Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her mother, Mandy Teefey, was a former stage actress, and her father is Ricardo Joel Gomez. She was named after the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Gomez developed an interest in acting after watching her mother prepare for stage productions. Her career began in 2002 when she appeared on the children's television series Barney & Friends.
Acting Career
After a few minor roles in films like Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), Gomez's big break came in 2007 when she was cast as the lead character, Alex Russo, in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. The show was a massive success and ran until 2012, establishing Gomez as a teen idol. During her time on Disney, she also starred in several Disney Channel movies, including Another Cinderella Story (2008) and Princess Protection Program (2009) alongside Demi Lovato. She has since taken on more mature roles in films like Spring Breakers (2012), The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), and The Dead Don't Die (2019). She also voiced the character Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise. Since 2021, she has starred in and executive produced the acclaimed Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.
Music Career
Selena Gomez & the Scene
In 2008, Gomez signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and formed the pop-rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The band released three studio albums: Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011). The group achieved commercial success with hit singles like "Naturally," "Who Says," and "Love You Like a Love Song".
Solo Career
Gomez embarked on a solo career in 2013 with the release of her debut album, Stars Dance, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's lead single, "Come & Get It," became a top-ten hit. Her subsequent solo albums, Revival (2015) and Rare (2020), also debuted at number one. Rare featured her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Lose You to Love Me". In 2021, she released her first Spanish-language project, an EP titled Revelación, which earned her a Grammy nomination.
Business Ventures and Philanthropy
In 2020, Gomez launched her own makeup line, Rare Beauty. The brand has been highly successful and is valued at an estimated $2 billion. A portion of the brand's sales goes to the Rare Impact Fund, which is committed to increasing access to mental health services in underserved communities. Gomez is also a co-founder of the mental health platform Wondermind. Throughout her career, she has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and became a UNICEF ambassador in 2009.
Personal Life
Gomez has been open about her struggles with both physical and mental health. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2015 and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017 due to complications from the disease. She has also spoken publicly about her battles with anxiety and depression and revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022), details her mental health journey.