Selena Gomez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selena Gomez
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Gomez in 2024
|
|
| Born |
Selena Marie Gomez
July 22, 1992 |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Organization | Rare Beauty |
|
Works
|
|
| Partner(s) | Benny Blanco (2023–present; engaged) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American actress, singer, producer, and businesswoman. She started her career as a child actress on the TV show Barney & Friends. She became a teen idol for her role as Alex Russo on the Disney Channel show Wizards of Waverly Place.
In 2008, she signed with Hollywood Records and formed the band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The band released three popular albums. After the band, Gomez released three solo albums that all reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Her first solo album, Stars Dance (2013), had the hit single "Come & Get It". Her next album, Revival (2015), included hit songs like "Good for You" and "Hands to Myself". Her album Rare (2020) featured her first number-one single, "Lose You to Love Me".
Gomez has also starred in many movies, including Another Cinderella Story (2008) and Monte Carlo (2011). She voiced the character Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania movie series. Since 2021, she has starred in the popular TV series Only Murders in the Building.
Besides acting and singing, Gomez is a successful businesswoman. She founded the makeup company Rare Beauty in 2020. She also works with many charities and speaks out about important issues like mental health. She has won many awards, including an American Music Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Contents
Early Life
Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her mother, Mandy Teefey, was a stage actress, and her father is Ricardo Joel Gomez. She was named after the famous Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Her father's family is from Mexico, and her mother has Italian roots. Gomez has called herself a "proud third-generation American-Mexican."
Her parents divorced when she was five years old, and she lived with her mother. Her family faced money problems, and her mother worked hard to support them. Gomez said her mother "gave up everything for me, had three jobs, supported me, sacrificed her life for me." She had a close relationship with her grandparents, who often took care of her. She earned her high school diploma through homeschooling in 2010.
Career
2002–2006: Starting as an Actress
Gomez became interested in acting by watching her mother on stage. In 2002, she got her first role as the character Gianna on the children's TV show Barney & Friends. She appeared in 13 episodes between 2002 and 2004. She also had small roles in the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and the TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005).
2007–2012: Disney Stardom and Music
In 2007, Gomez got the lead role of Alex Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. The show was a huge success and made Gomez a famous teen idol. The show was about a family of wizards living in New York City. It won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.
While on the show, Gomez also started her movie career. She starred in Another Cinderella Story (2008) and voiced a character in the animated film Horton Hears a Who! She also started her own production company, July Moon Productions.
Hoping to get into music, Gomez formed the band Selena Gomez & the Scene. Their first album, Kiss & Tell (2009), was a mix of pop and rock music. The song "Naturally" became a big hit. The band released two more albums, A Year Without Rain (2010) and When the Sun Goes Down (2011). The song "Love You like a Love Song" became one of their most popular songs.
During this time, Gomez also starred in the movie Ramona and Beezus (2010) and the comedy Monte Carlo (2011). She also hosted the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.
2012–2014: Solo Music and New Roles
In 2012, Gomez decided to take a break from her band to focus on a solo music career. That same year, Wizards of Waverly Place ended after four seasons. She took on more mature acting roles, like in the movie Spring Breakers (2012). She also voiced the character Mavis in the animated movie Hotel Transylvania, which was a big success.
In 2013, Gomez released her first solo album, Stars Dance. It went to number one on the U.S. charts. The album's lead single, "Come & Get It", became her first top-ten hit. She went on the Stars Dance Tour to support the album. In 2014, she released the song "The Heart Wants What It Wants" and a greatest hits album called For You. After this, she signed with a new record label, Interscope Records.
2015–2019: Revival and Standalone Singles
_(cropped).jpg)
Gomez's second solo album, Revival, came out in October 2015. Critics loved the album, calling it a new and stronger sound for her. It also went to number one in the U.S. The album had three hit singles: "Good for You", "Same Old Love", and "Hands to Myself". She started the Revival Tour in 2016 but had to cancel part of it to focus on her health.
During this period, Gomez also acted in films like The Fundamentals of Caring (2016) and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016). She collaborated with other artists on hit songs like "We Don't Talk Anymore" with Charlie Puth and "It Ain't Me" with Kygo.
Gomez was also an executive producer for the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. The show, based on a popular book, premiered in 2017. She also produced the documentary series Living Undocumented (2019), which followed the lives of undocumented families in the U.S.
In 2019, she released the song "Lose You to Love Me". It became her first number-one song in the U.S. and Canada. This was the first single from her next album.
2020–Present: Rare, Revelación, and Acting Success
Gomez's third solo album, Rare, was released in January 2020. It became her third number-one album in the U.S. Critics praised it as one of her best albums. In 2020, she also launched her HBO Max cooking show, Selena + Chef, where she learns to cook from famous chefs.
In 2021, Gomez released her first Spanish-language project, an EP called Revelación. The EP was very successful and earned her a Grammy nomination. That same year, she began starring in the comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building with Steve Martin and Martin Short. The show has been a huge hit, and Gomez has received awards for her performance.
In 2022, she was featured on the remix of the song "Calm Down" by Nigerian artist Rema. The song was a massive global success and became one of the biggest Afrobeats songs of all time. In 2024, she starred in the musical film Emilia Pérez, which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. She also returned to her role as Alex Russo in the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
Her fourth studio album, a collaboration with Benny Blanco titled I Said I Love You First, was released in March 2025.
Charity Work and Advocacy
.jpg)
Selena Gomez is known for her work with charities. In 2009, at age 17, she became the youngest-ever ambassador for UNICEF. She has traveled to countries like Ghana and Nepal to raise awareness for children in need. She has helped raise millions of dollars for the organization.
Gomez also supports many other causes. She has worked with organizations that help animals, encourage young people to vote, and support girls' education. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness. In 2020, she launched the Rare Impact Fund through her company, Rare Beauty. The fund aims to raise $100 million to provide mental health resources for young people.
She has also spoken out in support of the LGBTQ community and the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2022, she went to the White House to speak at a forum about youth mental health.
Business Ventures
In 2010, Gomez launched a clothing line called Dream Out Loud, which used eco-friendly materials. She has also released two perfumes and worked with major brands like Adidas, Pantene, and Puma.
In 2020, Gomez launched her own makeup brand, Rare Beauty. The brand focuses on promoting self-acceptance and inclusivity. It has become very successful and is valued at $2 billion as of 2024. One percent of all sales from Rare Beauty goes to her Rare Impact Fund to support mental health.
Personal Life
Gomez has been open about her health challenges. She was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease. In 2017, she had a kidney transplant, receiving a kidney from her friend, actress Francia Raisa.
She has also talked about her struggles with anxiety and depression. In 2020, she shared that she has bipolar disorder. She often speaks about the importance of taking care of one's mental health.
Gomez was in a well-known relationship with Canadian singer Justin Bieber for several years. In 2023, she began dating record producer Benny Blanco. They announced their engagement in December 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Selena Gomez para niños
