WOMAN OF 2017:
SELENA GOMEZ
Billboard has named Selena Gomez Woman of the Year 2017. She has been battling lupus for years and underwent kidney surgery early this year. Despite that, she continues to enjoy the success of her music career despite neither releasing an album this year or going on tour.
Gomez was bestowed the honor in Billboard’s annual Women in Music dinner and awards ceremony last Thursday night in Los Angeles. Gomez, 25, also takes the cover of the music magazine’s latest issue. “I don’t know how to explain the place that I’m in other than to say I just feel full,” the former Disney princess told the magazine during her interview for the cover story.
A number of celebrities had a hard time transitioning from a child star to a teen star without alcohol and drugs. Gomez did not go through those vices but she once went to rehab for anxiety.
She was first discovered at the age of seven, getting a gig on “Barney and Friends” along with Demi Lovato. Gomez and Lovato then graduated from being the purple dinosaur’s friends to Disney princesses.
After shedding her Disney princess image, Gomez became a sexy and sultry singer and the person with the most Instagram followers (130 million), beating best friend Taylor Swift and reality star Kim Kardashian. But the pop princess was once keen on taking a break from social media. After all, her life—especially when complemented with the presence of Justin Bieber—is already very public and is generating so much interest. “I love Kevin (Systrom), the creator of Instagram, and he has gotten mad at me in the past when I was like, ‘I have to take a break from it,’” Gomez shared. “But removing myself was about spending time with things that matter. I’ve been hanging out with an old friend, and basically every conversation, we want it to be intentional. Meaningful conversations remind you that it’s all within where we are. It’s not about what’s happening with everything else.”
And speaking of Bieber, the two have sparked romance rumors once again as they have often been photographed hanging out together, even before Gomez’s breakup with The Weeknd became official last month.
“I cherish people who have really impacted my life,” was all Gomez would say about Bieber.
And there was no drama with her separation from The Weeknd. “Something that I’m really proud of is that there’s such a true friendship (between me and The Weeknd). I truly have never experienced anything like that in my life. We ended it as best friends, and it was genuinely about encouraging and caring (for each other), and that was pretty remarkable for me.”
Through it all, Gomez said she’s really proud to have survived everything she went through in life. In fact, she enjoys looking at how Lovato, 25; Nick, 25, and Joe Jonas, 28; and Miley Cyrus, 25, are living their lives. She grew up with these artists.
“I’m really proud of where I am right now. I handle things in a healthy way. I can enjoy where I’m at... I like being a part of the world. People are so terrified of other people. I see it in my generation a lot. There’s so much anxiety and angst, and the pressure just keeps getting worse,” said Gomez.
“(But) I’m proudest of not becoming jaded. I have every reason to be like, ‘F**k all of you.’ And I don’t. I’m going to have the bad days where I don’t want to leave my bedroom—but I’m ready for them.