Selena Gomez has been vocal about the health struggles she has been facing ever since her diagnosis with the autoimmune disease lupus in 2014. Apart from the disease, the singer-actress has also been dealing with the physical effects of conditions like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), which causes flare-ups that can impact her appearance.

Gomez wowed in a body-hugging dress at the premiere of her film 'Emilia Pérez' at the American French Film Festival in Los Angeles. While everyone would agree, she looked mesmerizing, a few unsavoury remarks on social media attempting to body shame the star left a bad taste in the mouth.

When a few social media users speculated that Selena was trying to hide her bulge by posing with her hands on her stomach, Gomez responded how 'she was a human' and 'didn't care that she didn't look like a stick figure'.

She wrote: "This makes me sick," replying to a viral clip about her body, adding, "I don’t care that I don’t look like a stick figure. I don’t have that body. End of story." "No, I am NOT a victim. I’m just human," she said, making it clear that she chooses self compassion and prioritizing her health over societal expectations of physical appearance.

Gomez's reply highlights the importance of giving it back to trolling and body shaming, and promotion of self compassion and body positivity .

Like Selena, here's why you should speak out too

It is good for self esteem

Not accepting body shaming and speaking out against it is essential to address issues like anxiety, depression and low self esteem. It is important to feel comfortable in your own skin, and nobody should make you feel otherwise.

A message for body positivity

By challenging body shaming, it shapes society's perspective into accepting all body types. It sends a strong message to promote body positivity and celebrate diversity in appearance. Blindly conforming to beauty standards can be devastating for an individual's mental health.

Encourages healthy weight loss

People who are subjected to body shaming often resort to unhealthy ways to lose weight like fad dieting and starvation which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. On the other hand, if one is confident of how they look, they would take a healthier road to fitness. This is why it's important to discourage body shaming.

Helps fight harmful stereotypes

It is important to speak out against body shaming as it often reinforces stereotypes and biases in favour of certain body types being more acceptable. This can lead to discrimination at workplaces, educational institutions and other social circles.

It is important to develop self-love and self-compassion to look beyond one's appearance. If a star like Selena Gomez speaks out against body shaming, it sends a powerful message that embracing our bodies is a vital part of self-care.
(Picture courtesy: Instagram/Selena Gomez)