Early Life and Career Beginnings
Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas. She began her career at a young age, appearing in the children’s television series “Barney & Friends.” In 2007, she gained widespread recognition for her role as Alex Russo in Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” which won her several awards and catapulted her into stardom.
2013–2019: Music and Film Success
Gomez formed the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing several successful albums, including “Kiss & Tell” (2009) and “A Year Without Rain” (2010). In addition to her music career, she starred in films like “Spring Breakers” (2012) and “Hotel Transylvania” (2012), where she voiced the character Mavis.
2020–2023: Rare, Revelacion, and Television Projects
In October 2019, Gomez released “Lose You to Love Me,” which became her first number-one song in the US and Canada. This led to the release of her album “Rare” in January 2020, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200. Gomez also hosted and executive produced the HBO Max cooking show “Selena + Chef,” which ran for four seasons and won a Critics’ Choice Real TV Award.
Gomez’s documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” which premiered in November 2022, focused on her mental health journey. In 2023, she released the standalone single “Single Soon” and collaborated with Nigerian artist Rema on the hit “Calm Down.”
Achievements
Selena Gomez has won various awards, including:
- An American Music Award
- A Billboard Music Award
- 16 Guinness World Records
- Three iHeartRadio Music Awards
- Six Latin American Music Awards (making her the third most-awarded female artist)
- Three MTV Movie & TV Awards
- Two MTV Video Music Awards
- Five People’s Choice Awards
She received Grammy nominations, including for Album of the Year as a featured artist, and a Latin Grammy Award. As an actress, she won a Satellite Award and received nominations for prestigious honors like the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
With 18 wins, she ranks as the fourth-most awarded solo artist at the Teen Choice Awards and holds the record for the most Kids’ Choice Awards wins (12) for an individual. In recognition of her philanthropic work, she has received the McLean Award, the Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab Award, and the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion.
Gomez has been featured in notable lists, including Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Billboard’s Woman of the Year, and Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Filmography
Gomez’s television and film projects include:
- The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2006)
- Hannah Montana (2007)
- Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012)
- Another Cinderella Story (2008)
- Princess Protection Program (2009)
- Ramona and Beezus (2010)
- The Muppets (2011)
- Spring Breakers (2012)
- Hotel Transylvania (2012–2022)
- Girl Rising (2013)
- The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013)
- Rudderless (2014)
- The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
- Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
- The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
- A Rainy Day in New York (2019)
- Selena + Chef (2020–2023)
- Only Murders in the Building (2021–present)
- Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)
- Emilia Pérez (2024)
- Gomez also executive produced the television series 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020) and Living Undocumented (2019).
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Gomez has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives. She participated in the UR Votes Count campaign to encourage youth to engage in politics and became an ambassador for DoSomething after supporting Island Dog, which helps dogs in Puerto Rico.
She has also supported RAISE Hope For Congo, raising awareness about the issues of conflict minerals and violence against women in the Congo. From 2009 to 2012, she was involved in Disney’s Friends for Change, promoting environmentally friendly behavior through the charity single “Send It On,” which benefited the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
Gomez has been an advocate for mental health, founding the Rare Impact Fund with Rare Beauty to raise $100 million over ten years for mental health resources. In response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, she donated to humanitarian efforts and signed a letter calling for a ceasefire.
Impact and Recognition
Gomez is regarded as a “triple threat” in the entertainment industry, praised for her influence in music, film, and television. She has received numerous awards for her advocacy work, including the McLean Award for mental health advocacy in 2019 and recognition from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in 2020.
Personal Life
Health
Gomez was diagnosed with lupus and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017. She has been open about her struggles with mental health, including anxiety and depression, and has spoken publicly about her bipolar disorder.
Relationships
Gomez’s dating history includes relationships with Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, Zedd, and The Weeknd. As of December 2023, she confirmed she is in a relationship with American record producer Benny Blanco.