Selena Gomez Rejects Pressure to Recreate 2016 Look
Selena Gomez Rejects Pressure to Recreate 2016 Look
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Rare Impact Fund has raised more than $30 million for youth mental-health organizations since it was established in 2020.
2
Gomez said she admires the confidence of her 13-year-old sister, Gracie, who is excited to try new things while also understanding that she does not need makeup or other changes to feel confident.
3
Reflecting on her 2016 appearance, Gomez said the period was hectic and joked that she wore a smoky eye because she was “trying to be cool.”
4
Gomez described her marriage to Benny Blanco as still being in the “honeymoon stage,” saying she values having a partner who listens, meets her where she is emotionally and brings a joyful, spontaneous energy to their relationship.
5
The 2016 period that fans frequently revisit also included the success of Gomez’s album “Revival,” which produced the Billboard Hot 100 top-10 singles “Hands to Myself” and “Same Old Love,” as well as her becoming Instagram’s most-followed person at age 23.
Selena Gomez is rejecting calls to recreate her signature 2016 look, telling PEOPLE that she has no plans to
The 34-year-old singer and Rare Beauty founder said fans frequently want her to recreate that era's smoky-eyed aesthetic, but she's moving forward with a more natural approach. PEOPLE reported that Gomez described the 2016 period as hectic and said she wore heavy makeup partly because she was trying to be cool.
From Iconic Smoky Eyes to Embracing Natural Beauty
During the mid-2010s, Gomez's bold makeup looks dominated social media and became part of her brand identity. E! Online noted that fans remain fixated on her aesthetic from her 20s, often sharing throwback images. But Gomez said that era — which included the album Revival and hits like "Hands to Myself" and "Same Old Love" — was chaotic and tied to a specific moment in her life that doesn't represent who she is now.
Her current style reflects a shift toward understated elegance and natural beauty, though PEOPLE noted she still enjoys wearing full makeup when she chooses. Gomez explained that this evolution represents her comfort with aging and accepting changes to her appearance, including the natural effects of time.
Building Rare Beauty Into a Mental Health Platform
Beyond cosmetics, Gomez has transformed Rare Beauty into an advocacy vehicle for youth mental health. PEOPLE reported that the Rare Impact Fund has raised more than $30 million for mental health organizations since its 2020 launch. This mission earned her the inaugural Beauty Impact Award, cementing her role as more than just a makeup brand founder.
The award reflects Gomez's commitment to using her platform to destigmatize mental health struggles. Her approach contrasts sharply with the pressure-filled image culture that dominated during her 2016 peak, when she was Instagram's most-followed person at age 23.
Finding Confidence Beyond Appearance
Gomez said she draws inspiration from her 13-year-old sister Gracie, who approaches style with curiosity while understanding that makeup and physical changes aren't required for confidence. PEOPLE reported that this perspective has shaped how Gomez thinks about her own aging process. She's embracing the idea that bodies naturally change and that's not something to fight.
In her personal life, Gomez credits her marriage to producer Benny Blanco with supporting this mindset. She described their relationship as still in the "honeymoon stage" and emphasized that she values a partner who listens, meets her emotionally, and brings spontaneity and joy. That foundation gives her the security to reject external demands about how she should look.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
18
Articles
11
Reach
29
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
