We first knew her as Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place, but the real Selena Gomez has shone through in the years since she left Disney Channel behind. Not only has Selena shared her struggle with depression and anxiety with her fans, shining a light for all who struggle with mental health issues, but she’s also quietly showing off how happy she is with boyfriend The Weeknd.
In an interview for the September issue of InStyle, Selena described the 90 days she spent in treatment last year after canceling her tour as “the best thing that I ever could’ve done.” She elaborated, “I was in the countryside and never did my hair; I took part in equine therapy, which is so beautiful. And it was hard, obviously. But I knew what my heart was saying, and I thought, ‘OK, I think this has helped me become stronger for other people.'”
Selena also got real about her insecurities, largely brought on by social media. “That’s what I work on in therapy the most. Because of social media, because of all the pressure that girls have, it’s so difficult. It’s good to be connected, to see things, and to get a sense of what your friends are up to. But it also allows people to think they need to look or be a certain way.”
Part of the reason why Selena has such a mass of people following her every move is because of her honesty. And while her openness has likely helped countless fans, it’s been therapeutic for her as well. “I had a choice to let it drive me crazy and tear me down or just allow myself to have real conversations with people,” she said.
And how does her relationship with The Weeknd factor into her current happiness? Seems like it’s a pretty big factor. “I don’t depend on one area of my life to make me happy. It’s really important for me to love and nourish my friends and family and to make sure that I never get influenced by a guy,” she explained. “I’ve wanted to be in a strong headspace for years, and I really wasn’t. Before, I was so young and easily influenced, and I’d feel insecure. You want someone to add to your life, not to complete you, if that makes sense. I’m lucky because he’s more of a best friend than anything else.”
Now stronger than ever with new music and new love, Selena is ready to take on the world.