Selena Gomez’s 2025 Return is Bigger Than Music
In this day and age, mental health is finally spoken about more often and is more advocated for–especially by stars like Selena Gomez.
She’s not just only a beloved actress and singer, but also a strong mental health advocate who has used her voice and her large platform to bring awareness to the struggles many people face daily, including herself.
From struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and living with lupus, which is an autoimmune disease, Gomez has been open about her journey in a deeply humane and relatable way. She’s shared the ups and downs through her journey, making her supporters who may face these struggles feel seen and supported.
Gomez launched the Rare Impact Fund through her beauty brand Rare Beauty. Its purpose is to address mental health and self-acceptance, whilst also expanding access to mental health services and education for young people everywhere. It currently mobilises $100 million in contributions for youth mental health, and 1% of all Rare Beauty sales are donated to the Rare Impact Fund.
“Mental health is personal for me. I went a long time without the support I needed because I didn’t understand what I was feeling. After experiencing what seemed like endless highs and lows that would take me out for weeks at a time, I finally found the help to see what I was going through. But I’m learning every day that supporting my mental health is a journey. Every day isn’t perfect—not for me, not for anyone. And too many people don’t have access to the mental health resources and education they need.”
Another powerful example of how Gomez has touched upon her struggles with mental health was in her 2022 documentary, My Mind & Me. In this documentary, the film spans over six years of her life, offering a look into her journey with mental health. Included are clips from her last tour in 2016, the Revival tour, which she cancelled due to her mental health. Her doing this showcases that it is so important to advocate for yourself and do what’s best for you, especially as a public figure with so much attention on you.
So, when Selena Gomez announced her new album earlier this year, it took fans by surprise– for a good reason, of course. She has taken many well-deserved breaks from social media (which is valid) and even from the spotlight, hence cancelling her 2016 Revival tour. In past interviews, it seemed she gravitated towards focusing more on her acting career over singing. She subtly hinted that her pop star days might be behind her.
“I think I might be too old for the pop star life,” Gomez said in an interview with Variety.
But 2025 took an exciting turn and had other plans. Contrary to her statement, she recently dropped her fourth studio album on 21 March, I Said I Love You First, with her record producer fiancè, Benny Blanco. The album consists of 16 songs, with features from huge artists like Gracie Abrams and The Marias. The album tackles the recently engaged couple’s love story and what the future holds.
It makes sense that the first song off the album, Scared of Loving You, was released just a day shy of Valentine’s Day earlier this year, setting the tone for the entire project.
Like most music releases today, songs are always going viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In this case, specifically, Bluest Flame and Ojos Tristes from I Said I Love You First, have taken the digital world by storm. From dance tutorials to GRWM (get ready with me) videos, workout videos, and even cooking videos, these songs have become the soundtrack to countless posts and videos across both platforms.
According to an article from Billboard, the album debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated 5 April). It’s a fourth leader for Gomez and a first for Blanco. The album sold 71,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending 27 March, according to Luminate. It’s been best sales week for Selena Gomez since 2015 when she released her Revival album Fall of that year, and it was Blanco’s best sales week ever. The article also adds that of the 71,000 sold, vinyl purchases comprise 21,000 – the biggest week on vinyl for either artist. The title – the first album pairing from the real-life couple – also enters at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart.
In addition to Gomez’s success with her latest album, the multi-talented star recently won Best Actress for her role in the movie Emilia Pérez at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the hit Hulu show Only Murders In The Building at the SAG Award in 2024, and this year she was honoured as Woman of the Year at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music event.
Billboard’s Woman of the Year award is presented to a female artist who has demonstrated exceptional success, leadership and cultural influence in the music industry and beyond. Previous Women of the Year honorees at Latin Women in Music include Shakira and Karol G.
Though not present to accept this award due to filming in New York, she still showed gratitude through her touching heartfelt speech accepting the award:
“This means so much to me as a Latina. I have been working most of my life and to be seen, supported and celebrated by women who share our roots is truly, truly powerful.
Growing up, I was extremely proud of my Mexican heritage. I didn’t see a lot of women who looked like me at the centre of the story or onstage and it was just rare. Our stories, our voices and our cultures deserve to be celebrated. Releasing my EP Revelación was one of the proudest moments of my career only because it felt like I was creating music for something that I had wanted to give my heritage and my family, and for myself. Not only did it give me another opportunity to highlight my culture, but also I knew it would make my abuela very proud. And finally, to my fans, I can never say it enough: It’s because of you that I’m able to do what I love. And thank you all for supporting me for all of these years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all, te amo.”
Beyond embracing her cultural roots, Gomez has also recently reconnected to the start of her acting roots where her journey first began– Disney Channel. This time, as an executive producer on the new Wizards of Waverly Place spinoff, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Although she does make several appearances throughout the show, it’s more focused on Justin Russo’s character played by David Henrie, who is also an executive producer on the show.
Whilst Selena Gomez’s career continues to evolve in acting and singing, she also continues to make her mark as a businesswoman for her beauty brand, Rare Beauty. Founded in 2019 by Gomez, Rare Beauty is one of the top-selling makeup brands at Sephora, continuing to empower those to feel confident and embrace their rare beauty.
And if we couldn’t love her even more, she continues to constantly give back. Not only through the Rare Impact Fund as previously mentioned, her meaningful song lyrics, or her kind words of encouragement, but through her acts of kindness. Earlier this year, Rare Beauty released new bouncy blushes with a variety of gorgeous shades to choose from. After surprising fans in a Sephora in New York City, where Rare Beauty is sold, she announced to the crowd in the store that she would be buying everyone a bouncy blush in a shade of their choice and a product from her makeup line.
“I wanted to do something for you guys, you’re all going to get a colour of your choice and I’m going to buy you one of my products on me, so you guys can just have fun, buy whatever, it’s on me and I love you guys.”
Comments under the TikTok post were nothing but positive, like “she’s always giving back 🥹🥹🥹,” “she looks so alive 😭🥹,” and “she got her spark back 🥹.”
Through her vulnerability, strength and empowerment, Selena Gomez is thriving in her 2025 return. As she continues to venture her way through acting, music, business, and advocacy, she’s entering a whole new era, truly embodying the saying “back and better than ever.” Newly engaged, continuing the success of her makeup line, newly released music, and new film projects, she continues to grow by staying grounded and staying true to herself all whilst being humble and inspiring people along the way.
Her return is bigger than music itself. This is a revival (pun intended).
What can Selenators expect from her next? Do we possibly think of a tour happening anytime soon? Any other exciting, special projects? Her wedding? I guess we’ll have to sit tight, be patient, and stay tuned.
