Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagicThough Selena Gomez came out about her lupus diagnosis last week, she admits it's still not a topic of conversation she feels entirely comfortable discussing.
The 23-year-old looked confident wearing a sexy, cut-out jumpsuit as she hopped on stage to perform a few songs off her new album Revival on the Today show Monday. But when asked about her diagnosis, she couldn't help but get a little nervous.
"To be honest it still kind of makes me a little uncomfortable to talk about it," she tells hosts Matt Lauer and Hoda Kotb. "But genuinely I feel like I'm able to reach my fans and understand people when I am one-on-one with them, and they're kind of dealing with the same thing because I've been there. So I'm just trying to take something that maybe is negative and turn it a positive."
In fact, that's just one of the many ways she's taking control of all aspects of her life.
"I think ultimately I've been shifting and growing and in this transition in my life. I really want to be able to be heard, and I don't want anyone to speak for me," she explains.
After kicking off the Citi Concert Series with her performance, Gomez also sat down for a longer, more in depth interview, opening up about how she's taken control of her career, too.
"The past two years have been a very transitional time for me. I've basically grown up in front of everyone, and I had an opportunity to spend my time on [my album]," she reveals. "It was just me being a boss and controlling my own life. It was incredible."
But despite growing up, she's still the same girl we fell in love with on the Disney Channel, and she feels comfortable with all the choices she's made since.
"I don't really regret anything. I don't have life figured out by all means, but I have a great family," she says. "My mom and my step dad have raised me to be who I‘ve always been, so I kind of still feel like the same girl. Just a little older!"
Another part of her support system includes Taylor Swift and their girl squad. When asked about how the world has truly come to love their crew, she admits she's just happy to see women empowering other women, especially in Hollywood.
"I think in general it's so good that that's actually becoming something. There's been so much especially with women in this industry just being pinned against other women, mainly men as well! We are our own people. I think it's incredible that it's actually a thing now because do show up together, we love each other."
We're hoping we see some major guest appearances from some of the members of her squad during her upcoming tour!