Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, inGrand Prairie, Texas,[2][3] to Ricardo Joel Gomez and Texas-born[4] former stage actress Amanda Dawn "Mandy" (née Cornett) Teefey.[5][6] She was named afterTejano singerSelena Quintanilla.[7] Her father is of Mexican descent, while her mother, who was adopted, has Italian ancestry.[8][9][10] Gomez's paternal grandparents emigrated to Texas fromMonterrey, Mexico in the 1970s.[11] She has called herself "a proud third-generation American-Mexican"[12] and once said "My family does havequinceañeras, and we go to the communion church. We do everything that's Catholic, but we don't really have anything traditional except go to the park and have barbecues on Sundays after church."[13] Gomez's Spanish fluency waned after age seven, when she began working on television.[11]
Her parents divorced when she was five years old, and she remained with her mother.[5][14] Gomez's mother and her second husband, Brian Teefey, had a daughter, Gracie Elliot Teefey, born in 2013.[15][16] Through her father and his second wife, Sara, she has a half-sister, Victoria "Tori" Gomez, and a step-brother named Marcus.[17] For most of her childhood, she washomeschooled, save for a brief period when she attended a traditional school as a young girl.[18] She earned her high-schooldiploma through homeschooling in May 2010.[19]
Gomez was born when her mother was 16 years old.[20] The family had financial troubles throughout Gomez's childhood, with her mother struggling to provide for the pair. At one point, Gomez recalls that they had to search for quarters to buy gas for their car. Her mother later recalled that the two would frequently walk to their local dollar store to buy spaghetti for dinner.[21]
Gomez has said, "I was frustrated that my parents weren't together, and never saw the light at the end of the tunnel where my mom was working hard to provide a better life for me. I'm terrified of what I would have become if I'd stayed [in Texas]."[22] She later added that her mother "was really strong around me. Having me at 16 had to have been a big responsibility. She gave up everything for me, had three jobs, supported me, sacrificed her life for me." Gomez had a close relationship with her grandparents as a child and appeared in various pageants. Her grandparents often took care of her while her parents finished their schooling, and she has said they "raised her" until she found success in show business.[23]
Career
2002–2006: Career beginnings
Gomez first gained an interest in pursuing a career in entertainment watching her mother prepare for stage productions.[24] In 2002, she began her acting career on the children's television seriesBarney & Friends,[25][26] portraying the character Gianna.[27] The show was her first acting gig. Gomez recalled of the experience, "I was very shy when I was little [...] I didn't know what 'camera right' was. I didn't know whatblocking was. I learned everything fromBarney."[28] Gomez appeared in thirteen episodes of the show between 2002 and 2004, as well as in two direct-to-video films; the show's producers released her "when she became too old" for the series.[28][29] While working onBarney & Friends, Gomez hadbit part roles in the filmSpy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and the made-for-television filmWalker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005).[30][31] She guest starred in a 2006 episode of theDisney Channel seriesThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody.[32][31]
2007–2012: Breakthrough with Disney and Selena Gomez & the Scene
Gomez at the 2009 Hollywood Style Awards inBeverly Hills
Gomez was given a recurring role on the Disney Channel seriesHannah Montana in 2007 as pop star Mikayla.[28] During this time, Gomez filmed pilot episodes for two potential Disney Channel series; the first was aSuite Life spin-off titledArwin!,[33] and the second was aLizzie McGuire spin-off titledWhat's Stevie Thinking?[34][35] She later auditioned for a role in the network's seriesWizards of Waverly Place, ultimately winning the lead role ofAlex Russo.[28] Gomez and her mother subsequently moved toLos Angeles.[26]
InWizards of Waverly Place, Gomez played a teenage girl in a family ofwizards who own a restaurant inNew York City.[36] It quickly became a success for the Disney Channel and marked Gomez's breakthrough into the mainstream.[37] The role brought Gomez "teen idol" status,[38][39] and she became one of the ten highest-paid children's TV stars of all time.[40][41] The series received numerous awards and nominations,[42][43] and won theOutstanding Children's Program at the61st Primetime Emmy Awards.[44] It garnered positive reviews[45][46] and particular praise for Gomez's comic timing and sarcastic delivery.[45][47][48]
At age 16, Gomez signed withHollywood Records,[59][60] and formed her own production company, July Moon Production.[61] Gomez was slated to release two films under the company. The first, titledWhat Boys Want, would feature Gomez as a girl who could hear the thoughts of men.[62] She later announced a film adaptation of the novelThirteen Reasons Why, in which she was to play a young girl who commits suicide; ultimately, neither film was made.[63] Gomez later produced atelevision adaptation of the novel.[64]
Hoping to cross over into the music industry, Gomez formed thepop rock bandSelena Gomez & the Scene under her deal with Hollywood Records.[79] The name of the band is an "ironic jab" at the people who called Gomez a "wannabescene".[80] The group's debut studio album,Kiss & Tell, influenced by pop rock andelectronic rock, was released in September 2009.[81][82] It debuted at number nine on theBillboard 200 albums chart in the U.S. with first-week sales of 66,000 copies.[83] The album received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its "fun" nature and others criticizing Gomez's vocal performance.[84][85][86] Although thelead single was not commercially successful,[57] the second single, "Naturally", became a breakthrough hit, reaching number twenty-nine in the U.S. and number seven in the United Kingdom.[57][87]
The band's third and final studio album,When the Sun Goes Down, was released the following year, to mixed reviews.[96] It debuted at number four on the U.S.Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 78,000 copies, and peaked at number three the following week.[97] The album's lead single, "Who Says", was the band's highest charting effort, peaking at number twenty-one in the U.S.[57] Its second single, "Love You like a Love Song", went on to become the band's highest performing single in the U.S. to date,[98] peaking at number twenty-two on theBillboard Hot 100, where it spent 38 weeks,[57] and reached the top ten in Canada,[99] topping the chart inRussia.[100] Alex Frank fromPitchfork called the song "a cult karaoke classic".[101] In 2022,Billboard ranked the song as the biggest song that peaked at number twenty-two.[102]Billboard featured Gomez on their21 Under 21 list in 2010,[103] 2011,[104] and 2012.[105]
