By Liana Jacob
MEET the stunning freelance photographer who has been bombarded with people who have been telling her she looks like Selena Gomez since she was FIFTEEN at which time she had never heard of the world-famous singer.
Uncanny pictures show freelancer, Erika Montantes (23), sharing a similar love of colourful shirts of yellow and red, while another photo shows her wearing a denim jacket.
Her croppy haircut, posh pout and large shades reveal that she shares a lot of similarities with the American singer. Erika, from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and Selena, whose father is of Mexican decent, also share similar roots.
She says that the comparison has made her famous in various countries which has helped her socialise with many people around the world, despite labelling herself as an introvert with a big heart.
“I always get surprised when people from other countries tell me that they wish to know me, talk to their friends about me or the idea that I’m famous in their countries,” Erika said.
“It’s funny because some of them look surprised when they ask me if I’m Selena and I say no; they either just walk away or take pictures with me.
“Although, sometimes I look at her outfits or her hairstyle and I get inspired by her to style myself, because I think ‘if Selena looks good using that, maybe I’ll look good too’.
“I only have one video on my Instagram imitating her, but it was because a lot of people told me to do it.
“People have been telling me I look like her since I was fifteen, so I started to follow her at that age and she has since became my role model.
“When I was in high school, a friend told me ‘hey! You look like Selena Gomez’ and I was like ‘who?’ and he kept saying it, so I searched her, and I was like ‘umm okay we do look a little bit alike’.
“She soon became more famous and more people started to tell me that we look alike; even when I went to San Diego, California, people kept staring at me and some of them asked me if I was her – that was crazy.”
Despite Selena’s ordeal during her kidney transplant in 2015, she was recently spotted embracing her post-op body, looking stunning as ever.
Both Erika and Selena take pride in their looks. Erika spends one hour applying her makeup every day and regularly browses Instagram for the latest looks and trends. She also shares what she and Selena have in common.
“I feel flattered, I think she’s so beautiful and an incredible human being. I love her, I think she’s so strong, beautiful, brave, she’s a good role model. Even if she has been through a lot (with her disease) she tries to keep a smile on her face,” she said.
“I usually take one hour to do my makeup – I know that’s a lot of time but I love doing my makeup. I also watch people on Instagram and get inspired by their looks.
“Sometimes I try to recreate makeup styles or outfits, I also try to have a good skincare routine and do some exercise to keep myself healthy.
“Selena loves pickles and so do I, also in some interviews she says she loves all kinds of food and so do I.
“Sometimes I think it’s cool to look like someone famous but at times I just want people to know me for me and not for who I look.
“Some ‘haters’ think I want to be Selena or that I try to look like her, which it’s wrong. I don’t try to look like her or act like her because I know that she is Selena and I’m Erika – different people, you know?
“I’d like to say that no matter how rude people are, just ignore them and keep going – the most important thing is to be yourself and love yourself no matter what.”
For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/itseriikaamp/
