‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Star Selena Gomez Stuns in Red at Her 4th Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit
Selena Gomez has spent the last several years building something that reaches well beyond her music and acting work. Since launching Rare Beauty, she has tied the brand closely to youth mental health, and the Rare Impact Fund has become one of the most visible celebrity-led efforts in that space.
The fund launched in 2020 with an ambitious goal of raising $100 million for organizations that expand young people’s access to mental health services and education around the world. 1% of all Rare Beauty sales goes to the fund, and it has now raised more than $30 million.
On Wednesday, October 14, Gomez hosted the 4th annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Photographed by Amy Sussman for Getty Images, she arrived in a red, embellished strapless gown with a corset-style bodice and a fitted skirt that ended just above the ankle.
She finished the look with red heels, diamond earrings, glossy dark curls, and smoky brown eye makeup. Set against the event’s bright pink backdrop, the red dress was one of the night’s standout red carpet looks.
Selena Gomez attends The Fourth Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit. 📸 (Amy Sussman/Getty) https://t.co/IoD9hpT6Ti
— JumpTrailers (@JumpTrailers) October 15, 2026
This year’s benefit carried the theme “A Night of Radiance & Reflection.” Emmy-winning actor and comedian Sean Hayes served as emcee, and Leon Bridges and Bella Kay performed. The host committee included Benny Blanco, Becky G, Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson, representatives of the UCLA hospital system and Lululemon.
Selena Gomez wows in red ahead of hosting the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in support of youth mental health. ❤️ https://t.co/gEdUOEdtnL
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) October 15, 2026
Sponsors included Ulta Beauty, Afterpay, Pacsun and Lululemon, along with longtime retail partner Sephora. The evening also featured a live auction, while an online silent auction offered items such as a LeBron James-signed basketball and a wellness resort getaway.
Gomez has been clear about why the event matters to her. “One of the things I’ve learned through this work is how much it can mean for a young person to have someone in their corner,” she said in the official announcement of the benefit.
She added that the night was meant to bring more of that support to young people and to honor the organizations providing it. Rare Beauty’s Chief Impact Officer Elyse Cohen, who also serves as president of the fund, was by Gomez’s side on the red carpet.
Look at her now. 🥹 Selena Gomez arrives to the Rare Impact Fund Benefit: A Night of Radiance & Reflection. https://t.co/QhsmH7Qj8i
— E! News (@enews) October 15, 2026
The Rare Impact Fund now supports 30 nonprofit partners across 5 continents and reaches about 3.5 million young people each year. In March 2026, it put more than $2.5 million toward grants of $250,000 to $500,000 aimed at expanding the nonclinical youth mental health workforce.
The need is significant. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in 7 young people ages 10 to 19 has a mental health condition, and many go unrecognized and untreated.
The benefit has grown quickly since it debuted in October 2023, when Martin Short hosted, and H.E.R. and Marshmello performed. Last year’s event, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, raised more than $2 million with support from over 20 sponsors.
This year’s move to the Hollywood Palladium, a Sunset Boulevard concert hall that opened in 1940, shows how much the event has grown. The total raised this year hasn’t been announced yet.
The benefit also comes shortly after a personal milestone for Gomez. She and husband Benny Blanco celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary on September 27, and she marked it on her Instagram Story with a black-and-white wedding photo and a sweet message.
Selena Gomez shares how husband Benny Blanco helps support her mission to serve others through the Rare Impact Fund. ❤️ https://t.co/xQdSIfYb0e
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) October 15, 2026
With Blanco on the host committee and the fund growing every year, the benefit has clearly become personal for the couple as well as a professional commitment. Gomez has found a way to turn her fame into steady support for a cause she cares about.
Every year, the benefit brings attention and money to organizations working directly with young people who are struggling. With the $100 million goal still ahead, the 4th edition suggests the Rare Impact Fund will keep growing.
What do you think of Selena Gomez’s red carpet look at the Rare Impact Fund Benefit?
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