Selena Gomez tells GLAMOUR that ‘therapy, cooking & surrounding yourself with good friends who want the best for you’ are key to managing her mental health

Selena Gomez is the moment. Not only has she produced chart-topping, record-breaking music and curated sell-out beauty and fashion brands, she’s also a staunch humanitarian who makes it her mission to give as much back as she gets.

But, refreshingly, Selena is never afraid to admit that amidst the fame and fortune, life has thrown curveballs her way and, just like the rest of it, her mental health can get the better of her.

The 30-year-old has candidly spoken about how, in 2015, she received chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lupus, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition that attacks body tissues and organs. Two years later, she shared with fans that she’d had a kidney transplant after the condition caused her kidneys to shut down. And in 2020, she revealed she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She’s also been open about her struggles with anxiety and depression – and now she’s let GLAMOUR in on the secret weapon she uses to help manage her mental health: cooking.

Speaking exclusively to GLAMOUR UK to celebrate the launch of her limited-edition Summer Collection with Our Place, Selena said: “Cooking is an escape for me where I can forget about anything that happened during the day and just focus on the meal I am making. When I do cook I am usually do it with people I love or am cooking for friends or family so, in general, I view cooking as something very joyful.”

As someone who grew up in the fast and fickle world of showbiz where image is deemed everything and perfection is expected, Selena adds that her time in the kitchen has helped quash the perfectionist in her. “[Cooking] also taught me that it’s not about perfection and if you’ve  seen my cooking show, I put all my failures in the kitchen out there for everyone to see because cooking is all about trying things and just having fun with it.”