Selena Gomez, a Grammy-nominated artist, actress, and producer, has long captivated the world with her talent and charisma. But behind the glamour lies a deeply personal battle with lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition that affects millions of people globally, the majority of them are women.
In 2015, Selena revealed that she had been diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. For years, she had endured fatigue, joint pain, and other debilitating symptoms often while continuing to perform and appear in the public eye.
As her condition worsened, she eventually had to undergo a kidney transplant in 2017 due to lupus nephritis, a complication that affects the kidneys. The transplant was made possible through a donation from her friend Francia Raisa, an act that both saved her life and sparked conversations around organ donation and chronic illness management.
Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly targets healthy tissues. This can lead to chronic inflammation affecting the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.
Its symptoms can vary widely but often include fatigue, joint pain, fevers, skin rashes (like the butterfly rash), and light sensitivity. In more severe cases, it can cause organ damage, particularly to the kidneys — a condition known as lupus nephritis.
Lupus doesn’t just affect the body — it can severely impact mental and emotional health. For Selena, this meant confronting anxiety, depression, and even a bipolar diagnosis. Many of these struggles were intensified by the unpredictable nature of lupus flare-ups and the toll that constant pain, fatigue, and medications took on her life.
While there is no cure for lupus, there are several treatments that help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation. Lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, stress management, avoiding sun exposure, and adequate rest also play a critical role in managing lupus.
Lupus symptoms can come and go unpredictably. This inconsistency creates stress and pressure, especially for public figures like Selena who must manage both public expectations and private suffering. Through therapy and self-care, she continues to find ways to cope with both the mental and physical aspects of living with lupus.
Another challenge Selena faced was body-shaming, largely due to the side effects of her lupus treatment. Medications like corticosteroids, commonly used to manage inflammation, often cause weight gain, bloating, and water retention. These visible changes led to harsh online trolling despite being directly related to her health, not lifestyle.
Selena addressed this head-on, explaining how her appearance fluctuates due to medication. Her firm response not only defended herself but also shed light on the judgment people with invisible illnesses often face. She reminded fans that true wellness isn't defined by appearance, but by how one feels and functions.
Selena has since become a champion for both autoimmune disease and mental health awareness. She co-founded Wondermind, a mental wellness platform, and launched Rare Beauty with inclusivity at its core. Her Rare Impact Fund works to provide access to mental health resources globally.
In her Apple TV+ documentary “My Mind & Me,” Selena opens up about her inner world revealing the complexity of balancing fame, illness, and vulnerability.
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM/SE)
