July Moon Productions

Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez
Born	July 22, 1992 (age 34); Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur
Years active	2002–present
Known for	Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena Gomez & the Scene, solo music career, Rare Beauty

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article July Moon Productions, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 26 July 2025

Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is a multifaceted American talent known for her work as an actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. Her career began in childhood with a role on Barney & Friends (2002–2004), and she rose to fame starring as the lead in Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012). In 2008, Gomez signed with Hollywood Records and created the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three well-received albums: Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011).

As a solo artist, she has launched three studio albums that debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Her debut solo album, Stars Dance (2013), which embraced EDM influences, featured the global hit "Come & Get It". After signing with Interscope Records, she released the electropop album Revival (2015), which included top-ten hits such as "Good for You" and "Hands to Myself". Her subsequent dance-pop record, Rare (2020), delivered her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, "Lose You to Love Me". The Spanish-language EP Revelación (2021) garnered nominations at both the Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. In 2025, she unveiled her fourth studio album, I Said I Love You First, created in collaboration with Benny Blanco. Among her numerous collaborations are chart-topping tracks like "We Don't Talk Anymore", "It Ain't Me", and the remix of "Calm Down", which stands out as one of the most successful Afrobeats songs.

Gomez’s acting portfolio includes films such as Another Cinderella Story (2008), Monte Carlo (2011), and Spring Breakers (2012). She provided the voice for Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania series spanning from 2012 to 2022. In addition to acting, she has taken on producing roles for shows like 13 Reasons Why, Living Undocumented, and Selena + Chef. Since 2021, she has starred in the acclaimed series Only Murders in the Building. Her achievements have earned her an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, Best Actress at Cannes Film Festival, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and 16 Guinness World Records.

Beyond entertainment, Gomez is a significant business figure and humanitarian. She launched the cosmetics brand Rare Beauty in 2020, which reached a valuation of $2 billion by 2024. The brand is supported by its charitable branch, Rare Impact Fund. She actively promotes causes related to mental health awareness and champions equality across gender, racial, and LGBT communities. Since 2009, she has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Recognized by prestigious lists such as Time 100, Forbes 30 Under 30, Billboard Women in Music Woman of the Year in 2017, and Latin Women of the Year in 2025, she was honored with France’s Order of Arts and Letters in 2024. Gomez ranks among Instagram’s most-followed women and is counted among the world’s wealthiest musicians.

Early life

Selena Marie Gomez entered the world on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas, born to Ricardo Joel Gomez and Mandy Teefey, a former stage actress originally from Texas. Her name honors the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Her father’s heritage is Mexican, while her mother, who was adopted, has Italian roots. Gomez’s paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico, during the 1970s. She proudly identifies as a "third-generation American-Mexican." After she began her television career around age seven, her proficiency in Spanish diminished.

Following her parents’ separation when she was five years old, Gomez primarily lived with her mother, who later married talent manager Brian Teefey. She has two younger half-sisters and a stepbrother from her parents’ subsequent marriages. Homeschooled for most of her education, Gomez completed her high school diploma in May 2010.

Financial hardships marked Gomez’s early years, with her mother juggling several jobs to provide for the family. Gomez has often praised her mother’s resilience and sacrifices, recognizing the difficulties of being raised by a teenage mother. Her grandparents also played a crucial role in her upbringing by caring for her while her parents pursued their education.

2002–2006: Early career development

Gomez’s passion for performing arts was sparked through involvement in her mother’s theatrical productions. She made her acting debut in 2002 on the children’s program Barney & Friends, portraying Gianna across thirteen episodes until 2004. This opportunity served as her initial significant acting role, where she acquired essential skills such as camera techniques and stage blocking. Additionally, she appeared in minor parts in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and the television film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005). In 2006, she guest-starred on an episode of Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

2007–2012: Disney breakthrough and formation of Selena Gomez & the Scene

Gomez first gained widespread attention with a recurring role on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana in 2007 before landing the lead character Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, which prompted her relocation to Los Angeles. The show focused on a family of wizards living in New York City and became a significant hit for Disney Channel. This success elevated Gomez to "teen idol" status and positioned her among the highest-paid child actors on television. The series earned the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program and received praise for Gomez’s comedic performance.

