the Power 100 list of the most powerful women in entertainment. She has openly discussed the emotional toll of fame and her struggles with anxiety and depression. In 2017, she was diagnosed with lupus erthematosus and took a hiatus from work for a kidney transplant from her actress friend, Francia Raisa. In April 2020, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 

Gomez has publicly shared her personal journey, how she battled with bipolar disorder and her life threatening illness. She has been known to not hold back or sugar coat explorations of mental illness. In her 2022 documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, she intimately reveals her painful life struggles and authentically lets viewers in. 

Emotional risk is a type of courage that is tied to vulnerability and letting go, according to Brené Brown, a modern author and researcher. Brown discusses the dangerous idea of perfection and how courage is found in the ability to be seen as our true, imperfect selves. She argues that true bravery requires stepping into uncertainty and that emotional risk is a developed emotional competency rather than an inborn reflex. Selena Gomez never pretends to have it all together and is brave for allowing all her fans in. She continues to have widespread appeal across television, film, music, and business.