Selena Gomez is experiencing renewed joy three years after establishing her popular beauty company Rare Beauty.
“It’s quite humbling. You truly go outside of yourself when you listen to someone else’s stories and hardships,” the singer and actress, who founded the organization to challenge beauty norms, tells PEOPLE. “I think that I’ve felt [less] alone working on this company, and now I hope that people can get that same access I’ve been able to have.”
Gomez, 31, has been candid about her mental health issues, including a bipolar diagnosis that she first revealed to fans in 2020.
“I have to admit that reaching 30 was a fantastic time for me. I’m now 31, and I genuinely believe that as I’ve become older, I’ve come to respect the difficulties I’ve faced. “And I don’t feel like anything is holding me back,” she continues. “I just feel like I’ve been honest with the world, I’ve been honest with myself, I’ve called myself out, and I just want to be the best version of myself.”
Since 2020, one percent of all Rare Beauty sales have been contributed to Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, which aims to raise $100 million over the following ten years to offer mental health care and education to young people worldwide.
In recognition of World Mental Health Day (October 10), Sephora has pledged to donate 100% of Rare Beauty product sales to the charity.
“I’ve done a lot of exciting things in my life, but there’s never been anything quite like this. “I’m extremely grateful,” Gomez says. “I actually feel that way about my gala that’s coming up as well, and to know that my partner Sephora is actually supportive of [my mental health] mission is so incredible.”
Following a stunning performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month, the “Single Soon” singer recently swept over Paris in a series of trendy outfits.
Still, Gomez believes her confidence comes from within: “I know it seems easy, but I promise you it’s been years of constant back and forth in my head, and now I’m just really happy, and I guess it’s showing, which I’m really honored.”