There’s something about Selena Gomez that feels like catching up with a friend. We’ve watched her grow up in front of us, and she’s never been afraid to tell the truth about the less glamorous side of life. Her latest Instagram Stories post was another example: an honest moment about something a lot of people quietly struggle with.
In the video shared on Sunday, October 18, the 34-year-old Rare Beauty founder opened up about her nicotine habit. “I’m not gonna be able to change my voice,” she said. “I vaped nicotine a lot.”
Gomez has previously addressed questions about changes in her speaking voice. She’s also been open about her lupus diagnosis and the kidney transplant she underwent in 2017. Last December, during an Instagram Live, she told a curious fan that her throat “kind of swells inside sometimes.” This time, she pointed to her vaping habit.
“Nicotine is so hard to quit, and I think I just wanted to say, if you’re going through it or if you’re even trying to vape, it’s just not worth it,” she said. “It’s so stupid. It changed my voice.” (She also laughed off her critics, saying she totally understands if people don’t like her voice. Her advice? Just don’t listen to them.)
Gomez says she’s since stopped, though she admitted the process has been really hard. “I just hope I can keep it up,” she said, before offering some encouragement to anyone in the same boat. “If you are going through something, you can get through it too.”
That candor echoes the way she talked about aging in her September cover story with People, tied to her inaugural Beauty Impact Award for her mental health advocacy. “Yeah, things are going to change, and things are going to sag, but you’re alive,” she said. Here, though, her message came with a clear warning: Vaping wasn’t worth it, and quitting has been difficult.
Her honesty may resonate with younger fans who have encountered vaping in their own lives. If you’re ready to quit, the free 1-800-QUIT-NOW line (800-784-8669) connects you with a trained quit coach for confidential support.
