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Billboard
“Woman of the Year 2017: Selena Gomez,” December 9, 2017

Nicole Tereza, Designer
Ruven Afanador, Photographer
Jen Laski and Jenny Sargent, Photo Directors

"Billboard’s annual Women in Music issue was led by a stunning figure of poise, strength and beauty: Selena Gomez, who had spent the year blossoming into a progressive pop artist, covers the issue as the Woman of the Year. Photographed at the Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles by Ruven Afanador, Gomez’s delivers a look that pierces through the adult opulence surrounding her; she’s come a long way since her Disney days, and her regal pose signifies her newfound power. Showcasing one of Gomez's most personal interviews to date, the cover underlines the unbreakable spirit at the heart of the story."

This photograph was taken to show how much this now popular pop star has blossomed into the woman that she is today. This is communicated through the photograph by giving her that adult presence to pull her away from her old Disney days, and her pose is supposed to signify her newfound power. The composition consists of nice velvet furniture and older more valuable furniture. The lighting is brighter in certain areas while being almost darker in other areas. I think this helps bring the singer more into focus, to stand out better. The exposure of the photo is, I think, almost neutral to maintain and draw her away from the Disney girl she once was and into more of that famous adult she now is.