In 2008, she lent her voice to Helga in the animated feature Horton Hears a Who!, which grossed over $300 million globally. That same year, she starred in the direct-to-video musical Another Cinderella Story, winning a Young Artist Award and contributing three tracks to its soundtrack, including "Tell Me Something I Don't Know," which marked her debut on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also recorded "Fly to Your Heart" for the soundtrack of Tinker Bell.

At age sixteen, Gomez signed with Hollywood Records and established July Moon Production with ambitions to produce films like What Boys Want and a screen adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why, although these projects did not come to fruition; however, she later served as producer on the television adaptation of the latter.

Remaining visible within mainstream media, Gomez appeared in Disney crossover episodes and starred in projects such as Princess Protection Program (2009), which attracted 8.5 million viewers during its premiere. She also headlined Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, drawing an audience of 11.4 million and ranking as cable television’s second most-watched TV movie that year. This film won an additional Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program. Gomez contributed songs like "Magic" to the series’ soundtrack and voiced Princess Selenia in Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard.

To pursue music more seriously, Gomez formed the pop rock group Selena Gomez & the Scene, signed under Hollywood Records. Their debut album, Kiss & Tell (2009), entered the U.S. Billboard 200 at number nine with first-week sales totaling 66,000 copies. Although reviews were mixed, it featured their breakthrough single "Naturally," which reached number twenty-nine on U.S. charts and climbed to number seven in the UK.

In 2010, Gomez portrayed Beezus Quimby in Ramona and Beezus, receiving positive critical feedback. That year also saw Selena Gomez & the Scene release their second album, A Year Without Rain, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with over 66,000 copies sold initially. Despite mixed critiques focusing on Auto-Tune usage, singles such as "Round & Round" enjoyed moderate chart success. The band earned Favorite Breakout Artist honors at the 37th People's Choice Awards.

Their third album, When the Sun Goes Down (2011), similarly debuted at number four on Billboard 200 with first-week sales reaching 78,000 copies and eventually peaking at number three. The lead single "Who Says" achieved a peak position of twenty-one in the U.S., while "Love You like a Love Song" became their highest-charting track both domestically and internationally; it topped charts in Russia and was later recognized by Pitchfork as a cult karaoke favorite. Between 2010 and 2012, Gomez was featured on Billboard's 21 Under 21 list.

In cinema during this period, Gomez starred in Monte Carlo (2011), playing dual characters during a Paris trip; despite mixed critical reception and comments about her British accent, it represented another significant film role. She also made a cameo appearance in The Muppets and hosted prominent events including the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards, further establishing herself as both an entertainment executive and public personality.

2012–2014: Stars Dance and cinematic ventures

In January 2012, Selena Gomez declared a pause in her music career, effectively disbanding Selena Gomez & the Scene to focus on solo endeavors. That same year saw the finale of her Disney Channel show, Wizards of Waverly Place.

Gomez broadened her acting portfolio with the 2012 indie film Spring Breakers, directed by Harmony Korine. The film debuted at the Venice International Film Festival, earned favorable critiques, and developed a cult following, appearing on several prestigious "best of" compilations. Additionally, she lent her voice to the character Mavis Dracula in the animated hit Hotel Transylvania (2012), which amassed $358 million globally. In 2013, she took the lead in the action thriller Getaway, which was met with negative reviews and poor box office results, earning her a Golden Raspberry nomination. Gomez also served as executive producer and starred in the Disney Channel special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.

Although initially planning a break, Gomez released her solo debut single "Come & Get It" in April 2013. The track reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and secured top ten positions in both Canada and the United Kingdom. Her first solo album, Stars Dance, launched in July 2013, showcased EDM and electropop styles. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 with 97,000 copies sold in its first week and also topped Canadian charts. Critical reception was mixed, with some reviewers questioning her vocal delivery and artistic direction. The album's follow-up single "Slow Down" achieved moderate chart success. For promotion, Gomez incorporated choreographed dance routines inspired by artists like Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, culminating in winning Best Pop Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards for "Come & Get It".

The Stars Dance Tour commenced in August 2013 across North America and Europe but was cut short by December due to Gomez taking a health-related break. Early in 2014, she voluntarily spent two weeks at a treatment facility for addiction and trauma recovery; representatives emphasized it was not related to substance abuse. Later disclosures revealed she was managing lupus, necessitating chemotherapy.