Gomez starred in the comedy filmMonte Carlo (2011), withLeighton Meester andKatie Cassidy;[106][107] she played the lead role of Grace, a teenager "mistaken for a socialite" named Cordelia, also portrayed by Gomez, "while on a trip to Paris".[106][107] In preparation for the role, she learned to playpolo and received dialect coaching to speak in two different British accents;[108][109] Gomez's accent was described as "unconvincing".[110] The film received mixed reviews from critics.[111] Nick Schager fromSlant Magazine found Gomez "cute, but too bland to lend the proceedings any vivid character, except for the few scenes that allow her to indulge her cold, sarcastic, nasty side as Cordelia".[112] Gomez appeared in a cameo role in the filmThe Muppets.[113] She also hosted in June theMuchMusic Video Awards, and in November theMTV Europe Music Awards.[114][115]
2012–2014:Stars Dance and films
Gomez confirmed in January 2012 that she would be taking a break from music, placing Selena Gomez & the Scene on hiatus.[116] The hiatus eventually became a permanent split. Gomez described her time with the band as an "exploratory period" as a musician, after which she decided to pursue a solo music career: "And there was a moment when I felt like I could do it and I wanted to try it on my own".[117] That year,Wizards of Waverly Place officially ended its run on theDisney Channel after four seasons.[118][119]
Despite earlier claims that she would be taking a break from music,[139] Gomez released "Come & Get It" in April 2013; it served as the lead single of her solo debut album.[140] It became Gomez's first top-ten entry on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100, reaching number six,[141][142] and also reached the top-ten in Canada and the U.K.[143]Stars Dance was released in July.[144] The record is musically rooted inEDM andelectropop.[145][146] It became her first album to debut at number one in the U.S., selling 97,000 copies in its first week,[97][147] and also reached number one in Canada.[148] It received mixed reviews from music critics, with some noticing her inability to create her own musical identity and panning her vocal abilities.[149][150] The album's second single, "Slow Down", achieved moderate success.[141] Gomez incorporated choreographed dance routines into the album's music videos and her promotional live performances, having been inspired by artists such asJanet Jackson andBritney Spears.[151][152] The video of "Come & Get It" won theBest Pop Video at the2013 MTV Video Music Awards.[153]
Gomez embarked on herStars Dance Tour in August 2013.[154] After performing in North America and Europe, Gomez canceled the Australian and Asian legs of the tour in December 2013, claiming that she would be taking a hiatus to spend time with her family.[155] In January 2014, it was reported that Gomez had spent two weeks at Dawn at The Meadows, which is a treatment center inWickenburg, Arizona, that specializes in treating addiction and trauma in young people.[156] Her representative stated that she had spent time there "voluntarily [...] but not for substance abuse".[157][158] Gomez confirmed in 2015 that she had been diagnosed withlupus and that after canceling the tour she entered rehab to undergochemotherapy.[159][160] Gomez played Nina Pennington, an innocent straight-A student, inBehaving Badly (2014).[161][162] The project, filmed prior to Gomez's stint in rehab, was released in August to a generally negative critical and commercial reception.[163][164] However, critics deemed Gomez's performance superior to the film.[165][166] Gomez also had a supporting role in the dramaRudderless (2014), the directorial debut ofWilliam H. Macy.[167][168] The independent film premiered at the2014 Sundance Film Festival,[167] and received a mixed reception from critics.[169][170] At the2014 Teen Choice Awards, Gomez was honored with theUltimate Choice Award for her "contributions to the entertainment world".[171]
In April 2014, Gomez had fired her mother and stepfather as her managers, who had served in those roles since her career at Disney.[172] Gomez later signed with theWMA andBrillstein companies to manage her career.[173]The Hollywood Reporter informed: "Selena's desire to find fresh handlers is part of a strategy to "move on into more adult-oriented fare in film and music"", and finally get rid of the image of the "Disney's Teen Idol".[174] This change fueled rumors that her contract withHollywood Records was coming to an end.[175] In November 2014, Gomez surprise-released her new single "The Heart Wants What It Wants", and confirmed after months of speculation that she would be releasing acompilation album to complete her contract withher label.[175] The single became her second top-ten hit in the U.S.,[57] and reached the top-ten in Canada.[99] That same month, Gomez released her firstgreatest hits album,For You.[176] The compilation album debuted at number twenty-four on the U.S.Billboard 200,[177] earning 35,506album-equivalent units in its first week.[178] Gomez officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and later signed withInterscope Records in December 2014.[179]
2015–2016:Revival
While working on hersecond studio album, Gomez collaborated with German DJZedd on "I Want You to Know", released in February 2015,[180] and debuted at number-seventeen in the U.S.[57] In May, she appeared inTaylor Swift's music video for "Bad Blood".[181] Gomez released "Good for You" featuring rapperASAP Rocky as the lead single from her second studio album, in June.[182] The song debuted at number-one on theDigital Song Sales chart with first-week sales of 179,000 copies—the best sales week in Gomez's career for a single.[183] "Good for You" became Gomez's first top-five single on theBillboard Hot 100, and her first single to top thePop Airplay chart.[184] It also reached the top-ten on charts inAustralia and Canada.[185] Gomez later reprised the voice role of Mavis inHotel Transylvania 2 (2015); the film was met with a positive critical reception and commercial success upon release,[186] grossing US$474 million worldwide.[187] She was awarded Favorite Animated Movie Voice at the42nd People's Choice Awards.[188]
Gomez released her second studio album,Revival, in October 2015.[189] It is primarily adance-pop andelectropop record withR&B vibes.[190][191] The album was reviewed positively by critics, who praised its production and lyrical content.[192] Writing forRolling Stone, Brittany Spanos stated that "Revival is an audacious name for a 23-year-old singer's second album, but from start to finish, Gomez earns it," noting that "[t]his is the sound of a newly empowered pop artist growing into her strengths like never before."[193] Kristen S.Hé ofBillboard called it "one of the most influential pop albums of the late 2010s."[194] Rob Sheffileld fromRolling Stone Australia called it "one of the past decade's most influential pop albums".[195] The album debuted at number-one on the U.S.Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 117,000album units,[196] and was certifiedplatinum by the RIAA.[197] "Same Old Love" was released as the album's second single and topped the Pop Airplay chart.[198][199] It also peaked at number-five in the U.S., tying with "Good for You" as Gomez's highest-charting single at the time,[57] and reached the top-ten in Canada.[99] "Hands to Myself" served as the album's third single and became her third consecutive number-one on the Pop Airplay,[200] making Gomez the sixth woman to score at least three number-one singles on thePop Airplay chart from a single set.[201] The single also peaked within the top-ten in the U.S.,[57] and the top-five in Canada.[99] "Kill Em with Kindness" was released as theRevival's fourth and final single four months later.[201] For her performance onBillboard's music charts, Gomez received theChart-Topper Award at the2015Billboard Women in Music event.[202]
