Selena Gomez is aware that some fans would love to see her stay exactly as she looked in 2016. But now 34, she has no plans to turn back the clock.
In a recent interview with People for its latest cover story, Gomez opened up about the ongoing fascination with photos from her mid-20s, especially her signature smoky-eye looks from 2016. While she understands the nostalgia, Gomez admitted that the discussion can sometimes feel like fans expect her to maintain the exact same appearance she had a decade ago.
“I always make this joke where I think people want to freeze me in time to that period of my life,” Gomez said. “I think people always want me to look the way I did, and it’s not gonna happen.”
Gomez isn’t resisting the changes that come with aging, either. “Getting older has been so much fun. I’m not scared at all. I love getting older,” she said. “Yeah, things are going to change, and things are going to sag, but you’re alive.”
Gomez has also been creating plenty of distance between her present-day life and the version of herself audiences first knew as a teenager. In August, she closed another major chapter when Wizards Beyond Waverly Place wrapped its run. Gomez, who originally portrayed Alex Russo in 2007, was clear about whether she planned to revisit the character again.
“This is it. This is the end,” she said at the time. “It’s really surreal to say that I’m done playing this character.”
Her next movie role offers an even bigger departure. Gomez is attached to Brady Corbet’s upcoming film, reportedly titled The Origin of the World, an ambitious project that the Brutalist director has described as “X-rated.”
The film, which is also expected to star Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, explores American mysticism and the history of the occult through a story that stretches from the 19th century to the present, with much of the action taking place in the 1970s. Sadie Soverall has also reportedly been considered for a lead role.
Gomez’s personal life has evolved just as noticeably. She married Benny Blanco in September 2025 and has since become much more comfortable sharing glimpses of their life together. She’s referred to herself as “Mrs. Blanco” on Instagram, posted candid moments from their home, and appeared on Blanco’s Friends Keep Secrets podcast—where she famously kissed his bare foot after his noticeably dirty feet had already sparked their own round of online attention.
Gomez’s approach to beauty has changed as well. The Rare Beauty founder said she now prefers a more natural appearance instead of attempting to recreate the aesthetic she had in 2016. Her company, which launched in 2020, also contributes 1% of product sales to the Rare Impact Fund, which has raised more than $30 million for youth mental health organizations.
For Gomez, looking different at 34 is not something she feels the need to fix.
“Sometimes people don’t like the natural beauty look,” she said, “but that’s kind of my whole identity now.”
