Sometimes the invisible wounds are the ones that cut the deepest and take the longest to heal.
This much is true for Selena Gomez, who has received body-shaming comment after body-shaming comments throughout the years.
The singer-slash-actress-slash-beauty mogul revealed that she isn't immune to criticism, in fact, she is deeply hurt by them
"My weight would constantly fluctuate because I would be on certain medications. And obviously, people just ran with it," she said during an interview for Apply TV+'s documentary series titled "Dear..."
"It was like they couldn't wait to find a thing to bring me down. I was being shamed for gaining weight because of my lupus."
Gomez was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 2014, The Independent reported. She has been very vocal about her struggles with her condition and explained how it has affected her weight throughout the years.
"I lied. I would go online and I would post a picture of myself and I would say, 'It doesn't matter. I'm not accepting what you're saying,'" Gomez remarked.
"All the while, being in the room posting and crying my eyes out because nobody deserves to hear those things."
According to reports, the reason why the "Lose You to Love Me" singer kept her pain away from the public eye and kept a brace face was that she wanted to set an example for those who experience the same criticism.
"Though I was posting these things saying it doesn't bother me, because I didn't want it to bother other people who are experiencing the same thing, getting shamed for what they look like, who they are, who they love," she continued.
"I just think it's so unfair. I don't think that anybody deserves to feel less than."
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According to Today, Gomez has repeatedly set a great example and encouraged people who struggled with their body image.
"I just want to say and encourage anyone out there who feels any sort of shame for exactly what you're going through when nobody knows the real story: You are beautiful and you are wonderful."
This advocacy can also be seen through her makeup brand Rare Beauty, whose products' names are always linked to positivity, as well as her music.
Gomez released "My Mind & Me," a documentary that delved into her private life, and showed her during her most vulnerable moments.
The documentary was accompanied by a song of the same name. The song opens with this: "Wanna hear a part of my story/I tried to hide in the glory and sweep it under the table so you would never know."
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