Selena Gomez

Selena Marie Gomez is an American actress, singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and producer. She first gained public recognition as a child actress on the children's television series Barney & Friends (2002–2004) and subsequently achieved widespread prominence as a teen idol for her leading role as Alex Russo on the Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012).

Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to Ricardo Joel Gomez and Amanda Dawn "Mandy" Teefey. Raised primarily by her mother following her parents' divorce, she grew up in a household that faced financial challenges. She developed an interest in performance after watching her mother prepare for stage productions and began working in television as a young girl. She completed her high school diploma through homeschooling in May 2010.

Her career expanded into music after signing with Hollywood Records in 2008. She formed the group Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three studio albums: Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011). She later transitioned to a solo music career, releasing the studio albums Stars Dance (2013), Revival (2015), and Rare (2020). Her single "Lose You to Love Me" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, while singles such as "Come & Get It", "Good for You", and "Same Old Love" achieved top-five positions. Her musical projects also include the Spanish-language EP Revelación (2021) and the 2025 album I Said I Love You First, released with her husband Benny Blanco.

In film and television, Gomez has starred in features such as Another Cinderella Story (2008), Monte Carlo (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), The Dead Don't Die (2019), and Emilia Pérez (2024), as well as voicing Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania franchise (2012–2022). She has served as an executive producer for series including 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020) and Selena + Chef (2020–2023), and has played a main role in the series Only Murders in the Building since 2021.

Outside of entertainment, Gomez is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and an advocate for mental health and equality. She founded the cosmetics company Rare Beauty, valued at $2 billion, as well as the Rare Impact Fund. Her career achievements include an Actor Award, an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, and 17 Guinness World Records. She has also been named Billboard's Woman of the Year (2017) and Latin Woman of the Year (2025).