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When an Internet troll told Selena Gomez, 31, to “remove your cheek fillers/implants,” because it was “messing with your brain,” on Instagram, Gomez’s response was both candid and noteworthy: “Hahahaha I’ve had Botox bb girl.”
While the troll's comment was cruel and unnecessary, as a fellow woman in my early thirties, I couldn’t help but appreciate Gomez’s response. It has long struck me as odd that, while all the statistics suggest that sales of noninvasive aesthetic treatments are booming (already valued at $60 billion, that figure is predicted to triple by 2030), and while many of my friends are having an annual tweakment or two, people in the public eye continue to remain tight-lipped about what they actually have done.
When you’ve had injectables yourself–which I have–you gain a sharper sense of what other people have had done, regardless of how well it’s been administered (by which I mean, how imperceptible it is). I’ve tried Botox myself (not a fan), the injectable hydrator Profhilo, and lip-plumping filler. A reasonable amount of first-hand experience, then, and in my opinion, there are a lot of famous people–both men as well as women–who may say their ultimate beauty secret is “drinking lots of water,” but in truth it’s down to the expertise of their aesthetic doctor.
As a beauty editor I’m well aware of this, but many women aren’t. They see their favorite celebrities looking smooth and luminous at 30 and older, but often don’t realize the rigorous regimen of facials, injectables, and other skin-enhancing treatments it takes to look that way. The result? They compare their own skin to visions of perfection that require time and money–and lots of it–to achieve. The truth is that most celebrities are having something done–even at the age of 31. Even the best and most expensive skincare cannot remove every line or defy the natural effects of time.
We are often sold false promises by brands and celebrities alike, which is why, when one of the most famous women in the world casually makes it known that she gets Botox, it’s important. Gomez would still look beautiful without Botox, but her decision to acknowledge that injectables are part of her routine feels refreshing and relatable, and represents a small step towards dismantling unrealistic beauty standards. (For years pop culture would have had us believe that famous women miraculously remain slender and wrinkle-free with zero effort or intervention.) Gomez has built a brand out of being transparent—from celebrating her tummy rolls to speaking out about her mental health.
Let’s follow her lead–there’s no shame in getting tweakments; it’s a personal choice. And one we should feel comfortable being open and honest about.