During this timeframe, Gomez appeared in the 2014 film Behaving Badly, which received poor critical feedback overall; however, her individual performance was noted as a highlight. She also held a supporting role in William H. Macy’s directorial debut drama Rudderless, which premiered at Sundance to mixed reviews.

In April 2014, Gomez ended her family management arrangement by dismissing her mother and stepfather as managers after years of overseeing her career through Disney. She then aligned with William Morris Agency and Brillstein Entertainment Partners for professional representation as part of a deliberate move toward more mature projects and distancing from her teen idol persona. This shift led to speculation regarding her contract status with Hollywood Records.

November 2014 saw the surprise release of "The Heart Wants What It Wants," which confirmed plans for a compilation album intended to complete her obligations with Hollywood Records. The single entered the U.S. top ten and performed well on Canadian charts. The greatest hits collection For You debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard 200 with over 35,000 equivalent units sold during its first week. Later that year, Gomez officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and signed with Interscope Records in December 2014.

2015–2016: Revival

While working on her sophomore album, Gomez teamed up with German DJ Zedd for the single "I Want You to Know" (February 2015), which entered the U.S. charts at number 17. She made a cameo appearance in Taylor Swift’s "Bad Blood" music video (May) and launched "Good for You" featuring ASAP Rocky (June). This single debuted atop the Digital Song Sales chart with 179,000 copies sold in its first week, marking her highest sales week for a single. It also became her first top-five entry on the Billboard Hot 100, reached number one on the Pop Airplay chart, and secured top ten positions in both Australia and Canada.

Gomez returned as the voice of Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), which achieved commercial success by grossing $474 million globally. She earned the Favorite Animated Movie Voice award at the 42nd People's Choice Awards for this role.

Her second studio effort, Revival, released in October 2015, blends dance-pop and electropop with elements of R&B. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 117,000 units during its initial week, and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. Singles including "Same Old Love," "Hands to Myself," and "Kill Em with Kindness" all enjoyed strong chart performances, elevating Gomez to one of only six female artists to have three number-one singles on Pop Airplay from a single album. For these achievements, she was honored with the Chart-Topper Award at Billboard Women in Music 2015.

In addition to her music career, Gomez acted as a key advisor during season nine of The Voice and appeared in Adam McKay’s film The Big Short (2015). The following year, she starred in The Fundamentals of Caring, which premiered at Sundance and was released on Netflix to favorable critiques. She also featured in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, which earned $108 million worldwide.

Launching the global Revival Tour in May 2016, Gomez emphasized her musical artistry while reducing choreography. The tour covered North America, Asia, and Oceania; however, planned European and South American dates were canceled due to health issues related to anxiety and depression stemming from lupus.

Gomez lent her vocals to Charlie Puth’s hit "We Don't Talk Anymore," which reached the top ten internationally and received a 5× platinum certification from the RIAA. Its music video became YouTube's most-viewed release of 2016 with over three billion views. Additionally, she appeared in In Dubious Battle (2016) and guest-starred on Inside Amy Schumer. That year also saw her collaborate with Cashmere Cat and Tory Lanez on "Trust Nobody."

After canceling parts of her tour, Gomez sought treatment in rehab focusing on mental health recovery. At that time, she held the distinction as Instagram’s most-followed individual and was the first user to surpass 100 million followers. She made a public return at the 2016 American Music Awards, where she won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and garnered multiple nominations at events such as the iHeartRadio Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. Forbes included her in their prestigious 30 Under 30 list for music.

2017–2019: Standalone releases and 13 Reasons Why

In February 2017, Gomez partnered with DJ Kygo on "It Ain't Me," which secured top ten positions worldwide and earned several award nods including at the Billboard Music Awards.

She took on an executive producer role for Netflix’s adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why, which premiered in March 2017. Despite sparking controversy regarding its depiction of suicide, the series initially received critical acclaim and became Netflix’s most tweeted about show in 2017 as well as its most-watched original streaming series of 2018. The show concluded after four seasons in June 2020.

