Selena Gomez believes that "representation matters."

The 32-year-old singer and actress is proud of her Mexican heritage and values the "connection" she has with other Latin women in the entertainment industry.

"My Mexican heritage is something that has influenced me my entire life, and I haven't lost sight of that. Throughout my career, some of the most supportive women I've met in the entertainment business have been other Latin women. I love the connection we all have," she told Billboard.

Selena's 2021 album Revelacion is her first project recorded primarily in Spanish.

"Revelacion" actually debuted at number one on the Latin Albums chart. This means it is the first album by a female artist to achieve this feat since Shakira's "El Dorado." Gomez admitted that this album still means a lot to her.

"I've never focused on statistics and charts, but when I hear something like this, all I can feel is pride. Shakira is an icon and someone I've always looked up to, and I love her so much. Making a Spanish album was something I wanted to do for a long time. Over the years, I've released Spanish versions of some of the songs from the album, but having an entirely Spanish project was something that meant a lot to me," the singer said.

"I worked hard to make sure I paid tribute to my Latin roots, both through the music and the aesthetics of all the visual effects," Selena explained.

Gomez also starred in the Spanish-language film Emilia Perez in 2024. She enjoys the challenge of working in Spanish, insisting that she likes being put in "uncomfortable spaces" as an actress.

"I had to go into uncomfortable spaces, which as an actress are the most rewarding. It was a magical time and working with (director) Jacques (Audiard) was one of my best experiences. I take my time to find the right role and director to work with in the future because I want it to be challenging and unexpected," said the actress. | BGNES