Selena Gomez Says She Only Likes To Work With 'Real' People For Rare Beauty
Two weeks ago, some of the biggest female names in pop culture and major industries, from Meghan Markle to Kamala Harris, gathered in Washington, D.C. for Fortune's Most Powerful Women summit, an event where powerful women spoke about their lives, business ventures, struggles, and more to inspire others around the world.
One of the invited guests was Selena, who has taken her beauty brand, Rare Beauty, to the next level over the last few years. Not only does she sell products that fans and customers love, but she's also turned it into a philanthropic brand, creating the Rare Impact Fund, raising money to make mental health services more accessible to young people globally.
During her interview at the Fortune Women's Summit, the Only Murders In The Building star began talking about how she values her brand and its advertisements being as authentic as possible, stating, "We don't use models."
"We use people who I have felt they can be your best friend, I want something real," she continued.
A Rare Beauty Model Was Reportedly Upset After Hearing Selena's Comments
What the Disney alum had to say about her brand and who they use to represent it ended up striking a nerve with various people, as they felt she might've gone too far, insinuating that not all models are 'real' enough people. While she was likely trying to exaggerate the point that her brand wants to connect with more everyday people, models who have worked or hoped to work with the brand expressed disappointment in what she had to say.
One model, who chose to remain anonymous, recently told the U.S. Sun that what the beauty mogul had to say really upset her, considering she had worked with Rare Beauty in the past.
"I actually cried when I heard Selena's comments," the model told the publication.
As someone who reportedly worked with Rare Beauty in 2024, the model also expressed some fear that they might not want to work with her again after what Selena said at the Summit.
"I was already having a bad day and was feeling really sensitive and emotional," she recalled. "It's degrading and embarrassing. I hope she chooses her words more wisely."
As reported by the publication, other models showed some disappointment in what the brand owner had to say, even if her message was allegedly misconstrued, as the way she said it came across as "unnecessarily cruel."