Selena Gomez

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	Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place; Selena Gomez & the Scene; solo music career; producer of 13 Reasons Why; Rare Beauty founder

Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is a multifaceted American entertainer, encompassing roles as an actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. Her career commenced in childhood with appearances on Barney & Friends from 2002 to 2004. She achieved widespread recognition as a teenage icon portraying Alex Russo on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place between 2007 and 2012. In 2008, Gomez inked a deal with Hollywood Records and subsequently formed the group Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three studio albums: Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011).

As a solo artist, Gomez has produced three studio albums, starting with the EDM-inspired Stars Dance (2013), which featured the top-ten hit "Come & Get It". Her sophomore solo effort, Revival (2015), delivered popular singles such as "Good for You" and "Same Old Love". The third album, Rare (2020), included her first number-one track on the Billboard Hot 100, "Lose You to Love Me". Additionally, she released the Spanish-language EP Revelación in 2021 and her fourth studio album, I Said I Love You First (2025), featuring collaboration with Benny Blanco. Her notable collaborations encompass chart-topping songs like "We Don't Talk Anymore", "It Ain't Me", "Wolves", "Taki Taki", and "Calm Down (Remix)", recognized as one of the leading Afrobeats hits.

In her film career, Gomez has appeared in productions such as Another Cinderella Story (2008), Monte Carlo (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and The Dead Don't Die (2019). She provided the voice of Mavis in the commercially successful Hotel Transylvania animated film series. Beyond acting, she has taken on producing roles for television projects including 13 Reasons Why, Living Undocumented, and Selena + Chef. Since 2021, she has starred in the critically acclaimed series Only Murders in the Building. Her accolades comprise an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as holding 16 Guinness World Records.

Gomez actively champions causes related to mental health awareness, gender equality, racial justice, and LGBT rights. She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2009. In 2020, she launched the cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, which reached a valuation of $2 billion by 2024 and includes its charitable branch, the Rare Impact Fund. She has been featured in prominent rankings such as Time 100 and Forbes 30 Under 30, earned Billboard’s Woman of the Year title in 2017, and was honored as Latin Women of the Year in 2025. In addition, she was inducted into France’s Order of Arts and Letters in 2024. Among the highest-earning musicians worldwide, Gomez also holds distinction as the most-followed female personality on Instagram.

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 from Texas. Her name honors the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. With a father of Mexican heritage and a mother who was adopted and has Italian roots, Gomez identifies as "a proud third-generation American-Mexican." Her paternal grandparents moved from Monterrey, Mexico to Texas during the 1970s. Although she once spoke Spanish fluently, her proficiency diminished after age seven when she began her television career.

Following her parents' separation when she was five, Gomez resided primarily with her mother. She has two younger half-sisters and a younger stepbrother resulting from her parents’ subsequent marriages. Her mother and stepfather, Brian Teefey, welcomed a daughter named Gracie Elliot Teefey in 2013. Meanwhile, her father and his second wife had two children as well. Mostly educated at home, Gomez completed her high school diploma through homeschooling by May 2010.

Growing up with a teenage mother—her mother was only 16 at the time of Selena’s birth—Gomez faced financial hardships during childhood as her mother juggled various jobs to support the family. Gomez has expressed frustration over her parents' divorce but deeply respects her mother’s resilience and sacrifices. She maintained a strong bond with her grandparents, who played an important role in raising her until she achieved success in entertainment.

2002–2006: Early career

Gomez's passion for performing was sparked by watching her mother's stage work. She embarked on her acting journey in 2002 by joining the children's program Barney & Friends, where she portrayed the character Gianna. This role marked her professional debut, appearing in thirteen episodes between 2002 and 2004 along with two direct-to-video releases. Once she outgrew the role, she left the series. During this time, Gomez also took on minor parts in the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and the television film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005). Additionally, she made a guest appearance on an episode of the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in 2006.

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

In 2007, Gomez gained wider attention through a recurring role on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana. She later secured the lead role of Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, which led to her relocation to Los Angeles. The show focused on a family of teenage wizards living in New York City and quickly became a major hit for Disney. It propelled Gomez into mainstream fame, establishing her as a "teen idol" and placing her among the top-earning young television actors. The series received critical acclaim and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program, with particular praise for Gomez's comedic delivery.

In 2008, Gomez lent her voice to Helga in the animated feature Horton Hears a Who!, which earned over $300 million globally. She also starred in the direct-to-video teen musical Another Cinderella Story, winning a Young Artist Award for her performance and contributing the single "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" to its soundtrack—her first track to enter the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, she recorded "Fly to Your Heart" for Tinker Bell.

