In March 2013 several tabloids and websites ran a wave of attention around Selena Gomez after the release of racier promotional photos tied to a movie role and her evolving public image. While Gomez was not featured in Playboy’s March 2013 issue, the topic became a flashpoint for discussions about celebrity image, media narratives, and the boundary between publicity for film projects and invasive tabloid coverage.
The connection between the star and the magazine didn't completely disappear. In subsequent years, the official Playboy Twitter/X account occasionally posted links reacting to Gomez's authentic, mature photoshoots—such as her V Magazine or Flaunt features—or her personal Instagram posts. When these articles resurfaced over the years, they often retroactively blurred together with the 2013 timeline in search algorithms. The Reality: What Selena Gomez Was Doing in March 2013
Instead of modeling for adult publications, 2013 was a milestone year for Selena Gomez as she shed her "Disney" image through diverse professional projects:
Digital forensic analysis confirmed the image was a fake deepfake created using Photoshop . Selena Gomez Playboy Magazine March 2013
Fueled by the attention from the fake cover and her rising profile as a young adult, Selena Gomez was thrust into a real conversation with the magazine's publisher. In April 2013, Playboy's official Twitter account made headlines by issuing a direct invitation to both Selena Gomez and her Spring Breakers co-star, Vanessa Hudgens.
The intersection of Selena Gomez and Playboy in early 2013 did not happen on a newsstand, but rather across online message boards and entertainment gossip columns. 1. Fan-Made Photoshop Edits
: A "March issue" cover featuring a topless woman was widely debunked as a Photoshop fake that used Selena's face on another model's body. Rssing.com In March 2013 several tabloids and websites ran
: Around that era, she participated in several edgy editorial shoots to promote her transition to adult roles, including a 2013 feature for Flaunt Magazine and a later controversial "Lolita-style" shoot for V Magazine in 2015.
In subsequent interviews, Gomez reflected on her decision to appear in Playboy, stating that she had done it to take control of her own image and to show her fans that she was confident and comfortable in her own skin. She also emphasized that she had not posed nude, but rather had worn lingerie and other outfits that made her feel empowered.
The issue primarily focuses on art, photography, and the "Lingerie Guide". In subsequent years, the official Playboy Twitter/X account
issue. It was quickly debunked as a fake that used Gomez's likeness to create a topless image that was "not like Selena". While there were reports that both Gomez and Miley Cyrus had been offered millions to pose for the publication, they both refused the offers Context: The "Spring Breakers" Era
: Fact-checkers confirmed the image was a composite created by fans or internet trolls. The Refusal : Reports at the time indicated that while