10 Essential Selena Gomez Facts For Every Fan
This article references domestic abuse and mental illness.
Fans might call Selena Gomez one of the biggest stars of their generation, and rightfully so. The multitalented celeb became a household name at only 15 years old when she was cast as Alex Russo in Disney Channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place." While showcasing her acting talents on the sitcom, the star also pursued a singing career alongside the band, The Scene. The musician later left the group to become a solo artist. During a Q&A session for Ask Anything Chat, the star explained why Selena Gomez & The Scene parted ways. "I think if you're 14, 15, 16 and you're trying to sing about situations in life that you haven't experienced, I don't really know if that qualifies you as an artist if I'm being honest with you," she explained, seemingly referring to the mature subjects she sang about as a teen.
After going solo in 2012, Gomez returned to the music industry with her single "Come & Get It," which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Music aside, the multitalented star has evolved career-wise, and gone on to become a business owner and a producer. She's also taken on more mature acting gigs in recent years, like her role as Mabel Mora in Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building." As these 10 essential Selena Gomez facts for every fan prove, there's much more to learn about the star's impressive career.
She was named after Selena Quintanilla
Selena Gomez's parents may have had an inkling that she was destined for stardom considering that they named her after the late Tejano music legend, Selena Quintanilla. The former Disney Channel star made the admission during an interview on Sacramento's NOW 100.5 (via Teen Vogue), in which she explained, "My name was going to be Priscilla, but my cousin actually took the name when she was born six months before me. They actually loved [Selena's] music, so they just named me after her." In an episode of her HBO Max show, "Selena + Chef" (via TikTok), she described how she wore the name with pride. "It gives me goosebumps sometimes because I was obsessed with Selena," she proclaimed. "I knew everything about her. I was just such a fan."
As she explained in her interview with Sacramento's NOW 100.5, after her career took off, Gomez actually met the singer's family. She even visited the late musician's grave and the home she lived in prior to her death, understandably becoming emotional after exploring Quintanilla's roots. Like many fans of the "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" singer, Gomez wondered what would have become of her idol's career if she were still alive.
The star reminded fans that she's a loyal fan of her namesake when she posted on Instagram Stories to share that she was tuned into Netflix's "Selena: The Series" (via ET).
Selena is a Texas native
Selena Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas where she lived until the age of 13, per Narcity Dallas. The musician's mother, Mandy Teefey, was only 16 years old when she gave birth to her, with the family facing financial hardship throughout the star's childhood. In a 2021 interview with Vogue, the star recalled being protected from the often difficult realities of living in a low-income household. "I remember always being reminded that people had less than we did, and we didn't have much," she said. "But I felt like we did because my mom was always doing a hundred million things just to make me happy, and we volunteered at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving; we went through my closet for Goodwill."
Although Gomez's early childhood years may have come with challenges, it seems that Grand Prairie is still close to her heart. In 2018, the "Same Old Love" singer documented a sentimental visit to her childhood home on Instagram. Gomez shared a snap of herself posing in front of the door of her former family home, and wrote in the caption, "I visit this place every chance I get. In many ways, it very well could have been better than my life today, but I'm grateful for a voice that can enable change ... I love you, Grand Prairie. Thank you."
Barney was her first major acting gig
As many die-hard Selena Gomez fans might already know, the former Disney star got her start on "Barney." As she revealed to The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast, the audition process to star alongside everyone's favorite big purple dinosaur was pretty intense. At age 7, Gomez was one of 1,400 hopeful children who had queued up to be part of the show. "Out of all those kids, they picked seven, and I happened to be one of them," she shared.
The star also talked about meeting fellow "Barney" alum Demi Lovato at the audition. "The wildest part of that story is that she actually was the girl standing in front of me," she said of her former "Princess Protection Program" co-star. "I remember she had a red bow on, I'll never forget it ... I just thought the world of her ... After we got the part, we didn't know if the other one did. And we just had this, like, mini-reunion when we saw each other."
