Five years ago, Selena Gomez launched Rare Beauty alongside a Best of Beauty cover with Allure. Now she’s back on the magazine’s front page, but this time not just as a beauty brand founder; she’s a force who has reshaped what it means to build something authentic, balancing her artistry in music, film, and TV while creating a brand that has genuinely changed the industry.

As Allure perfectly summed up, “she has completely rewritten the celebrity beauty brand playbook and nurtured a stellar career in film, TV, and pop,” and that’s exactly why Selena Gomez is the icon that she is.

Inside the issue, Selena gets real about finding balance. “I want to feel content in whatever position I’m at in my life, and I want to be present,” she said of stepping back from social media. “Taking a break from social media helps do that for me. I finally feel like I’m in a place where I don’t need to be apologetic for every single thing that I do.”

She also opened up about her relationship with Benny Blanco, reflecting, “It’s weird to think that only five years ago I wouldn’t have been in the right place, but I’ve learned so many lessons [since then] that led me to being the best partner I could be for Benny. And I believe the same with him.”

Wedding talk naturally came up, with Selena explaining how she finds inspiration for looks. “If I find [a makeup look] I like on Pinterest, I lean into that, and then I’ll get a suggestion from Hung and combine it all. It’s a process.”

On her My Mind & Me documentary, Selena admitted it’s hard for her to revisit. “I’m very glad it came out, but that’s not necessarily who I am now. To be honest, I can’t watch it. But it’s only because I’m not there anymore.”

She described the film as a “time capsule,” one that she hopes helps people feel less alone in their darkest thoughts. “Oh, that really dark thought? I thought that. Those really high highs? I’ve had those. I try to make people feel seen so they don’t feel what people say ‘crazy’ is.”

Selena also touched on returning to Wizards and the upcoming Disney reboot: “I genuinely feel like I owe a big part of my life to that show. It’s home. It’s safe. And my sister just gets a kick out of it so half the reason I’m doing it is for her.”

For Selena, it’s all about growth and staying grounded. “I want to keep evolving and getting better in every area of my life. And I want to experience everything, so it’s important for me to keep myself in check. I’m so stoked that when an emotion pops up, I’m able to acknowledge it and be a part of it, then let it go.”

And if you can’t get enough Selena, she also just appeared on Good Hang with Amy Poehler! Make sure to catch the new episode below.

Selena Gomez is an artist, an innovator, and above all, a voice that continues to make people feel seen. Her Allure cover reminds us just how much she’s grown, and how much more she’s ready to give.