Selena Gomez
Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American singer, actress, and television producer. She rose to fame as a child actress on Barney and Friends before achieving widespread recognition through the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. She has since become one of the best-selling music artists of her generation.
Early Life
Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to Amanda Dawn Cornett and Ricardo Joel Gomez. Her mother, Mandy, is of partial Italian descent, while her father is of Mexican descent. Gomez was named after Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Her parents divorced when she was five years old, and she was raised primarily by her mother. The family faced financial difficulties during her childhood, an experience Gomez has cited as an early motivator in her career pursuits.
Acting Career
Gomez began her acting career at age seven when she appeared on the children's television series Barney and Friends, where she played the character Gianna from 2002 to 2004. She subsequently auditioned for various Disney Channel projects and was cast as the lead in Wizards of Waverly Place, which premiered in 2007. The series ran for four seasons until 2012 and earned Gomez a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as an executive producer of its television film. She also appeared in films including Another Cinderella Story (2008), Ramona and Beezus (2010), and Spring Breakers (2012), the latter marking a significant departure from her earlier family-friendly roles.
Music Career
Gomez launched her music career as the lead singer of the band Selena Gomez and the Scene, with whom she released three studio albums: Kiss and Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011). All three albums were certified platinum in the United States. She transitioned to a solo career with the release of Stars Dance in 2013, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Her subsequent albums, Revival (2015) and Rare (2020), were both commercially successful. Her single Bad Liar (2017) and the collaborative track I Can't Get Enough (2019) received significant international airplay. Rare reached number one on the Billboard 200, and the single Lose You to Love Me (2019) became her first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.
Business Ventures
In 2020, Gomez founded Rare Beauty, a cosmetics brand sold through Sephora. The brand emphasizes inclusivity and mental health awareness, with a portion of profits directed to the Rare Impact Fund, which supports mental health services. Rare Beauty achieved substantial commercial success and has been valued at over one billion dollars. Gomez also co-founded the production company July Moon Productions, which has been involved in producing television series including 13 Reasons Why and Living Undocumented.
Health
In 2015, Gomez publicly disclosed her diagnosis of lupus, an autoimmune disease. She underwent chemotherapy as part of her treatment. In 2017, she announced that she had received a kidney transplant from her friend and fellow actress Francia Raísa due to complications from lupus. Gomez has also spoken publicly about her mental health, including her experiences with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, which she disclosed in 2020. She has used her platform to advocate for greater awareness of mental health issues.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Gomez has been involved in various philanthropic efforts throughout her career. She has served as a UNICEF ambassador since 2009. She founded the Rare Impact Fund to address gaps in mental health services, particularly for young people. Gomez has also advocated for immigration reform and has spoken publicly about social justice issues.