Gomez embarked on her worldwideRevival Tour in May 2016.[214][215] She claimed that the tour would focus solely on her as an artist and would feature less choreography and fewer effects than herprevious tour.[215] Gomez began working on herthird studio album while touring and added a new song titled "Feel Me" to thesetlist of her Revival Tour.[216] The song was later released in February 2020, due to high demand from fans.[217] After touring in North America, Asia and Oceania, she canceled the European and South America legs in August 2016 due to anxiety, panic attacks and depression caused by her lupus.[218]
Gomez and the NorwegianDJ Kygo released a single together, "It Ain't Me", in February 2017.[239] The collaboration reached top ten of most major music charts worldwide, including the U.S. and the U.K.,[240][87] and attained top five peaks in Australia, Canada, Germany and many European countries.[241] The song received nominations at major awards around the world,[242] includingTop Dance/Electronic Song at the2018Billboard Music Awards,[243] and it also her best-selling song in the UK, selling over 1.4 million chart units.[244]
Gomez served as executive producer for theseries adaptation of the novelThirteen Reasons Why.[64] The show premiered onNetflix in March 2017.[245] The series drew backlash from various mental health charities and suicide prevention communities over "dangerous content", with some people feeling the show glamorized suicide. Gomez addressed the controversy, saying that "We stayed very true to the book and that's initially what [author]Jay Asher created was a beautifully tragic, complicated yet suspenseful story and I think that's what we wanted to do. We wanted to do it justice and, yeah, [the backlash is] gonna come no matter what. It's not an easy subject to talk about, but I'm very fortunate with how it's doing.[246] Despite the controversy, the first season was a critical success.[247] However, the other three seasons received generally negative reviews.[248][249][250]13 Reasons Why was the most tweeted about show of 2017, and the most-watched original streaming series of 2018.[251][252] The series ended after four seasons in June 2020.[253] Gomez recorded a cover version of the song "Only You" for the series' first season soundtrack.[254]
In May 2017, Gomez released the single "Bad Liar", alongside avertical music video which was available for streaming only throughSpotify;[255] it was the first-ever music video to premiere on Spotify.[256] The song received universal acclaim from music critics,[257][258][259] with some deeming it Gomez's best song to date;[260]Billboard ranked it as the best song of 2017.[261]Rolling Stone ranked "Bad Liar" at number 39 on its 2019 list of best songs of the 2010s.[262] Winston Cook-Wilson ofSpin magazine found Gomez's vocals pristine and the track "charmingly weird", calling its lyrics and sample usage "harebrained but ultimately brilliant".[263] Gomez released the single "Fetish" featuring rapperGucci Mane two month later.[264] In October 2017, Gomez and EDM producerMarshmello released the single "Wolves".[265] The song was a commercial success, and reached the top ten on charts in Australia, Canada, the U.K, and several European countries,[266] peaking at number twenty in the U.S.[57] Later that year, Gomez was namedBillboard's Woman of the Year, in recognition of her influence and commercial success.[267]
Gomez appeared inJim Jarmusch's comedy horrorThe Dead Don't Die (2019).[285] The film had its world premiere at the2019 Cannes Film Festival,[286] where it generated mixed reviews.[287][288] That year, she starred inWoody Allen's romantic comedyA Rainy Day in New York, withTimothée Chalamet andElle Fanning.[289][290] Due to a resurgence of the1992 sexual abuse allegation against Allen prompted by theMeToo movement, Gomez made a donation of over $1 million, exceeding her salary from the film, to theTime's Up initiative.[291] The film received mixed reviews from critics,[292] but Gomez's performance was praised;[293][294]Variety's Jessica Kiang wrote: "Gomez comes out the best of the younger cast, husking her way through some of the films better lines."[295] Gomez served as an executive producer for the NetflixdocuseriesLiving Undocumented, released in October 2019,which follows eightundocumented families in America.[296][297] The docuseries was a critical success,[298][299] and was nominated for aNews and Documentary Emmy Award.[300] In anop-ed forTime on October 1, 2019, Gomez wrote she was approached about the project in 2017 and decided to become involved after watching footage that captured "the shame, uncertainty, and fear I saw my own family struggle with. But it also captured the hope, optimism, and patriotism so many undocumented immigrants still hold in their hearts despite the hell they go through."[301]
2020–2023:Rare,Revelación, andOnly Murders in the Building
On October 23, 2019, Gomez released "Lose You to Love Me" as the lead single from her third studio album.[302] The next day, she surprise-released the album's promotional single, "Look at Her Now".[303] "Lose You to Love Me" became her first number-one song in the US and Canada,[304][99] and reached the top five of various national charts worldwide, including Australia and the UK.[305]Rare was released on January 10, 2020, and debuted atop the USBillboard 200, earning 112,000album-equivalent units in its first week.[306] It became her third consecutive number-one album in the US,[306] and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and several other territories, whilst peaking at number two in the UK.[307][308] Primarily adance-pop record,[309]Rare features elements ofR&B,electronic music, andalternative pop.[310] The album received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production and cohesiveness, with many calling it Gomez's best album to date;[311][312] Jem Aswad ofVariety labeledRare "one of the best pop albums to be released in recent memory".[313] Two other singles were released from the album: thetitle track, in conjunction with the album, and the third and final single "Boyfriend",[314] released with the deluxe edition in April 2020.[315]
