Selena Gomez assumed the role of host for the first-ever Rare Impact Fund Benefit, held on Wednesday at Nya Studios in Hollywood.
“I think, for me, the most surreal thing in the world is the fact that our fans are just so, like, passionate, and they care,” Gomez told WWD, when asked about the most memorable experience of bringing the charitable initiative to communities worldwide.
With 1 percent of Rare Beauty sales going toward the fund, the mission is to reduce stigma associated with mental health and expand access to services and education. Alongside her team, Gomez has collected more than $8 million in three years. The goal is to raise $100 million.
“And I just think that’s what’s crazy, the connection I have with people,” she went on. “But it’s my favorite part.”
How does she hope to see it and the beauty brand continue to grow?
“I don’t know,” she said. “I think Rare has an opportunity to do different things. So I’ll wait and see.”
The night, emceed by her “Only Murders in the Building” costar Martin Short, featured a performance by H.E.R. and DJ set by Marshmello. But first came a live auction, which included two tickets to a Taylor Swift concert — the biggest bid at $15,000 — and lunch with Camila Cabello, selling for $5,600.
Gomez was sparkling in silver sequins, a custom Valentino grown created by Pierpaolo Piccioli.
“Valentino was the sweetest for making this dress for me,” she said on the carpet.
Onstage, after changing into a velvet Monse minidress, she got personal with the audience — a who’s who of beauty and wellness content creators including Mikayla Nogueira, as well as Taylor Lautner, Tay Lautner, Tyga, Sofia Carson, Ariana Huffington and Francia Raisa.
“This has been the culmination of a lifelong dream for me, but it has also stemmed from some of the darkest moments in my life,” she told the crowd. “I struggled with the world inside my head for a long time, and I felt like — I felt lost. And I felt hopeless at times. And in 2020 I received my diagnosis of bipolar disorder. And to be honest, everything quickly changed. I actually got the knowledge and the answers that I had been desperate for for so long.”
She went on, “I’m less afraid than I used to be. With that knowledge I could seek out the support I needed to be myself, to find my joy again. Tonight, I’m very proud to say that I have, and I’m working really hard every day. And I’m so happy just to be alive and to be here with you guys today.”
