Selena is THE Lady in Red
design: Gianna Castagliuolo
The queen of 2010s pop music is making her triumphant comeback, and we’re all here for it.
by LAUREN SMETANA ★ SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
Selena Makes Her Mark
As we know, Selena Gomez was and still is one of the most iconic and influential pop music artists of our time. And if that wasn’t enough, she is also a gifted actress who has starred in several successful television series and films. And honestly, if Wizards of Waverly Place wasn't a constant watch in your childhood, have you even really lived?
Selena’s career seemed to take flight in 2013 when she released her debut single, “Come & Get It.” Within the same year, she took on her first world tour for her album, “Stars Dance”, and was met with great success as her fan base grew by the minute. By 2014, she served as a role model to girls all over the world. Her radiant energy and positivity through her personality and performances has molded her into the household name she is today.
It seemed as though the world halted to a literal standstill in 2015 when Selena revealed she had been diagnosed with Lupus. This meant Selena would be taking a break from her career, as it took an unimaginable toll on her physical and mental health. In 2017, Selena underwent a Kidney transplant, resulting in her best friend, Francia Raisa, being her kidney donor. From this point on, and for years to come, she would speak openly and honestly about her struggles with mental health.
Channeling Struggles Into Success
In an effort to change the narrative on beauty standards and be an advocate for mental health, in 2020 Selena announced the launch of Rare Beauty—a cosmetic company that focused on self love, inclusivity, and conversations surrounding mental health. She was instantly met with support from many who sold out her products within minutes. I, myself, along with the majority of TikTok, have fallen victim to the Rare Beauty liquid blush obsession.
And if Rare Beauty wasn’t enough to brighten our lives up amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Selena simultaneously announced the premiering of Selena + Chef on HBO Max, one of my all time favorite shows. She would then come to have several recognizable chefs and personalities guest appear on her show. This included Jamie Oliver, Rachael Ray, Aarón Sánchez, and the rest continues. Her show serves as a light and enjoyable distraction from the peak of the infamous pandemic and it still does so today.
Around exactly one year later, Hulu’s award winning mystery Only Murders In The Building aired for the first time. Selena was then cast as the young and curious Mabel Mora, one of the starring roles in the series. The show is extremely successful with a large audience—a good percentage of them being long-term admirers of Selena. While this performance showcased the range in her acting abilities, it also connected her to an older and more mature audience. She truly has gone above and beyond from her former Alex Russo role.
Gomez Strikes Gold
Many fans are now highly anticipating new music from Selena, as in August of this year, put out a new hit single. This song titled, “Single Soon” is fun, flirty, and fresh. Selena stated in an interview with Variety that, “she wanted to give her fans a fun end of the summer song to enjoy as they’ve been patiently waiting for new music”, and she definitely delivered. The music video for the track depicts a carefree and joyful Selena with a playful vibe— nostalgic to the Selena we first came to know and love.
All attention and admiration was focused on Selena at this year’s MTV VMAs, as she stepped out in a show stopping red dress—seriously… bury me in that dress. The cherry on top of the night was when Selena along with singer and rapper, Rema, took home the first ever Moonman for “Best Afrobeats” for their hit single “Calm Down.” Everyone in the audience, and presumably viewers at home, could be seen grinning ear to ear, displaying the immense support and long-lasting love that we all share for Selena.