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“I want to be your Lolita. Always young and pretty,” sings Belén Aguilera in «Lolita,» a song delving into the common fear among women of aging, driven by social pressures. Not too long ago, female stars often found their spotlight dimming once they hit the age of 30. The industry itself would often sideline them, as if youthfulness were a prized trait rather than simply a biological state.

Miley Cyrus & Selena Gomez: Breaking Free in Their 30s

Two notable examples of this trend are Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez. These former Disney stars have spent their entire lives in the spotlight. From a young age, even before they turned 18, they were deeply involved in the music industry. They sang, acted, and promoted products, all while appearing in the media. However, despite their immense success, they did not have complete control over their careers.

Now, in their thirties, Cyrus and Gomez have become entrepreneurs and producers of their own series, releasing music that truly represents them. It should be noted that at 31 years old, Miley won her first Grammy for «Flowers», a song that has become one of her greatest hits. This achievement comes a decade after she made waves at the age of twenty with hits like «Wrecking Ball» and «We Can’t Stop.»

The Miley from her twenties distanced herself from her Hannah Montana days, but the thirty-year-old now embraces that past. Selena’s journey mirrors this. She moved on from Wizards of Waverly Place to take charge as an executive producer in its television comeback. She’s all about steering her own career now.

And if anyone’s going to cash in on this comeback, it’s her. I mean, with six Emmy nods and four Golden Globe nominations for Only Murders in the Building (where she’s both lead actress and executive producer), she’s definitely not one to let others call the shots. In a recent interview with Vogue Mexico, Selena was refreshingly honest about the title of her first single, «Freedom.» She said it symbolizes breaking free from the constraints she felt when she was twenty.

Ariana Grande & Her Relationship with Beauty at 30

Ariana Grande has experienced something similar. The singer, who had a parallel career to Selena’s on Nickelodeon, has had her fair share of ups and downs in her twenties. She’s been judged for her relationships, her appearance, and her career choices.

At thirty, she’s less of a victim to the beauty standards imposed on women. She’s a little more liberated. “Being exposed to so many voices at a young age, and especially when people have things to say about your appearance at a young age, it’s really hard to know what’s worth hearing or not,” Ariana Grande began in a video for Vogue. The singer confessed that she had been using botox and lip fillers until 2018 to meet those expectations.

“I had a ton of lip filler over the years, and Botox. I stopped in 2018 because I felt so —too much. For a long time, beauty was about hiding for me and now I feel like maybe it’s not,” she said. “I want to see my well-earned cry lines and smile lines. I hope my smile lines get deeper and deeper and I laugh more and more. Aging can be such a beautiful thing.”

But Ariana has also brought this perspective into her professional life. At 30, she’s decided to pursue one of her biggest dreams: starring in the musical Wicked. Taking a break from her music career for four years—until she released Eternal Sunshine—Ariana chose to step back from the constant grind of the music industry to focus on what truly brought her joy in that moment. It’s a decision she could confidently make at 30, with her career already solidly established after years of success.

Taylor: From Pop Sensation at 20 to Powerhouse at 30

When we talk about women in the music industry who really take control of their careers by the time they hit 30, Taylor Swift‘s name definitely comes to mind. This American singer has become a real business pro. She not only re-recorded all her old songs to get full control over them but also went on to pull off one of the biggest tours ever with The Eras Tour.

Back in 2019, when Taylor turned 30, she sat down with People magazine to reflect on her twenties and what she’s left behind. “There are certain parts of my brain that I don’t visit as often, like stressing out about my body, stressing out about being on trend, stressing out about people thinking I’m cool, stressing out about people thinking really anything about me.”

Taylor has really embraced this mindset. She’s fine with releasing two albums at once or being seen kissing her new boyfriend. She’s not hiding anymore, not in her music or in her personal life, and maybe that’s why she feels freer than ever.

Karol G: the Outcome of Giving Their All in Their 20s

But not every artist who hits their 30s as a star started off as a teenage sensation. Karol G, currently the biggest name in Latin music, hit her peak at 32 with her most successful album yet, Mañana Será Bonito (Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful). It’s earned her one Grammy and two Latin Grammys, winning over both critics and fans alike.

Karol G’s success didn’t come without ambition. After dominating the Latin charts at 29 with hits like «Tusa,» «Bichota,» and «Ay, Dios mío,» she knew exactly what she wanted. She sat down with her label, Universal, and laid it out, as Billboard reported: “I’ve come this far. I want more. I want to sit next to general-market artists because that’s how I feel: Latina but with an A-league fan base.”

But getting to this point wasn’t easy for Karol G. It took years of hard work and dedication to establish herself as a global star. Now, she’s finally reaping the rewards. ‘La Bichota,’ Rosalía, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez… they’ve shown us that when you hit 30, you can break free, leave behind a lot of insecurities, and just enjoy the music. And the best part? They still have plenty of time to conquer their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond!

Read the original article in Spanish in LOS40 Spain.