AceShowbiz - In an emotional and candid discussion on the March 24 episode of the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast, Selena Gomez opened up about the pressures and criticisms she faces regarding her body image.

Joined by her fiance, producer Benny Blanco, Gomez shared the emotional toll public scrutiny has on her. Reflecting on the gender disparity in societal expectations, Gomez pointed out, "no one cares about these kinds of things with men."

"This isn't news to anybody that obviously women have a lot more intense feelings from their appearance," Gomez noted. "When I get prepared for an event, 90 percent of the time I'm just like, 'I just hope I can take the picture and sit down.' "

She lamented that as a prominent figure, her appearance is often judged more harshly compared to her male counterparts.

Compounding the issue are the comments she encounters online, which she admits she sometimes finds hard to ignore. "I fall victims to looking at things," she shared, acknowledging the harmful impact of negative remarks.

These remarks extend beyond just her appearance, with criticisms pointing to her mixed heritage. "It's the character that gets judged: It's the way I'm not white enough, I'm not Mexican enough," she said, noting that such scrutiny is less common for men.

Gomez has been open about her fluctuating weight due to her battle with lupus, and she doesn't shy away from defending herself against body-shamers. "My weight's a big one too," she said.

"Everyone just has something to say and it's really making me sad - not even sad 'cause, I'm not a victim, everyone - I just think it's made me a tad bitter and I feel really guilty for saying that but it's true."

One of the ways Gomez combats the negativity is by limiting her exposure to social media. She revealed she doesn't have any social media apps on her phone.

"I'm human and sometimes I read things... But I do most of the time ignore everything. I don't have anything on my phone at that moment. So, there are ways to combat it," she said. Despite these breaks, Gomez recognizes the power and influence of social media, calling it "tricky."

Amidst the challenges, Gomez has learned to embrace positivity and love from her inner circle, particularly from her fiance Benny Blanco. "He's the one person, you know when you're saying those nice things to me babe, I believe him," she said, highlighting the importance of genuine support.

Gomez's candid revelations serve as a reminder of the immense pressures faced by women, especially in the public eye, and underscore the importance of self-care and genuine support in navigating such challenges.