In January 2020, Gomez voiced a giraffe in the adventure filmDolittle, directed byStephen Gaghan.[316][317] The film, starringRobert Downey Jr., was abox office disappointment, and received negative reviews from critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless".[318] Gomez hosted and executive produced theHBO Max cooking showSelena + Chef, which features her joined by a different chef each episode; this was initially implemented remotely due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[319] Each episode highlights a food-related charity.[320] The show premiered in August 2020,[321] and was well received by critics.[322][323] It ran for four seasons till September 2022,[324] and was nominated forOutstanding Culinary Series at the50th Daytime Emmy Awards.[325] Gomez won aCritics' Choice Real TV Award for her work on the program.[326] In May 2023,Food Network ordered two projects to be hosted by Gomez.[327] The first wasSelena + Chef: Home for the Holidays (2023), a four-part holiday special and extension ofSelena + Chef, which was also nominated for Outstanding Culinary Series.[328][329] The second becameSelena + Restaurant, an interactive cooking series co-hosted with Raquelle Stevens; it premiered in May 2024.[330] Gomez served as a producer for both programs.[330][331]
In August, Gomez was featured on the remix of Nigerian artistRema's song, "Calm Down".[384] An international success, it peaked at number three on theBillboard Global 200.[385] The single became Gomez's ninth top-ten in the US, peaking at number three; and her second number-one in Canada, spending nine weeks atop the Canadian Hot 100.[386][99] It topped the Global Excl. US, Pop Airplay, and Radio Songs charts for two, five, and 10 weeks, respectively,[385][387][388] becoming Gomez's first leader on the former two.[389][390] "Calm Down" became the highest- and longest-charting African artist-led song on the Hot 100;[391] the longest-running number-one of all time on theBillboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, with 58 weeks at the summit;[392] and the longest-charting song in the top 10 and overall on the Pop Airplay chart, with 45 and 71 weeks respectively.[387]Billboard called it "Afrobeats' biggest crossover hit[393] whileVariety described it as the "song of two summers".[394] At the2023 MTV Video Music Awards, the song was nominated forSong of the Year, and wonBest Afrobeats; while it wonTop Afrobeats Song at the2023Billboard Music Awards.[395][396] It became the first African artist-led track to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify[397] and 1 billion on-demand streams in the US; its music video became the most-viewed Afrobeats song on YouTube.[398][399] According to theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), "Calm Down" was thesecond best-selling song of 2023 globally.[400]Billboard named it Gomez's biggest Hot 100 hit.[401]
2024–present: Continued acting andI Said I Love You First
In January 2024, Gomez stated that she prefers acting over music, and only has "one more album in me". She revealed that she "never really intended on being a singer full-time" but "that hobby" evolved into a career when she was working with Disney.[417] Gomez later mentioned feeling "a little too old for the pop-star life",[418] but has since retracted this and stated that "music isn't going away" and "I just set it down for a second".[419] In February, she released the standalone single "Love On",[420] which debuted within the top 60 in the US, and the top 70 on the Global 200 chart.[57][416]
Gomez co-produced and appeared in the documentaryLouder: The Soundtrack of Change, which was released on October 17 onMax.[432] She guest-stars and reprises her role as Alex Russo inWizards Beyond Waverly Place, the sequel toWizards of Waverly Place.[433][434] The series, which she also executive produced, premiered onDisney Channel on October 29, 2024, and onDisney+ on October 30, 2024.[435] Her performance, subtle comedic timing, and dynamic with co-starDavid Henrie was met with positive reception from critics.[436]
Gomez andBenny Blanco released the collaborative album, and her fourth studio album,I Said I Love You First on March 21, 2025.[437] A promotional single, titled "Scared of Loving You", was surprise released on February 13.[438] It was followed by the lead single "Call Me When You Break Up", featuringGracie Abrams, on February 21,[439] and the second single "Sunset Blvd" on March 14.[440]I Said I Love You First received positive reviews from music critics.[441] The album debuted at number two on theBillboard 200, with 120,000 units, marking Gomez's largest sales week to date, and her seventh top-ten release.[442]I Said I Love You First also debuted within the top five in various countries, including Australia, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.[443] Gomez was namedBillboard Latin Women of the Year.[444]
In regard to Gomez's writing craft, co-writerAli Tamposi revealed the following toElle: "We actually started writing another song together while we were in the studio withAndrew Watt and I was really impressed by her collaboration, her ideas, how open she was and willing to tap into a place that is scary with having the power that she has over so many people—to really be honest with her lyrics," "She's extremely collaborative and she has great ideas. We'll just talk. I've only had the chance to get in with her once, [but] I'm sure we'll be working together, hopefully, in the future. But she comes up with tons of ideas and concepts, and she's a really great writer. It just flows naturally, and we just write on the guitar."[472]
During a conversation withAmy Schumer forInterview, Gomez candidly opened up about the writing process for her hit song, "Lose You to Love Me". Gomez said: "I wrote it at the beginning of last year, and had just gotten out of treatment. It was a moment when I came back and I was like, "I'm ready to go into the studio with people I trust and start working on songs." There was an air around it where people were very happy, because it was like I was going to finally be me. But I didn't necessarily see it that way at the time. When I wrote the song, I was basically saying that I needed to hit rock-bottom to understand that there was this huge veil over my face."[473]
OnThe Kelly Clarkson Show, Gomez opened up about of processing her own feelings through songwriting, calling it "the best therapy".[474]
In a conversation withZane Lowe forApple Music, Gomez was joined byJulia Michaels andJustin Tranter to talk about the creative process, incl. collaborative songwriting for her album,Rare. Gomez co-wrote every song on that album.[475]
In October 2008, Gomez participated inSt. Jude's Children's Hospital's "Runway For Life" by walking the runway as a model inBeverly Hills, where over $1 million was raised for the cause.[476][477] That same month, Gomez was namedUNICEF's spokesperson for theTrick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which encouraged children to raise money on Halloween to help children around the world.[478] In August 2009, Gomez, then 17 years old, became the youngest UNICEF ambassador (Millie Bobby Brown later surpassed this record).[479][480] In her first official field mission, Gomez traveled to Ghana in September 2009 for one week to witness first-hand the stark conditions of vulnerable children that lack vital necessities such as clean water, nourishment, education and healthcare.[481][482] Gomez explained in an interview withAssociated Press correspondents that she wanted to use her star power to bring awareness to Ghana: "That's why I feel very honored to have a voice that kids listen to and take into consideration [...] I had people on my tour asking me where IS Ghana, and they Googled it [...] and because I went there, they now know where Ghana is. So it's pretty incredible."[482][483] Gomez said, of her role as ambassador, that "Every day 25,000 children die from preventable causes. I stand with UNICEF in the belief that we can change that number from 25,000 to zero. I know we can achieve this because every moment, UNICEF is on the ground providing children with the lifesaving assistance needed to ensure zero becomes a reality."[481]
Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF's 2009 Trick-or-Treat campaign for the second year in a row.[484] She raised over $700,000 for the charity in 2008 and stated that she hopes to be able to raise US$1 million in 2009.[482] Gomez participated in a celebrity auction[485] and hosted a live web cast series on Facebook in support of the Trick-or-Treat campaign.[486] She returned as the UNICEF spokesperson for the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in 2010.[487] In celebration of the organization's 60th anniversary, Gomez and the Scene held a benefit concert, donating all proceeds to the campaign.[488] Gomez also encouraged teenagers to donate via social media. She also auctioned personal items toCharityBuzz.com, designed a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF t-shirt and participated in a small concert in Los Angeles. With Gomez's help, UNICEF raised $4 million.[489]
In February 2011, Gomez traveled to Chile to meet with the families of the UNICEF-supported "Programa Puente", which helped families better understand and develop skills to deal with early childhood education, development, and other issues related to raising children. Gomez remarked that "UNICEF is helping Chilean families get out of poverty, prevent violence within the home and promote education. To witness first hand these families' struggles, and also their hope and perseverance, was truly inspiring".[490] In March, Gomez participated in theUNICEF Tap Project's "Celebrity Tap Pack" which featured limited-edition, custom-made water bottles with tap water from the homes of each celebrity advocate to raise funds and increase profile for the clean water and sanitation programs.[491] All the funds raised (the campaign raised $900,000) made it possible to provide clean, safe drinking water to children inVietnam,Togo,Mauritania, andCameroon- countries where it's desperately needed.[492][493] She was also featured in videos that promoted the campaign.[494][495] In April 2012, she advocated for the global "Sound the Alarm" campaign onFacebook andTwitter, and recorded a public announcement encouraging young people to donate $10 via text message to prevent the death of a million children from malnutrition in theSahel Region ofWest andCentral Africa.[496]
Gomez has conducted and organized three charity concerts (2010–2013) to help UNICEF provide children around the world with life-saving therapeutic foods, medicines, clean water, education, and immunization. In total, Gomez's three charity concerts for UNICEF have raised nearly $400,000 for UNICEF programs worldwide.[497][498][499][500] In 2014, Gomez visitedNepal to raise awareness for children in need.[501] A UNICEF ambassador since 2009, Gomez has played an active role in advocating for the world's "most vulnerable children" by participating in several campaigns, events, and initiatives on behalf of the organization.[502] In June 2021, Gomez signed a UNICEF open letter urging theG7 "to donate more coronavirus vaccines to the internationalCOVAX initiative."[503]
Other charity work
Gomez was involved in the UR Votes Count campaign, which encouraged teenagers to learn more about2008 presidential candidatesBarack Obama andJohn McCain.[504] The following year, Gomez became the ambassador ofDoSomething after being involved with the charity Island Dog, which helped dogs inPuerto Rico. Gomez updated fans on her blog atMySpace: "We are spending the day feeding puppies, washing them and hanging out with them. After we spend the day with them we are sending these dogs to different places in the U.S the no-kill dog shelters so they can find a home [...]."[505][506] She joined while filmingWizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in Puerto Rico.[507] In 2009, Gomez has been involved with the charity RAISE Hope For Congo, an initiative of theEnough Project, raising funds for war-torn African country, in order to raise awareness ofconflict minerals and sexual crimes and violence committed against women and girls in the Congo, as well as to eliminate sexual violence, torture and other atrocities through the 4P method; Peace, Protection, Punishment and Prevention.[508][509]
From 2009 to 2012, Gomez was involved in "Disney's Friends for Change", an organization which promoted "environmentally-friendly behavior", and appeared in itspublic service announcements.[510] Gomez,Demi Lovato,Miley Cyrus, and theJonas Brothers recorded the charity single "Send It On" as the ad hoc musical team "Disney's Friends For Change", all of whose proceeds were donated into the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.[511] The song debuted on theBillboard Hot 100 at number 20.[511] Billboard included this song in their list of The 100 Greatest Disneyverse Songs of All Time (2023).[512] In April 2012, Gomez was named ambassador to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.[513] The year before, Gomez made an appearance at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during a Ryan Seacrest Foundation broadcast from the hospital's multimedia center.[514] She was also a spokesperson forState Farm Insurance and appeared in numerous television commercials, which aired on the Disney Channel, to raise awareness of being a safe driver.[515] Gomez provided the narration forGirl Rising (2013), aCNN documentary film, which focused on the power of female education as it followed seven girls around the world who sought to overcome obstacles and follow their dreams.[516]
In 2017, during her partnership withCoach, Gomez participated in activities with Step Up, an organization that supports girls in under-resourced communities to pursue an education. Gomez attended Step Up events at twoLos Angeles high schools. She conversed with the girls and gifted them new Coach bags.[517][518] Gomez attended theWe Day California youth empowerment event in Los Angeles in 2018 and 2019. During the 2018 event, Gomez introduced Nellie Mainor, a young fan who had a rare kidney disease.[519] Her participation in We Day 2019 was her first appearance after an extended break from the spotlight.[520] Gomez continued her partnership with WE Charity when she traveled toKenya in December 2019 to meet the local community and visit schools built by the organization.[521] During the2019–20 Australian bushfire season, Gomez donated US$3 million to fight Australia wildfires and urged followers to do the same.[522][523]