At age sixteen, Gomez signed with Hollywood Records and established July Moon Production with intentions to develop films such as What Boys Want and an adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why, though these projects did not come to fruition at that time; she later served as producer for the successful TV adaptation.

Maintaining visibility within Disney productions, Gomez appeared on shows like The Suite Life on Deck and Sonny with a Chance. She co-starred alongside Demi Lovato in the Disney Channel movie Princess Protection Program, which attracted an audience of 8.5 million during its premiere. Gomez also headlined Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, which drew 11.4 million viewers, becoming cable television’s highest-rated scripted telecast for 2009 and earning another Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program. She contributed three songs to this movie’s soundtrack, including the single "Magic". Moreover, she provided the voice for Princess Selenia in the English-language version of Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard.

Venturing into music, Gomez formed the pop rock group Selena Gomez & the Scene under Hollywood Records. Their debut album, Kiss & Tell (2009), combined elements of pop rock and electronic rock, entering at number nine on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 66,000 copies. Critics offered mixed reviews; some appreciated its enjoyable vibe while others were less favorable regarding Gomez's vocal performance. The album’s lead single did not achieve significant commercial success; however, its follow-up "Naturally" peaked at number twenty-nine on U.S. charts and reached number seven in the UK.

In 2010, Gomez portrayed Beezus Quimby in Ramona and Beezus, an adaptation of Beverly Cleary's beloved novels; it was well-received critically and earned praise from Roger Ebert. That year also saw her reprise Princess Selenia’s voice role in Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds. Selena Gomez & the Scene released their sophomore album A Year Without Rain, which debuted at number four on Billboard 200 with over 66,000 copies sold initially. Reviews ranged from mixed to positive; some critics noted extensive use of Auto-Tune in production. Singles like "Round & Round" and "A Year Without Rain" enjoyed moderate chart success. The band earned Favorite Breakout Artist honors at the 37th People's Choice Awards.

Their third studio effort, When the Sun Goes Down (2011), entered Billboard 200 at number four with first-week sales hitting 78,000 copies; it eventually climbed to number three. The lead single "Who Says" became their highest-charting U.S. hit at number twenty-one. Another track, "Love You like a Love Song", emerged as their most commercially successful single both domestically and internationally—it peaked at number twenty-two on Billboard Hot 100 with an unprecedented chart duration of 38 weeks; it also reached top ten status in Canada and topped charts in Russia. Pitchfork described it as "a cult karaoke classic." Additionally, Billboard recognized Gomez by including her on their 21 Under 21 list for three straight years starting from 2010.

On screen, Gomez starred in Monte Carlo (2011) alongside Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy portraying Grace/Cordelia. To prepare for this role, she undertook polo lessons and dialect coaching; however, critical response to her performance was mixed. The film itself received varied reviews overall; Nick Schager from Slant Magazine called her "cute but too bland." Furthermore, Gomez made a cameo appearance in The Muppets. In addition to acting roles that year, she hosted both the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards and 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.

2012–2014: Stars Dance and cinematic ventures

In January 2012, Selena Gomez declared a break for Selena Gomez & the Scene, which ultimately became a permanent disbandment as she embarked on a solo music path. That same year marked the conclusion of Wizards of Waverly Place after its four-season run.

Gomez took a leading role in the 2012 indie film Spring Breakers, directed by Harmony Korine, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. The plot centers on four college students who rob a fast food outlet to finance their spring break trip. The movie garnered positive critical reception and developed a cult following, showcasing Gomez in a more adult-oriented character.

She lent her voice to Mavis Dracula in the animated feature Hotel Transylvania, released in 2012. Although the film received mixed critical feedback, it achieved global box office success with $358 million in revenue. In 2013, Gomez starred as a young hacker in the action thriller Getaway. The movie was met with poor critical and commercial results, earning her a Razzie nomination. Additionally, she executive produced and starred in the Disney Channel special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.

Despite initial intentions to pause her career, Gomez launched "Come & Get It" in April 2013 as the lead single from her debut solo album, Stars Dance. The track climbed to number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and secured top ten positions in Canada and the United Kingdom. Rooted in EDM and electropop styles, the album debuted at number one in the U.S., selling 97,000 copies during its first week, and also topped Canadian charts. Reviews were mixed; critics highlighted a lack of distinctive musical identity and noted vocal limitations. The follow-up single "Slow Down" achieved moderate chart success. Gomez incorporated choreographed dance sequences inspired by Janet Jackson and Britney Spears into her live shows. The music video for "Come & Get It" earned Best Pop Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Stars Dance Tour commenced in August 2013 across North America and Europe; however, Gomez canceled the planned Australian and Asian dates in December to take a personal hiatus for family reasons. Early in 2014, she spent two weeks receiving treatment for addiction and emotional trauma, later disclosing her lupus diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy after canceling tour commitments.

