Selena Gomez reveals how a trip to Australia had a devastating impact on her mental health: ‘It’s unrealistic to expect a woman’s body not to change’

Selena Gomez has shared the intense toll paparazzi photos from her 2018 trip to Sydney had on her.

The 31-year-old artist visited the port city in March that year while on her Stars Dance Tour, and during her time off she was photographed relaxing on a yacht in a bikini.

Selena recalled that internet trolls had a field day over the photos of her exposed scars from her 2017 kidney transplant surgery and her naturally changing shape as she entered her mid-20s.

Speak with Fast companythe former Disney prodigy discussed the immense pressure she felt as a result of online scrutiny.

Gomez says she was aware of the criticism of the paparazzi photos, and took her social media hiatus to highlight society’s unattainable beauty standards.

The 31-year-old artist visited the port city in March that year while on her Stars Dance Tour, and during her time off she was photographed relaxing on a yacht in a bikini.

“The beauty myth – an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless cycle of hopelessness, self-consciousness and self-loathing as she tries to live up to society’s impossible definition of flawless beauty,” she explained.

Gomez told the outlet that she was already struggling with body image issues after undergoing an awkward photo shoot during which she realized she no longer had a “teenage body.”

“No sample size was appropriate, and that would embarrass me,” she explained.

“Although, how unrealistic is it to expect a normal woman’s body not to change?”

Selena recalled that internet trolls had a field day over paparazzi photos of her exposed scars from her 2017 kidney transplant surgery and her naturally changing shape as she entered her mid-20s

Gomez says she was aware of the criticism of the paparazzi photos, and broke her social media hiatus to address society’s unattainable beauty standards

‘There were times when I didn’t feel positive about the way I looked because of what I saw on Instagram. ‘Wow, I wish my body looked like this.’

The artist, known for her unfeigned openness about her mental health, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020.

‘I have had a very tough season. It was my highs and my lows, and I didn’t know what to do, so I had no control over it,” she told the publication.

“The beauty myth – an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless cycle of hopelessness, self-consciousness and self-loathing as she tries to live up to society’s impossible definition of flawless beauty,” she explained.

Gomez told the outlet that she was already struggling with body image issues after undergoing an awkward photo shoot during which she realized she no longer had a “teenage body.”

‘I would like to cancel things. It was just an anguished feeling.

“That’s why when I heard my (bipolar) diagnosis, it was just, ‘Oh, okay, I feel a little bit relieved, I understand it a little bit more.’

‘I got a second opinion. I went to doctors. I’m lucky to have people who can help me survive every day.’

“No sample size was appropriate, and that would embarrass me,” she explained. “Although, how unrealistic is it to expect a normal woman’s body not to change?”