In 2020, she created theRare Impact Fund by Rare Beauty to help "young people gain access to mental health resources", which is committed to raise US$100 million over its first ten years since establishment. To achieve that goal, one percent of all sales of Rare Beauty products go toward the fund.[524] In its first year, the Rare Impact Fund distributed $1.2 million in grants to support 8 organizations that work to expand mental health services in educational settings.[525] For each episode of herHBO Max cooking showSelena + Chef (2020–2023), the show donated $10,000 to the charity of the chef's choice, often food related.[526] In 2021, over the first two seasons of the show, $360,000 was raised for nonprofit organizations.[527] Gomez donated 10 percent of the net proceeds from her cookware line with Our Place to the Rare Impact Fund, which focuses on mental health awareness.[528][529] From 2023 to 2024, Gomez andSephora donate all 100 percent of global Rare Beauty sales to the Rare Impact Fund in honor ofWorld Mental Health Day.[530][531][532] As of September 2024, the Rare Impact Fund has raised over $16 million since 2020, and distributed grants to support 26 mental health-focused organizations across five continents.[533]Serendipity Brands—which Gomez is a co-owner and investor of—donated $1 from every ice cream pint and product sold in May 2022 to the Rare Impact Fund.[534] In October, Gomez co-founded Wondermind, a mental health-focused digital platform.[535] In December 2022, she donated exclusive items to the 2nd AnnualASCAP Foundation, which supports music education and talent development programs across the US.[536][537]
In response to theGaza war, Gomez and her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty issued a statement about thehumanitarian crisis in Gaza, and donated funds toMagen David Adom in Israel and Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the West Bank, and also donated to UNICEF to help get urgent medical relief and resources to the children of Gaza.[538] Both Gomez and Rare Beauty were heavily criticized for their misleading statement which implied solidarity with the people of Gaza, whilst they donated funds toMagen David Adom, which is an auxiliary service to theIsrael Defense Forces.[539][540][541] Gomez signed an Artist4Ceasefire letter in October 2023 calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The letter says: "We believe that all life is sacred, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians".[542] In December 2023, she attendedRamy Youssef's fundraiser forGaza.[543]
In January 2025, Gomez volunteered to help distribute basic necessities during the2025 Southern California wildfires to those who were displaced by the tragedy, and also, together with her brand Rare Beauty, made donation to theLos Angeles Fire Department Foundation andWorld Central Kitchen, who are on the ground providing immediate aid.[544] During the pop-up of the fifth anniversary of her album,Rare, Gomez sent all proceeds from sales of all products to fight 2025 Southern California wildfires.[545]
Gomez advocates for various causes. She is known for frequently raising awareness on mental health.[546] In 2019, she received theMcLean Award for mental health advocacy.[547] TheStanford Healthcare Innovation Lab honored her with the first ever Mental Health Innovations Award for Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy in 2022.[548] That year, she also received theMorton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion by theRuderman Family Foundation.[549] Gomez has shown support for theLGBTQ community. She joined numerous celebrities to write a "love letter" during pride month, as a part ofBillboard's 30 Days of Pride during the month of June 2016. She also collaborated with 23 other artists for thecharity single "Hands", a tribute for the victims of thePulse nightclub shooting, to raise funds forEquality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund,GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.[550] That year, she donated proceeds of herRevival Tour concert inNorth Carolina to fight the state's recent legislation known as the "bathroom law". The law, repealed in 2017, required people to use public restrooms in line with their birth gender unless they had fully transitioned.[551]
In 2023, Gomez and her cosmetics brandRare Beauty, participated in the53rd annual Los Angeles Pride Parade,[552] as well as herRare Impact Fund has been donating funds since the foundation forThe Trevor Project and in 2023 forTrans Lifeline who focus on LGBTQ+ youth.[553] In April 2024, Gomez participated as one of the speakers at theTime 100 Summit, which brought together the Global TIME 100 community to discuss encouragement and solutions for actions that aim to improve the future by telling the stories go global personalities and ideas that shape our world.[554] Gomez spoke about important issues related to mental health protection, social media and many others.[554] On May 1, 2024, Gomez held a special event dedicated to mental health awareness Rare Beauty Summit, where she also offered resources to solve mental health problems, theU.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy joined her at this event, he thanked Gomez for creating the Rare Impact Fund and for paving the way for self-acceptance, support and healing.[555]
In 2014, Gomez spoke out about the2014 Gaza War, posting a message on her social media in which she asked for help and prayers forGaza, the message read: "It's About Humanity. Pray for Gaza"., "Please pray for those families and babies today. Please always remember what's important in life. It's not any of this. We are here to help, inspire and love. Be that change. #wearethenextgeneration," Gomez wrote in the caption. A few hours later, she added that: "And of course to be clear, I am not picking any sides. I am praying for peace and humanity for all!" Gomez wrote in her message.[556] In the wake of theAlabama abortion ban in May 2019, Gomez spoke out on Instagram in favor ofabortion rights in the United States.[557] AmidstRoe v. Wade being overturned in June 2022, Gomez stated she is "not happy" and that "men need to stand up and also speak against this issue. It's also the amount of women that are hurting."[558] Gomez is a critic ofracism and supported theBlack Lives Matter movement, lending herInstagram account toAlicia Garza, co-creator of Black Lives Matter and one of the founders of Black Futures Lab, in June 2020.[559][560] In May 2021, Gomez participated in theVAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World concert organized byGlobal Citizen to promote the distribution ofCOVID-19 vaccines worldwide through theCOVAX program. The event urged people to ask their governments to pledge $22.1 billion in aid to the vaccine distribution.[561] In May 2022,MTV partnered with Gomez and the Rare Impact Fund by Rare Beauty to host the Mental Health Youth Action Forum at theWhite House in coordination with theBiden-Harris Administration.[562]
Business and ventures
Products and endorsements
