Selena Gomez shared a little body positivity to her Instagram on Monday.
The actress, 31, posted a throwback snap in a tiny zebra bikini, followed by a more current bathing suit photo which saw her displaying a fuller figure in high-waisted bikini bottoms and a white tube top.
‘Today, I realized I will never look like this again…’ Selena — who previously admitted to ‘crying my eyes out’ over body shaming comments — wrote over the first photo, taken in Miami, Florida, in 2013.
‘I’m not perfect but I am proud to be who I am… sometimes I forget it’s ok to be me,’ she wrote on the next image, taken in Mexico in 2023.
Selena has shared body positivity messages a number of times in the past. Last February she also went after body shamers while revealing that her lupus medication is responsible for her weight gain.
Selena Gomez, 31, shared then and now bikini snaps to her Instagram Stories on Monday; (L) Pictured in Miami in 2013, (R) Pictured in Mexico in 2023
Earlier in the day Gomez went make-up free and sported grey cashmere-style sweats with beige fuzzy slides for a pamper session at the skincare salon Face Place in West Hollywood.
The pop star had her hands full as she arrived to the 52-year-old facility – which offers medical aesthetic procedures like Botox, Radiofrequency Microneedling, Kybella, and Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening.
Last February Gomez said she will ‘never be a model’ as she went after online trolls who have commented on her body.
The Only Murders In The Building actress explained that she will ‘hold a lot of water weight’ due to several medications she takes and also encouraged fans to practice self-love even in moments of feeling shame.
The Lose You to Love Me singer – who has previously been vocal about her autoimmune disease diagnosis and mental health journey – also said: ‘When I’m off of it, I tend to kind of lose weight.’
While continuing to celebrate body positivity, the former Disney star expressed that the minor side effect is incomparable to her health: ‘My medications are important, and I believe they are what helps me.’
In response to the haters, she told them to ‘go away, ’cause, honestly, I don’t believe in shaming people for [their] body or anything.’
‘So, yeah, not a model,’ she said, adding, ‘Never will be.’
Selena Gomez body positive message on International Women’s Day
‘Today, I realized I will never look like this again…’ she wrote over the first photo, which saw her rocking a tiny zebra bikini and showing off her toned physique
Earlier in the day Gomez went make-up free and sported grey cashmere-style sweats with beige fuzzy slides for a pamper session at the skincare salon Face Place in West Hollywood
Last February she went after body shamers while revealing that her lupus medication is responsible for her weight gain
Gomez previously described portraying herself online as someone who didn’t care about the criticism – when in reality she was ‘crying my eyes out’; Seen in January at Golden Globes
Selena Gomez gets candid on TikTok Live talking about her body
She added: ‘And I think they’re awesome – mind you – I just, I’m definitely not that.’
The hitmaker then continued to encourage her fans to practice self-love and acceptance.
‘I just wanted to say and encourage anyone out there who feels any sort of shame for exactly what they’re going through and nobody knows the real story,’ she said.
‘I just want people to know that you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful.’
The Wizards of Waverly Place alum also stressed the importance of her health over appearances.
‘And yeah, we have days where maybe we feel like s***, but I would much rather be healthy and take care of myself,’ she said.
The month prior, the Rare Beauty founder shut down more body shaming comments she received after attending the 2023 Golden Globes.
In an Instagram Live, Selena asked her nine-year-old half-sister Gracie: ‘I’m a little bit big right now, because I enjoyed myself during the holidays, right?’
Gracie appeared to agree before Selena added, ‘But we don’t care.’
She also called out body shamers in 2022 in a clip on her TikTok Stories.
‘Honestly, I don’t care about my weight because people b***h about it anyway. You’re too small, you’re too big, that doesn’t fit, Meh meh meh meh.’
Last year the Rare Beauty founder shut down more body shaming comments she received after attending the 2023 Golden Globes (pictured)
The singer announced she had undergone kidney transplant in September 2017 due to complications from lupus. Her kidney was donated by friend Francia Raisa
‘B***h, I am perfect the way I am. Moral of the story? Bye,’ she concluded.
However, last year the star shared she was more deeply impacted by body shamers than she had initially let on in an episode of the Apple TV+ docuseries, Dear…
Gomez described portraying herself online as someone who didn’t care about the criticism – when in reality she was ‘crying my eyes out’.
‘I lied. I would go online and I would post a picture of myself and I would say, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m not accepting what you’re saying,’ she said. ‘All the while, being in the room posting and crying my eyes out because nobody deserves to hear those things.’
The Lose You To Love Me singer announced she had undergone kidney transplant in September 2017.
Her friend Francia Raisa made the life-saving decision to donate her kidney to Gomez, who at just 24 had suffered organ damage relating to her lupus diagnosis.
WHAT IS LUPUS?
It is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions, where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it. Lupus – Systemic Lupus Erythematotsus (SLE) – has a range of severity. Some sufferers will have only mild problems, others have life-threatening organ damage to the heart and the kidneys.
What are the symptoms?
Tiredness, joint pains and muscle aches. A common first symptom is joint stiffness, particularly in the mornings. Skin and hair problems are a major feature of SLE – a rash in the shape of a butterfly over the cheeks and nose is common, as is hair loss and sensitivity to the sun. Other problems include depression and lung and heart disease, as well as kidney inflammation.
What can it be mistaken for?
It is often mistaken for other joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis which is also characterised by morning joint stiffness. It can also be misdiagnosed as a skin or blood disease.
How is it diagnosed?
If your GP suspects SLE they will request a blood test. The specific antibodies that attack the body can be measured in the blood. The diagnosis is made when there is the combination of typical symptoms and high antibodies.
Who is at risk?
SLE is ten times more common in women than men and usually develops between the ages 12 and 25.
What is the treatment?
Controlling the symptoms, as there is no cure, using anti-inflammatories and steroid tablets in more severe cases.
