Selena Gomez Opens Up About Body Shaming, Weight Fluctuation: ‘I’m Not a Model'

glamour.com:

on Thursday, which found the singer and opening up about her experience of taking medication for lupus, the autoimmune disease she suffers from. “I tend to hold a lot of water weight and that happens very normally, and then when I’m off it I tend to kind of lose weight,” she told the camera. “I just wanted to say and encourage anyone out there who feels any sort of shame for exactly what [you’re] going through, [when] nobody knows the real story… you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful.” She went on, acknowledging that there were days when it made her feel “like shit”, but that she would much rather be healthy and take her medication to help her live a better life.

The symptoms of lupus include aching muscles, tiredness, joint pain and/or stiffness, hair loss, depression and skin lesions—to name a few.

Symptoms range in severity, but Gomez had a kidney transplant in 2017, suggesting she suffers severe problems as a result of the disease.“Not a model, never will be,” she added. “Thanks for supporting me and understanding and, if not… go away.

Because honestly I don’t believe in shaming people for [their] body or anything.” Having been the topic of much media attention due to her weight over the years, and particularly recently, she has previously spoken out about the relentless criticism and body shaming she has experienced.