In 2009, Gomez was part ofSears's back-to-school fashion campaign and featured in television commercials.[563] She hosted the "Sears Arrive Air Band Casting Call" to select five winners for the first-ever "Sears Air Band" to perform at the2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[564] She also became the spokesperson forBorden Milk and starred in campaign's print ads and television commercials for the brand.[565]
Having previously announced plans to launch a fashion line, Gomez released the Dream Out Loud collection in 2010.[566][567] It consisted ofbohemian dresses, floral tops, jeans, skirts, jackets, scarves and hats, all of which were made from recycled oreco-friendly materials.[568][569] Gomez stated, "With my line, I really want to give the customer options on how they can put their own looks together [...] I want the pieces that can be easy to dress up or down, and the fabrics being eco-friendly and organic is super important [...] Also, the tags will all have some of my inspirational quotes on them. I'm just looking to send a good message."[566][569] Gomez teamed up with designers Tony Melillo and Sandra Campos for the project, both of whom had previously worked withbig-name fashion houses.[567] Melillo and Campos teamed with New York-based Adjmi Apparel to manufacture the brand, which was formed by Adjmi CH Brands LLC, the holding company for the brand.[570] From 2010 to 2014, Gomez worked with retailerKmart to release the clothing line.[571][572]
It was announced on July 14, 2011, that Gomez had signed a license agreement with Adrenalina, an extreme sports and adventure-themed lifestyle brand, to develop, manufacture, and distribute her own fragrance. Chairman and CEO of Adrenalina,Ilia Lekach, said, "We are incredibly enthused to be working with Ms. Gomez and will reveal more details pertaining to the fragrance as we get closer to the launch date."[573] The perfume was released in May 2012.[574] In 2013, she released her second fragrance, Vivamore by Selena Gomez.[575] She also created her own collection of nail polish colors for Nicole byOPI.[576]
From 2013 to 2015, Gomez was a spokesperson and partner for Neo byAdidas.[577] In 2015, Gomez signed $3 million endorsement deal withPantene.[578] In 2016, Gomez appeared in a fashion campaign for luxury brandLouis Vuitton.[579] She also appeared in ads forCoca-Cola's "Share a Coke" campaign, and advertisements for the campaign and lyrics from two of her songs were featured on Coca-Cola packaging nationwide.[580] In 2017, Gomez confirmed her collaboration withCoach, beginning with their fall line, thereby becoming the new face of the brand.[581] The limited-edition collection of handbags was called the "Selena Grace" line.[582] Gomez's second collection and "first ever ready-to-wear collection for Coach", named Coach X Selena Gomez, included clothing, outerwear, and bags.[583] That year, Gomez signed a $30 million contract with the athletic brandPuma as brand ambassador, appearing in campaigns such as those for the Phenom Lux sneakers released in March.[584][585][586] Her collection with Puma, called SG x PUMA Strong Girl collection, launched on December 12 of that year and contained products from sneakers to athleisure attire.[587] Since 2017, Gomez has been one of the highest-paid people on Instagram, becoming the highest paid-person on the platform of 2017. As of July 2023, Gomez earns $1.7 million per sponsored Instagram post.[588]
In April 2020, Gomez became an owner and investor of the ice cream brandSerendipity.[589] In July 2021, she released a swimwear line with La'Mariette.[590] In November, Gomez co-founded the mental health media platform Wondermind.[591] The following month, Gomez became an investor in the food delivery companyGopuff.[592] In May 2022, she collaborated with Our Place on a cookware line, the Summer Collection.[593] A second edition of the range was released in June 2023.[594] In February 2025, Gomez andBenny Blanco's collaboration "Talk" was previewed as the soundtrack to anApple advertisement for theIPhone 16e, before its release the following month.[595]
In September 2020, Gomez launched her own makeup and cosmetics brand,Rare Beauty.[596] The brand "[instead of selling an unattainable image] aims to help people feel good about themselves" by promoting inclusivity and mental health initiatives;[597] it sellscruelty-free andvegan products packaged with recyclable materials certified by theForest Stewardship Council (FSC).[598] Following its release on its official webstore andSephora stores in the US,[599] the brand was eventually made available in theMiddle East,Europe, andSoutheast Asia.[600] It was named Startup of the Year at the2020 WWD Beauty Inc Awards.[601] Rare Beauty was named asTime's most influential company of 2024.[602][603]
As of May 2024, the brand is valued at $2 billion.[597][604] It is one of the best-selling brands at Sephora and the fastest-growing celebrity beauty brand onsocial media.[605] Rare Beauty has already sold US$70 million worth of liquid blush (over 3.1 million units), in 2022 alone.[605] In 2023, Rare Beauty emerged as the top index brand on TikTok and Instagram, with a combinedmedia impact value of US$313,198,657 on the two platforms alone.[606] That year, the estimated revenue for the line reached US$300 million, up approximately 50 percent from 2022.[607] In September 2024, it was reported that Gomez had become abillionaire, with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion;[608]Bloomberg News estimated that roughly 81% of it originated from Rare Beauty.[533] Bloomberg also stated that at age 32, she had become "one of the country's youngest female self-made billionaires".[609]
Public image
Initially ateen idol, she has been referred to as apop icon,[610] as a "triple threat", owing to her successful singing, performing, and acting careers,[611] and as one of the most influential Latina in entertainment.[612][613] Gomez is one of the most successful child stars.[614][615][616]Vulture ranked her third on its "Disney and Nickelodeon Stars Gone Pop" listicle, writing in 2021 that "Gomez is perhaps the most effortlessly likable star of her generation", and in the revision of this rating, named her as one of the few child stars with a successful music career as an adult.[615] Caroline Sullivan fromThe Guardian called Gomez the "Tween Queen", and "the biggest star attached tothe Walt Disney Company", describing the Gomez phenomenon as a key figure in the influence of "billions of kids and, through them, their parents' wallets", bringing billions to the company through "her image, TV series, movies, music records, perfume and clothing ranges" being in the spotlight "all this means that tweens can barely avoid her".[617]Billboard ranked her number 38 on itsDecade-End listicle of the most successful artists of the 2010s decade.[618] With an estimatednet worth of US$1.3billion, Gomez is the first former Disney star to become a billionaire, being one of thewealthiest musicians and youngest self-made billionaires in the world.[619][620][621][622]
[Gomez] is not just a pop star, she's a multifaceted businesswoman with diverse income streams contributing to her impressive net worth ($1.3 billion).
