Selena Gomez, 29, has led a career like few others through success, love and personal struggles that have kept her in the spotlight for almost two decades. Now, she adds one more achievement to her career on the cover of ELLE magazine in its first issue dedicated to Latinos. 

 

The Mexican-American singer was born in the United States and has developed her entire career in the country, she represents the new generation of Latinos thanks to the way her parents raised her. From a very young age, Gomez has been immersed in Latino culture, and instilled with the traditions and the Spanish language.

 

Because of her image within the Latino community and all the support she receives, ELLE magazine chose her to be the cover of its September issue. This choice was not arbitrary, because the magazine's editor-in-chief, Nina Garcia, who is from Barranquilla, Colombia, wanted to honor her Latino roots and celebrate the impact the community has in the United States. 

 

Garcia, is perhaps the Latina who has gone the furthest in the U.S. fashion editing world, which is why this cover was so important to her.

 

"It is a dream that Selena Gomez could represent all those ideals she had through the cover. I personally couldn't be more proud to have her as the cover of a project I've been passionate about for a long time," the editor wrote on her Instagram.

 

On the cover, the superstar evokes old Hollywood glamour, combining blonde waves with classic red lips, a Chanel plaid skirt and t-shirt. In other photos, she is seen wearing a 1950s pin-up-girl style outfit, much like Marilyn Monroe. 

 

Selena told ELLE that amid all the battles she's had to fight against her Lupus, kidney transplant, anxiety, depressive episodes, her bipolar disorder and public heart breaks, she kept telling herself "you're going to help people." 

 

"That's really what kept me going. There could have been a time when I wasn't strong enough and I would have done something that would have hurt me," Gomez said, referring to the difficult times she experienced during the pandemic. 

 

In addition, Selena, who is not only an icon for Latinos, but for many young people around the world, said social media had taken control of her mental health. To counteract the negative effect, she has been gradually moving away, posting only positive content through her assistant, who is the person who actually uploads all the content that Gomez tells her. 

 

The American singer with Latin soul is "someone who has shown that there is strength in her vulnerabilities," said Garcia. 

 

Strength is what Selena has to offer in the middle of the adversity, using her digital platforms against misinformation and hate speech, as well as to raise awareness about human trafficking and the situation of immigrants and undocumented immigrants in the U.S.