People love a transformation. We’re obsessed with the "before and after," the dramatic weight loss, or the sudden glow-up. But when it comes to the discourse surrounding Selena Gomez, the conversation usually takes a darker, more intrusive turn.
Honestly, the internet can be a nightmare.
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If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the comments. People zoom in on her face, her midsection, and her chest, speculating about everything from plastic surgery to "Ozempic face." It’s a lot. And frankly, most of it misses the point entirely.
The Reality of Fluctuating Bodies
Here’s the thing: Selena Gomez doesn’t have a "static" body. She’s been incredibly open about her battle with Lupus, an autoimmune disease that basically turns your own body against you.
It’s not just a "tired" feeling. It’s organ damage. It’s joint pain. It’s a kidney transplant (shoutout to Francia Raisa).
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Most importantly for this specific conversation, it involves heavy-duty medication. Selena has explained—multiple times, though she shouldn’t have to—that her meds cause her to retain an immense amount of water weight.
"When I'm taking it, I tend to hold a lot of water weight, and that happens very normally. When I'm off of it, I tend to kind of lose weight," she shared in a TikTok Live.
When you see photos of Selena Gomez looking "different," you’re often just seeing a person managing a chronic illness. Sometimes she’s "thinner," sometimes she’s "curvier." It depends on her health, her treatment cycle, and, you know, the fact that she’s a woman in her 30s who likes to eat good food.
Why the Internet is Obsessed with Her Curves
The obsession with her "new look" or her curves isn't just about fashion. It’s about a culture that still hasn’t figured out how to handle a woman who doesn't fit a size zero year-round.
Take the 2025 SAG Awards. Selena showed up looking incredible in a custom Celine gown. The midnight blue fabric hugged her in all the right places, and naturally, the trolls came out of the woodwork. They weren't talking about her performance in Emilia Pérez or Only Murders in the Building. They were talking about her chest and her weight.
It got so bad that Taylor Lautner—her ex and longtime friend—actually had to step in and tell people to be "a little bit nicer."
The truth? Selena has embraced her proportions. She’s stopped trying to hide behind oversized clothes 24/7. Her stylist, Erin Walsh, has been leaning into "Old Hollywood" silhouettes that highlight a fuller bust and a defined waist. This isn't "shocking"—it's just a woman owning her silhouette.
Moving Past the Speculation
If you're looking for "secrets" or "diet tips," you're looking in the wrong place. Selena’s "secret" is basically survival and self-acceptance.
She’s built an entire empire, Rare Beauty, on the idea that we need to stop trying to look like everyone else. It’s kind of ironic, right? The person the world won't stop judging is the one telling us to stop judging ourselves.
She’s also been vocal about the "moon face" caused by steroids (prednisone is a common Lupus treatment). This medication can cause fat redistribution, making the face appear rounder and the torso or chest appear fuller. It’s a medical side effect, not a "lifestyle choice."
What we can actually learn from her:
- Health over aesthetics: She’s stated she’d rather be healthy and take her meds than be "skinny" and sick.
- Vulnerability is a superpower: Sharing her Bipolar diagnosis and Lupus struggles has changed the game for celebrity transparency.
- Boundaries matter: She frequently deletes Instagram because the "mean girls" and the body-shamers get to be too much.
We need to stop acting like a celebrity’s body is a public project for us to critique. Whether she’s at the Golden Globes in a velvet Valentino or at a Rare Beauty launch in a sundress, she’s navigating a body that changes because of a serious illness.
Actionable Steps for a Better Online Experience
If you find yourself getting sucked into the "body check" rabbit hole or feeling bad about your own reflection after scrolling through celeb news, here’s how to reset:
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- Unfollow "snark" accounts. If an account's entire brand is circling "flaws" or speculating on plastic surgery, it’s rotting your brain. Hit unfollow.
- Learn the signs of chronic illness. Understanding how Lupus or PCOS affects the body helps you realize that "weight gain" is often just "symptom management."
- Support brands with a mission. If you like Selena’s message, support the Rare Impact Fund. They’re actually trying to fix the mental health crisis that social media fuels.
- Practice radical neutrality. Next time you see a photo of a celebrity, try to comment on the art, the acting, or even the shoes. The body is just the vessel.
The conversation about Selena Gomez shouldn't be about her measurements. It should be about how she’s managed to stay one of the most successful women in the world while her own biology tries to slow her down. That's the real story.