Gomez released critically praised singles such as "Bad Liar" (May 2017), notable for debuting via a Spotify-exclusive vertical video—the first instance of this format—and widely regarded as one of her finest tracks. Other successful singles included "Fetish" featuring Gucci Mane and "Wolves" alongside Marshmello. Recognizing her impact on music that year, Billboard named her Woman of the Year in 2017.

In May 2018, she unveiled "Back to You" for the soundtrack of 13 Reasons Why Season 2, achieving strong chart placements internationally. Gomez once again voiced Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, which grossed $528 million worldwide. That year also featured her collaboration on DJ Snake’s global hit "Taki Taki", which topped Latin American charts and received numerous award nominations.

Her acting credits during this period include roles in Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don't Die (2019) and Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York (2019). Notably, she donated over $1 million from her salary for Allen's film to Time's Up amid renewed allegations against Allen. Furthermore, Gomez executive produced Netflix’s docuseries Living Undocumented (2019), which highlights immigrant family experiences and received an Emmy nomination.

2020–2023: Rare, Revelación, and Only Murders in the Building

Ahead of her third studio album Rare (January 2020), Gomez unveiled the lead singles "Lose You to Love Me" and "Look at Her Now." The album launched at number one on the Billboard 200, moving 112,000 units in its opening week—marking her third straight chart-topping release—and achieved top positions internationally. Incorporating dance-pop fused with R&B, electronic, and alternative pop influences, it was widely praised by critics as her most accomplished project to date.

In 2020, she lent her voice to a giraffe character in the film Dolittle, which did not meet commercial expectations. Concurrently, Gomez took on hosting and executive producing duties for the HBO Max culinary series Selena + Chef (2020–2023), which generated significant donations for food-related charities and garnered Emmy nominations.

August 2020 saw her collaborate with K-pop sensation Blackpink on the track "Ice Cream," which attained impressive chart rankings worldwide and set records for YouTube debut views. That same year, The Latin Recording Academy recognized her as a Leading Lady of Entertainment, and Time magazine included her among its 100 most influential individuals.

Her inaugural Spanish-language EP, Revelación (March 2021), blends reggaeton, Latin pop, R&B, and urbano styles, representing a deliberate expansion into Latin music markets. It debuted atop Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart—making her the first female artist to do so since Shakira—and received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album.

Gomez also starred in and executive produced Hulu’s mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building (2021–present) alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. The show broke Hulu comedy premiere viewership records and earned critical acclaim along with multiple Emmy nods for both acting and production. Her performance was honored with several awards, including a Satellite Award for Best Actress.

Returning as Mavis and serving as executive producer, Gomez contributed to Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022). She also collaborated with Coldplay on "Let Somebody Go," which garnered a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

In May 2023, Gomez expanded her culinary brand through new Food Network projects including holiday specials, continuing to develop these initiatives.

Her remix collaboration on Nigerian artist Rema’s "Calm Down" became a global sensation—reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100, topping Canadian charts for nine weeks, breaking longevity records on Pop Airplay charts, and surpassing one billion streams on Spotify—establishing itself as Afrobeats’ most successful crossover hit.

Gomez was featured in the documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022), which highlights mental health openness; it premiered at AFI Fest to favorable reviews and won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Music Documentary.

She maintained her musical output with standalone singles such as "Single Soon" (August 2023), which charted internationally.

2024–present: Continued acting and I Said I Love You First

In early 2024, Gomez indicated a stronger preference for acting over music while confirming ongoing recording projects. She released the single "Love On" (February), which achieved moderate chart success.

She portrayed Jessi Del Monte in the Spanish-language musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez, premiering at Cannes Film Festival where it received the Jury Prize; her performance earned critical acclaim alongside ensemble honors including BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.

Gomez co-produced the documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change (October 2024) for the Max streaming service. Additionally, she reprised her role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel/Disney+ spinoff series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which debuted in October 2024 to positive critical reception.

Her collaborative fourth studio album with Benny Blanco, titled I Said I Love You First (March 2025), opened at number two on the Billboard 200 with her highest sales week yet; it received generally favorable reviews mixed with some critique. Singles from the album include promotional track “Scared of Loving You” and lead single “Call Me When You Break Up” featuring Gracie Abrams.

Acknowledging her sustained impact across diverse music markets, Gomez was honored as Billboard Latin Women of the Year.

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