— Stacy Jones, founder and chief executive officer of Hollywood Branded, on Gomez (2023)[619]
She has had a huge impact onsocial media,[623][624] with Hugh McIntyre fromForbes noting that "Gomez's posts, no matter what the image is actually of, are always liked by millions of people" and "in fact, the mere mention of Selena Gomez in a post by another star helps up the number of people who like it, proving her power".[623] She was named as the number one positive influencer on social media in 2022.[629] David Amsden fromW named her "the most popular girl in America", writing that she "landed her first gig at 7, and by 14 was known to millions of prepubescent youths" and that "she embodies a particular strain of American fame: You know who she is without quite knowing who she is".[630]Variety considers her a key personality in global media, owing to her "multi-hyphenate" presence incorporating music, films, television, cosmetics, and social activism.[631]
In 2021,Rolling Stone India regarded her as one of the most influentialpop culture icons of her time.[610] In 2017,Time honored her as one of the "women who are changing the world" on its First Women Leaders list.[632] Gomez was included inThe Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 list, from 2022 to 2024 consecutively, as one of the most powerful women in entertainment, a rating based on achievements, overall authority within company and Hollywood, and its position in the industry, naming her "one of the most globally and culturally celebrated artists, actors, producers, entrepreneurs and philanthropists of her generation".[633][634][635][636]People named Gomez as one of 15 women who are "changing the music industry today".[637]Vogue India named her as one of the "women who has inspire this generation", calling her "newsmaker" of pop culture headlines.[638]The Guardian credited her with popularizing "whisper pop", a style of pop music characterized by soft, hushed and breathy vocals.[639]
The Latin Recording Academy honored Gomez asone of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment for her "tremendous commercial success as a singer, actress and producer".[340] In October 2024, theGovernment of France granted Gomez the title ofChevalier de l'Ordre des arts et des lettres for "significant contribution to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance".[431]The Hollywood Reporter awarded her the Equity in Entertainment Award that December, withMolly Shannon noting that she had used her voice to "change the world for the better" and "changed the entertainment landscape". Shannon called her "a role model, not just because of her immense talent and success, but because of the way she uses her influence to empower others. She challenges the status quo and creates a more inclusive, compassionate world for all."[636]
Having amassed 45 billion streams globally as of 2022,[663] She was the eight-most streamed and one of the most-streamed female artist of 2010s decade on bothSpotify andApple Music.[664][665] In 2017, she was third most streamed female artist on Spotify.[666] In November 2018, Gomez surpassedDrake and becameSpotify's most-streamed artist with 46 million monthly listeners while not releasing new album since 2015 (Ariana Grande later surpassed this record).[667][668]
"Calm Down", Gomez's collaboration withRema, has been described as the most successfulAfrobeats song of all time.[393] The song broke the records as the highest- and longest-charting African artist-led song on the Hot 100,[391] the longest-running number-one of all time on theBillboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, with 58 weeks at the summit,[392] the longest-charting song in the top 10 and overall on the Pop Airplay chart, with 45 and 71 weeks respectively,[387] the first African artist-led track to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify,[397] and 1 billion on-demand streams in the US; its music video became the most-viewed Afrobeats song on YouTube.[398][399] Gomez is one of six woman to score at least three number-one singles on thePop Airplay chart from a single set.[201] With her EPRevelación and her single "Baila Conmigo", she became the first female act to top the US Latin Albums and Latin Airplay charts simultaneously in over a decade.[345] Gomez is the longest active run of any artist with 16 consecutive top 40 hits on theBillboard Hot 100.[282] She broke the record with the song "Ice Cream" withBlackpink as the third-highest 24-hour debut for a music video on YouTube at the time, with over 79 million views, and the highest for female artist and female collaboration.[339] Gomez was the second woman to becomeSpotify's most-streamed artist in November 2018, with 46 million monthly listeners.[667][668]
Gomez has been open about her struggles with bothanxiety anddepression. She beganpsychotherapy in her early twenties and spent time in treatment facilities. When she reached 100 million Instagram followers, Gomez said she "sort of freaked out" and has since taken several extended breaks from social media, partly due to negative comments.[701] In April 2020, she revealed she hasbipolar disorder.[702][703] In November 2022, she revealed that she had an episode ofpsychosis in 2018.[423]
In October 2022, Gomez canceled an appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after testing positive forCOVID-19.[704] In September 2024, Gomez revealed her inability to have children naturally due to her health issues, and mentioned wanting to explore either surrogacy or adoption in the future.[705] In November 2024, she disclosed a prior diagnosis ofsmall intestinal bacterial overgrowth.[706]
Gomez began dating record producerBenny Blanco in June 2023.[712][713] She formally announced their engagement on December 11, 2024,[714] following a period of media rumors.[715] The couple were married on September 27, 2025, at the Sea Crest Nursery inSanta Barbara, California.[716][717]
^Bonner, Mehera (May 10, 2018)."Everything You Need to Know About Selena Gomez's Mom, Mandy Teefey".Cosmopolitan.Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. RetrievedMay 24, 2020.Mandy was born in Texas, and gave birth to Selena when she was just 16. She married Selena's dad, Ricardo Joel Gomez, and after their relationship ended in divorce, married talent manager Brian Teefey.
^"TV: Life is magical for 'Wizards' star".The Fresno Bee. Archived fromthe original on August 8, 2008. RetrievedApril 8, 2013.Because Gomez's father is from Mexico, she has been able to attend many family quinceañeras. But the actress, whose mother is half-Italian, did not have her own.
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