In 2014, Gomez portrayed Nina Pennington in Behaving Badly, which was met with unfavorable reviews and underperformed financially; nonetheless, her individual acting received more positive commentary. She also appeared in William H. Macy’s directorial debut drama Rudderless, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to mixed critiques. At the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, Gomez was honored with the Ultimate Choice Award for her impact on entertainment.

April 2014 saw Gomez dismiss her mother and stepfather from their long-standing roles as her managers during her Disney-era career. She then signed with William Morris Agency alongside Brillstein Entertainment Partners to refocus her career toward mature music and film projects, aiming to move beyond her "Disney teen idol" persona. This shift in management fueled speculation about ending her contract with Hollywood Records.

In November 2014, Gomez unexpectedly released "The Heart Wants What It Wants", which reached the top ten on charts in both the U.S. and Canada. She also unveiled her first greatest hits album, For You, debuting at number twenty-four on the Billboard 200 with 35,506 album-equivalent units sold during its initial week. Following this release, she officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and signed with Interscope Records by December 2014.

2015–2016: Revival

During the release period of her sophomore album, Gomez teamed up with DJ Zedd for the track "I Want You to Know" (February 2015), which entered the U.S. charts at number 17. She appeared in Taylor Swift’s "Bad Blood" music video and launched "Good for You" featuring ASAP Rocky, which debuted atop the Digital Song Sales chart with 179,000 copies sold—marking the strongest sales week of her career. This single became her initial top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the Pop Airplay chart, while also securing top ten positions in both Australia and Canada. Gomez reprised her role as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), a film that earned $474 million worldwide and won her Favorite Animated Movie Voice at the 42nd People's Choice Awards.

Released in October 2015, her second studio album, Revival, blends dance-pop and electropop elements with R&B influences. Critics lauded its lyrical content and production quality, with Rolling Stone describing it as a bold and empowering effort. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 117,000 units in its first week and later achieving platinum certification by the RIAA. Singles such as "Same Old Love" and "Hands to Myself" topped the Pop Airplay chart, making Gomez one of only six female artists to have three number-one singles from a single album on that chart. She was honored with Billboard’s Chart-Topper Award in 2015.

Gomez took on a prominent advisory role during season nine of The Voice and appeared in films including The Big Short (2015) and The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), which premiered at Sundance and received positive reviews upon its Netflix release. Additionally, she starred in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), which grossed $108 million globally.

In May 2016, she launched the Revival Tour worldwide, emphasizing artistic expression over complex choreography. After completing shows across North America, Asia, and Oceania, she canceled the European and South American legs due to anxiety and depression related to lupus.

She was featured on Charlie Puth’s hit "We Don’t Talk Anymore," which achieved international top ten status and earned a 5× platinum certification from the RIAA; its music video became the most viewed on YouTube in 2016 with more than three billion views. Gomez also had a supporting role in James Franco’s In Dubious Battle (2016) and made a guest appearance on Inside Amy Schumer. Furthermore, she collaborated with Tory Lanez on Cashmere Cat’s track "Trust Nobody."

Following the cancellation of her tour, Gomez reentered rehab to focus on her mental health. At that time, she was Instagram’s most-followed individual and the first to surpass 100 million followers. She made a public comeback at the 2016 American Music Awards, where she won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, along with multiple nominations including Top Female Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. Forbes recognized her in their 30 Under 30 list for music in 2016 and again as an All-Star Alumni in 2020.

2017–2019: Standalone releases and 13 Reasons Why

In February 2017, Gomez released "It Ain’t Me" alongside Kygo, which reached global top ten charts and received significant award nominations including a Billboard Music Award nod for Top Dance/Electronic Song; it became her best-selling single in the UK with over 1.4 million copies sold.

She served as executive producer for Netflix’s adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why, which premiered in March 2017. Despite initial controversy regarding its portrayal of suicide, it was critically well-received early on and went on to become Netflix’s most-watched original series of 2018.

Gomez released several critically praised singles including "Bad Liar" (May 2017), which premiered as Spotify’s first vertical video and was hailed as some of her finest work; followed by "Fetish" featuring Gucci Mane and EDM collaboration "Wolves" with Marshmello (October 2017), peaking at number twenty in the U.S. Later that year she was honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year.

In May 2018, she contributed "Back to You" to the soundtrack of 13 Reasons Why Season 2, achieving international top-ten charting. She once again voiced Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, which grossed $528 million worldwide.

Gomez appeared on DJ Snake’s track "Taki Taki" alongside Ozuna and Cardi B (September 2018), reaching global top-ten positions and winning Song of the Year at the Latin American Music Awards.

