Selena Gomez has proudly displayed her kidney transplant scar in a swimsuit snap.
The 28-year-old posted a photo of herself modeling a blue one-piece from her friend Theresa Marie Mingus’s new swimwear line, La’Mariette.
Selena captioned the post: “When I got my kidney transplant, I remember it being very difficult at first showing my scar.”
“I didn’t want it to be in photos, so I wore things that would cover it up. Now, more than ever, I feel confident in who I am and what I went through…and I’m proud of that.”
“T – Congratulations on what you’re doing for women, launching @lamariette whose message is just that…all bodies are beautiful,” she added.
In September 2017, Selena shocked fans by revealing she underwent a kidney transplant over the summer.
The singer has suffered from lupus since 2015 – and her condition led her to undergo major surgery.
Taking to Instagram, Selena told fans about her surgery – and revealed that her best friend and fellow actress Francia Raisa was her donor.
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Selena and fellow actress Francia have been close friends since they first met in 2007, when Disney and Freeform (formerly ABC) had the stars visit a children’s hospital.
“I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of,” she wrote.
“So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you.
“Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery.”
“And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me.”
“I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made,” she added.
Just months after the surgery, Selena and Francia sat down for an exclusive interview with NBC’s The Today Show.
During the interview, Selena fought back tears as she said, “My kidneys were just done. That was it.”
“I didn’t want to ask a single person in my life, and that was the day when I came home and found out, and she volunteered and did it.”
“You feel that Francia saved your life,” Today host Savannah Guthrie said to Selena.
“Because she did. That’s it,” Selena replied. “I guess I got to the point where it was really, kind of, life or death.”
“I just hope that this inspires people to feel good that there are really good people in the world,” Selena said through tears.
On the latest episode of #GossChats, Goss.ie CEO Ali Ryan chats with top makeup artist and influencer Keilidh Cashell about her brand new makeup range, adjusting to life in the spotlight and how she’s kept calm during the pandemic.
#GossChats is sponsored by top Irish aesthetic clinic Haus of JeJuve.
