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Somebody break out the streamers and cake — we’ve got something to celebrate! On March 17, 2023, Selena Gomez broke the record for most followed woman ever on Instagram, with over 400 million followers. The Only Murders in The Building star is the first woman to reach such a high following on Instagram, passing Kylie Jenner, who previously held the title with 382 million followers. Gomez celebrated this achievement by posting a slideshow to her account including photos with her fans, and the caption, “Wishing I could hug all 400 million of you.” Your fans wish they could hug you too, Selena. 

Gomez now ranks fourth in the list of most followed accounts on Instagram overall, behind the official @Instagram with 620 million followers, and soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with 563 million and 443 million followers, respectively. 

Right before this huge achievement, Gomez decided to take a break from social media, possibly due to the drama swirling between her, Hailey Bieber, and Kylie Jenner. In a TikTok live stream on Feb. 23, she stated “I’m 30, I’m too old for this,” as she explained why she would be deleting social media for the sake of her mental health. The break didn’t last too long, though — she posted a new Instagram on Feb. 26 and a TikTok on March 4.

This wasn’t Gomez’s first social media break, and it probably won’t be her last. Gomez has been extremely open about the harm the media has caused her, and how it’s important for her to stay distanced when needed. 

Of course, it’s not a new thing for celebrities to take social media breaks, but it’s very refreshing to see how vulnerable Gomez has been about how the media has affected her while growing up in the spotlight. In a 2019 interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Gomez said, “Fixating on all these comments and letting this stuff in was affecting me.” She also said “it would make [her] depressed… and look at [her] body differently.” 

Gomez has always been open about social media being harmful, and especially right now, with the supposed drama sparked between her, Bieber, and Jenner, it’s more important than ever for Gomez to take a break from the media and recoup. Thankfully though, her social media breaks haven’t stopped her from becoming the most followed woman on Instagram. Gomez has worked so hard and has been honest about her journey, and all of her fans surely appreciate it.

Congratulations on such a big achievement, Selena, you deserve it!

Sabrina Bernard

Queen's U '25

Sabrina Bernard is a writer Her Campus' National Program. She writes lifestyle content on the site, including entertainment, news, and experiences. Beyond Her Campus, Sabrina is heavily involved at her university, where she is an Orientation Coordinator for the largest not-for-profit orientation in Canada, she is the Co-President of the English Department Student Council, and models for her university's Sustainable Fashion club. She also volunteers at the local Animal Shelter when she goes home. Sabrina is currently a junior at Queen's University, majoring in English Literature with a certificate in French. She has also been a panelist at several literary conferences for her works. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys reading, playing with her cat Poppy, and petting every cat she can find on the streets. She's also a huge Modern Family fan and has rewatched the series multiple times.