In early 2019, she featured on Julia Michaels’ song "Anxiety" and released "I Can’t Get Enough" with Benny Blanco, Tainy, and J Balvin.

Gomez acted in Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die (2019), which premiered at Cannes to mixed reactions; she also starred in Woody Allen’s romantic comedy A Rainy Day in New York, donating over $1 million from her earnings to Time’s Up amid allegations against Allen. Additionally, she executive produced Netflix’s docuseries Living Undocumented (2019), which garnered critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination.

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

In October 2019, Gomez launched the lead single "Lose You to Love Me," marking her first chart-topping hit in the United States. Her third studio album, Rare, arrived in January 2020, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with 112,000 units sold. This achievement secured her third consecutive US number-one album and extended her success internationally. The dance-pop record was widely praised for its cohesive production and artistic consistency.

In 2020, she lent her voice to a giraffe character in the film Dolittle, which did not meet commercial expectations. During the same period, Gomez took on hosting and executive production roles for the HBO Max cooking series Selena + Chef (2020–2022), which received critical acclaim and earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination. Following this success, Food Network commissioned two additional projects featuring her as host in 2023.

Midway through 2020, she contributed a remix for Trevor Daniel’s "Past Life" and served as executive producer for the romantic comedies The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) and This Is the Year. Additionally, Gomez collaborated with Blackpink on the track "Ice Cream," which peaked at number thirteen on the US Hot 100 chart and set new records for YouTube views.

Her influence was recognized when she was named one of The Latin Recording Academy’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment in 2020 and included among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

March 2021 saw the release of her first Spanish-language EP, Revelación, which fused reggaeton, Latin pop, and R&B elements. It debuted at number twenty-two on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, marking the highest sales week for a female Latin artist since Shakira’s 'El Dorado'. The EP received widespread critical acclaim and secured a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. Singles such as “De Una Vez” and “Baila Conmigo” contributed to Gomez becoming the first female artist in over ten years to simultaneously top both the US Latin Albums and Latin Airplay charts.

Gomez took a starring role in Hulu’s mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building (2021–present), where she also served as executive producer alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. The series broke Hulu records for comedy premieres, garnered critical praise through four seasons, and earned numerous accolades including a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy, a Screen Actors Guild Ensemble Award, Golden Globe nominations, and an Emmy nod—establishing her as one of the most nominated Latina producers in comedy television history.

She returned to voice acting as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022), also taking on executive production duties; this installment premiered on Amazon Prime Video and received mixed critical responses.

Her collaborative efforts extended to Coldplay’s “Let Somebody Go,” featured on a Grammy Album of the Year-nominated project. In 2022, Gomez hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live on two occasions and executive produced the ViX+ docuseries Mi Vecino, El Cartel.

In August 2022, Gomez appeared on Nigerian artist Rema’s remix “Calm Down,” which achieved worldwide acclaim: it reached number three on the US Hot 100, secured nine top-ten positions globally, set multiple Billboard chart records, became the highest-charting song led by an African artist, surpassed one billion Spotify streams—making it Afrobeats’ most successful crossover single—and won several awards including MTV VMAs Best Afrobeats Video.

Her documentary film Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me premiered at AFI Fest in November 2022 before its release on Apple TV+. The film was lauded for its candid depiction of mental health struggles, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming and winning the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Music Documentary.

Early in 2023, Gomez appeared in Apple TV+’s series Dear... and released the standalone single “Single Soon,” which entered the global top twenty charts.

2024–present: Ongoing Acting Endeavors and I Said I Love You First

In early 2024, Gomez revealed a stronger inclination toward her acting career while confirming that music continues to play an integral role in her professional life; she launched the single “Love On,” which entered the US charts within the top 60.

She portrayed Jessi Del Monte in the Spanish-language musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez, which debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and received the Jury Prize. Her portrayal garnered critical acclaim, resulting in nominations for both Golden Globe and BAFTA awards. The film’s cast collectively earned the Best Actress award at Cannes, and Gomez was distinguished with the title of chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters.

Gomez took on a co-producer role for the documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change, released in October 2024 on the Max streaming service. Additionally, she made a guest appearance reprising her character Alex Russo in the Disney Channel/Disney+ spin-off series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which premiered on October 29 to favorable reviews.

On March 21, she unveiled her fourth studio album, a collaborative project titled ‘’I Said I Love You First,’’ created alongside Benny Blanco. Prior to its release, promotional singles such as “Scared of Loving You” and the lead track “Call Me When You Break Up” were issued. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, achieving her highest sales week with 120,000 units sold, and secured top-five positions on international charts. In recognition of her influence, Gomez was honored as Billboard Latin Women of the Year.

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