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 she later grew into a pop icon, actress, and businesswoman. She seamlessly transitioned from her image as a Disney star into one of the highest ranked artists in America. She was listed in 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 erythematosus 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 author and researcher Brené Brown. 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 embracing emotional risk is a developed competency rather than an inborn reflex. Selena Gomez never pretends to have it all together and is brave for inviting the world into her personal life. She continues to have widespread appeal across television, film, music, and business.