Selena Gomez Shines in Red Prada Gown at Rare Impact Fund Benefit

The star exclusively tells PEOPLE why the fund’s impact on young people makes her proud and how her husband Benny Blanco supports her

For Selena Gomez, one of the most meaningful measures of success has little to do with fame or beauty. It’s knowing that a young person who feels alone can find a place to turn for support.

That mission was at the heart of the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday, Oct. 14, where Gomez, 34, stepped out in a striking red Prada gown for the event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The embellished dress featured a sculptural waist reminiscent of rose petals, which she paired with matching red satin pumps, silver jewelry and sleek hair.

While the look made a statement on the pink carpet, Gomez was there to celebrate something she has spent years building beyond the beauty industry: a commitment to expanding access to mental health resources for young people.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the benefit, Gomez reflects on the progress of the Rare Impact Fund, which she launched alongside Rare Beauty in 2020. Created with a $100 million fundraising pledge over 10 years, the fund has raised more than $30 million to support youth mental health organizations and initiatives.

Reflecting on the fund’s progress over the past six years, Gomez says seeing its work reach communities firsthand has been especially meaningful.

“Probably actually witnessing what we do, we are so fortunate to have raised 30 million plus already for this fund, and seeing what we’re doing with the communities, with programs, different organizations — it’s beyond my wildest dreams,” she tells PEOPLE.

Seeing young people find community and support through the fund is what makes its mission so meaningful to Gomez.

“Going to a center for young people to even just go and be around other people and feel support, we’re able to see what we are doing from the ground up, and we’re doing it globally,” she continues. “It’s the most incredibly proud thing that I could ever just claim.”

The fund supports mental health organizations across five continents and reaches an estimated 3.5 million young people annually. 

The Only Murders in the Building star has also been candid about her own mental health journey, using her platform to encourage conversations around experiences that can be difficult to discuss. That advocacy helped earn her PEOPLE’s inaugural Beauty Impact Award, recognizing the work she has built into Rare Beauty and the community surrounding it.

Still, the “Who Says” singer’s understanding of support is not limited to fundraising or large-scale initiatives. She also knows the value of having people in her own life who will listen when she needs them.

Gomez shares that she finds comfort in her personal life, crediting her husband, music producer Benny Blanco, whom she married in September 2025, for being someone she can turn to for support.

“I guess it’s why I married Benny, but I truly feel fortunate that I have the best people in my life to be able to call and talk to, or just let them listen to whatever I’m thinking,” she tells PEOPLE.

The couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Sept. 27. Blanco, 38, marked the milestone on Instagram Stories with a photo of a preserved slice of their wedding cake, writing, “year old cake never tasted so good.” He also shared a photo from their ceremony with the caption, “1 year down… forever to go…” 

The Wizards of Waverly Place alum commemorated the occasion with a photo of the two embracing in their wedding attire, writing, “Happy anniversary my love” and “I love you to the moon and back.”

Gomez hopes to remind people struggling with their mental health that they deserve support and don’t have to face their challenges alone.

“You’re enough. Don’t think that you’re not worthy of the help. It can feel lonely, but definitely believe that you can do it,” she tells PEOPLE.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

Via: People