It was a tale of two bikini photos. Selena Gomez took to her Instagram Stories on Jan. 22 to first share a picture of herself wearing a teeny leopard-print two-piece in 2013. "Today I realized I will never look like this again," she wrote. Next, the 31-year-old posted a snap from 2023, in which she covered her now much more womanly figure in high-waisted bottoms and a tube top. "I'm not perfect, but I am proud to be who I am," she captioned the second shot. "Sometimes I forget it's ok to be me."
Self-acceptance hasn't come easy for Selena. In the public eye since age 9, the Only Murders in the Building star has been open about her struggles with body image - admitting to feeling "embarrassed" when she no longer fit into sample sizes and wishing she "looked" different at times. Making things harder? The Rare Beauty founder suffers from lupus, which can cause weight fluctuations, and scars from a 2017 kidney transplant only added to her insecurity.
"Selena is in a much better place now," shares a source. "Even though she's gained weight and is curvier than she used to be, Selena feels sexy, confident and comfortable - and she refuses to hide her body."
FLIPPING A SWITCH
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