Selena Gomez [1] seems to be in a great place in her life right now [2]. She's slowly releasing singles from her upcoming album [3], she executive-produced the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why [4], and she's in a relationship with The Weeknd [5]. More and more we are seeing Selena open up about her life and speak candidly about how she found herself and "learned the power of saying no." The 25-year-old is on the cover of InStyle's September issue [6], and she's opening up about the place she is at in her life right now and how she felt after returning to the spotlight after taking a break [7].
On Stepping Back Into the Limelight After Her 90-Day Break
- "When I came out, I was asked to go to the American Music Awards, and everyone around me was like, 'Do whatever makes you comfortable.' I didn't want my fans to have a negative view of taking care of yourself, so I just went in head-on, and I'll tell you, the first time stepping on that carpet was so overwhelming. I felt like my back was sweating."
- "Everything I cared about, I stopped caring about. I came out, and it felt like, 'OK, I can only go forward.' And there are still days. I go to therapy. I believe in that and talking about where you are. But I'm in a really, really healthy place.
On All the Controversy Surrounding 13 Reasons Why
- "I didn't think it would even remotely blow up the way that it did, both positively and, obviously, controversially. So in Season 2, we answer a lot of the questions that were brought up."
- "I think if our show is able to start a conversation at the dinner table, even if it's just 'That's terrible' or 'That was great,' it's still starting a conversation. It scared people, but it's really important."
On the Role of Social Media in Today's Society
- "Because of social media, because of all the pressure that girls have, it's so difficult. It's good to be connected, to see things, and to get a sense of what your friends are up to. But it also allows people to think they need to look or be a certain way... now it feels more zoomed-in — you have ugly people trying to get negative things from you, and the energy makes you feel bad about yourself. You can't help it. It's very hard to find out who you are during all that mess and pressure."
- "I had a choice to let it drive me crazy and tear me down or just allow myself to have real conversations with people. So I came to a place where it's like, I have this platform, and I can still do what I love and connect to people who feel like they grew up with me. I won't share things that I don't want to."
On Being a Child Star and Turning 25
- "I think it's really dysfunctional to be in the industry at a young age where you're figuring out who you are. I don't recommend it."
- "I kind of wish numbers didn't exist sometimes, because I feel like I'm 15 some days, and then other days I wake up and I'm 40. It's so weird, how one year can change everything."
On Her Relationship With The Weeknd
- "It's great. I don't depend on one area of my life to make me happy. It's really important for me to love and nourish my friends and family and to make sure that I never get influenced by a guy. I've wanted to be in a strong headspace for years, and I really wasn't. Before, I was so young and easily influenced, and I'd feel insecure. You want someone to add to your life, not to complete you, if that makes sense. I'm lucky because he's more of a best friend than anything else."