: A highly detailed, "raunchy" image of Gomez supposedly on the cover of the March 2013 issue went viral. This image was later confirmed to be a fake , created by digitally altering an existing Playboy cover with Gomez’s face.
The confusion stemmed from a combination of aggressive digital misinformation and a major shift in Gomez's public image as she transitioned from a child star to an adult artist. The Origin of the March 2013 Rumors Selena Gomez Playboy Magazine March 2013
Gomez and her team never officially participated in a Playboy shoot. Reports from the time indicated that while the magazine may have been interested in a collaboration, Gomez consistently refused nude or semi-nude offers. : A highly detailed, "raunchy" image of Gomez
: On April 9, 2013, the official Playboy Twitter account tweeted an "open invitation" to Selena Gomez and co-star Vanessa Hudgens to attend a party at the Playboy Mansion, further fueling the fire. Selena Gomez’s Response The Origin of the March 2013 Rumors Gomez
While she didn't appear in Playboy, Gomez did use 2013 to redefine her image through other platforms: