Lexi Hensler Joined Selena Gomez’s Gala for Kid’s Mental Health — Into Lexi’s Own Journey

American internet personality Lexi Hensler recently attended Selena Gomez’s Gala, which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children’s mental health.

On October 6, 2023, Hensler posted a series of pictures from the Rare Impact Fund Benefit hosted by Gomez in Los Angeles, aimed at supporting youth mental health.

In the first picture, she was captured alongside Gomez, and in subsequent photos, the internet personality was seen with other well-known faces of the entertainment industry, such as Larsen Thompson, Kelsey Darragh, and Quigley Goode.

Alongside the post, Hensler captioned, “13-year-old Lexi struggling so deeply with her mental health never would’ve imagined she’d one day be at Selena Gomez’s incredible gala to raise money and awareness for kid’s mental health.”

The social media personality added, “She was so sure things would never get better, but look how much they did,” along with a white heart emoji. 

She also thanked Catch for granting her this incredible opportunity. She then passionately conveyed her excitement about being part of the effort to create a better, kinder, and more supportive future for the kids.

Following the post, Eef Vicca commented, “One awesome and incredibly down-to-earth girl right there, being so impactful in all that she does. Way to go Lexi!.” At the same time, one social media user wrote, “So proud of you Lexi. Can’t wait for many great things to come!”

Along with the admiration for Hensler, many people also expressed pride for Gomez’s great initiative. The singer launched her cosmetics Rare Beauty brand in 2020, and one of the brand’s goals is to eventually raise $100 million in support of youth mental health.

In an interview with Forbes, Gomez stated, “I have been open with my mental health struggles and have seen myself affected by feeling less than. Through my openness, I have heard from many young people over the years struggling as well and so this is something very close to my heart.”

Lexi Hensler’s struggle with mental health 

Hensler first encountered a mental health issue at the age of seventeen, following a near-death experience that required her to spend an entire summer recovering.

During the process of recovery, she grappled with a pervasive feeling of dependency on her mother, a sensation she later recognized as stemming from her anxiety. Since then, she has struggled with depression, OCD, and panic attacks.

Likewise, the social media personality was severely bullied during high school, which compelled her parents to relocate her due to safety concerns. 

In an interview with Swagger, Hensler reminisced about a time when mental illness was often regarded as contagious. She mentioned that no one used to openly discuss it, which left her with a sense of isolation, believing that she was alone in her experiences. 

She was also afraid to open up about her mental health struggles with friends at that time because she worried they might find it weird and subsequently distance themselves from her.

Later, as the internet star grew older, she gradually learned to cope with her mental health challenges. One of the biggest steps in her healing process was the pursuit of self-education to understand the root causes of her mental health struggles.

She also took proactive steps by seeking therapy and working towards her dreams, which helped her grow and recover. 

Now that Hensler had built her online career, she utilized it to raise awareness about mental health. She officially launched her mental health brand under the name Hugz on November 25, 2022.

Within Hugz, the social media personality introduced a range of therapeutic weighted stuffed animals like a duck, an elephant, a llama, and a sloth that possess the unique ability to be microwaved for warmth or placed in a freezer for a cooling effect to alleviate stress and depression. 

Lexi Hensler is the creator and founder of Hugz. (Source: Givehugz)

Hugz also maintains its dedicated website and social media presence. According to the company’s website, its mission is to actively contribute to normalizing mental wellness and prioritize attention to detail to ensure that every Hugz product is soft, perfectly balanced, and an ideal companion for tough days.

In an interview with Jana Letonja, Hensler shared her few intentions behind Hugz. She expressed her desire to offer comfort and relief to others, as well as her aim to break down the stigma surrounding mental health by using her ‘weighted friends’ as conversation starters.

Moreover, the social media star emphasized her commitment to giving back by donating 10% of all proceeds from her Hugz of the Month to mental wellness charities such as Your Mom Cares and other non-profit organization that provides resources and support for children’s mental health.

Later in the same interview, when Letonja asked her to share some advice on coping with mental health challenges, she emphasized the importance of regular exercise. She highlighted how going to the gym makes her feel better and significantly reduces her anxiety.

Additionally, Hensler mentioned the therapeutic value of listening to music with headphones, which has a positive impact on her mental well-being. She also added that she finds comfort in placing Hugz’s weighted stuffed animal on her chest.