Selena Gomez Made a Rare Beauty Model Cry After ‘Degrading’ Comment
Selena Gomez’s company, Rare Beauty, has been a major success, but her recent comments about the brand have landed her in hot water. In a conversation about natural beauty, Gomez said the company does not use models. Instead, they want people who look normal. The brand, of course, does hire models, and some of them are unhappy with Gomez’s comments. One said Gomez’s remarks made her cry.
Selena Gomez said Rare Beauty doesn’t use models
At Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, Gomez spoke about promoting natural beauty with her brand.
“I want the conversation to change,” she said. “If anything, we will double down on what we mean.”
She said she wanted the brand to feel attainable. For that reason, she claimed they did not use models.
“We don’t use models,” she said. “We use people who I have felt they can be your best friend. I want something real.”
Many social media users have called her out for her remarks.
A model for the brand said Selena Gomez’s comments hurt
Gomez herself appears in a number of the brand’s campaigns, but the brand still uses professional models. One of them, who chose to remain anonymous, said Gomez’s words stung.
“I actually cried when I heard Selena’s comments,” she said, per The US Sun. “I was already having a bad day and was feeling really sensitive and emotional.”
She explained that she felt embarrassed that Gomez seemed to doubt her professionalism.
“I was feeling nervous about some career stuff, and then I saw that video of her saying I’m not even a real model,” she said. “It hit me at the worst time because now I’m like… ‘what am I even doing?’ I thought this would be a big break for me, and to be told by the founder of the company that I look up to that I am not ‘real’ at my job?”
To add insult to injury, the comments went viral. She knew many people in her life saw them.
“It’s degrading and embarrassing,” she said. “The number of family and friends who sent me that clip after was mortifying.”
She said she doesn’t want to meet the brand’s founder
After Gomez’s remarks, the model said she has little interest in meeting the Rare Beauty founder.
“I don’t need to meet her,” she said. “I hope in the future she chooses her words more wisely and remembers how much influence she has.”
While she noted that she likely wouldn’t say no to working with the company in the future, she hopes to work with brands that show more support.
“If it’s a huge campaign, I’m not in a position to say no to it,” she said. “But to be honest, would I want to work for a company again that discards what I do, or am trying to do, for a living? Ideally not. I’d like to work for brands that see me, that believe in me. I thought Rare was the epitome of that, you know? But I was wrong.”