The star went on to reveal that her role on "Barney" taught her all about show business. She was even able to perfect her singing and dancing skills while rehearsing for the show. Gomez eventually caught the attention of Disney Channel executives thanks to the expertise she'd gained during these formative years. This resulted in the budding actor landing a minor role in "Hannah Montana" before later landing "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Being a teen star came with challenges
Selena Gomez spent a large chunk of her teen years on "Wizards of Waverly Place," with the hit Disney Channel show running from 2007 to 2012. Like many Disney stars, she has revealed mixed feelings about rising to fame at such a young age. In a panel discussion about her Hulu show, "Only Murders in the Building" (via E! News), the actor joked about her experience as a teen idol with the House of Mouse. "I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age and I didn't know what I was doing," she dryly concluded. Gomez's statements caused quite a stir, with many outlets suggesting her comments may have been more ominous than intended. In a later interview with Radio Times, she clarified that her Disney Years weren't all that bad. "I'm beyond proud of the work that I did with Disney," she mentioned.
Speaking to Vogue earlier that year, the star was candid regarding the impact of her sudden rise to fame as a teenager. As noted by the outlet, Gomez became a one-girl promotional machine during her formative years with Disney which put her under intense pressure and scrutiny. "That was my job in a way — to be perfect," she stated. Gomez wasn't exactly comfortable with the influx of paparazzi who would follow her everywhere, either. "Grown men with cameras — taking pictures of a 15-year-old in her swimsuit," she reflected. "That is a violating feeling."
Selena Gomez is also an accomplished producer
Selena Gomez is known for her singing and acting, but she's also an accomplished producer. She and her mother, Mandy Teefey, are largely responsible for the success of the hit Netflix show, "13 Reasons Why." According to The New York Times, Gomez's mom pitched the idea of making the Jay Asher novel into a movie starring her daughter. This particular idea fell through, but Netflix picked up Teefey's idea in the form of a 13-part series produced in part by the former Disney star.
While speaking to The New York Times, Gomez was asked how she felt working behind the scenes for "13 Reasons Why" rather than in front of the camera. "Once I left my series, once I started to go for roles that weren't that age range — it organically began to become a project that I knew I would be behind the scenes with," she responded. "I actually like that I'm not in it. To be honest, this book has such a huge following. I wanted it to be credible. If I'm a part of it, that's going to cause a whole other conversation."
Other projects produced by Gomez include "Only Murders in the Building," the documentary "Living Undocumented," and her HBO Max quarantine cookery show, "Selena + Chef." In August 2022, Deadline reported that the star is also set to produce a reboot of the 1988 film, "Working Girl."
She's been good friends with Taylor Swift for years
Within their industry, the friendship between Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift may be one of the warmest and most enduring, with the famous friends known for publicly supporting each other. During an interview with Kiss FM UK, Gomez reminisced on the early days of her friendship with the "Folklore" hit-maker. "We actually dated the Jonas Brothers together. It was hysterical," she shared. "... I was definitely up-and-coming, and we just clicked." Without missing a beat, she also made a salty comment about their experiences in dating two of the siblings, quipping, "It was the best thing we got out of those relationships."
Their friendship has continued to thrive and for good reason. In 2014, Swift described her pal as a dependable constant in her life, with the two bonding over their shared experiences in the entertainment industry. When asked by E! News what makes her friendship with Gomez so special, she answered, "It's been the longest one I think either of us had really ... Longevity is something you really can find very precious and rare in friendships."
Per Elite Daily, if a 2022 TikTok interaction between the two is any indication, then the duo are still close pals. On one of Gomez's beauty videos which featured Swift's track "The Man" for its soundtrack, the "Bad Blood" singer commented, "It's giving CEO it's giving gorgeousness it's giving friends forever." Aw.
Selena has survived some massive health issues
Over the years, Selena Gomez has been very transparent about living with lupus. You might remember when the star stepped away from the spotlight to check into a rehabilitation center in 2014. Per Billboard, rumors suggested that she was dealing with substance misuse issues during this period. However, the star shot down and corrected the speculation in an interview with the outlet. "I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could've had a stroke," Gomez shared. "I wanted so badly to say, 'You guys have no idea. I'm in chemotherapy. You're a**holes.' I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again."
The "Wolves" singer's health took a turn for the worst in 2017 when she had to undergo a kidney transplant. She revealed this news in an Instagram post in which she shared that close friend, Francia Raísa, was her kidney donor. Four years later, Gomez proudly reflected on her ongoing strength in overcoming a bombardment of personal challenges. "My lupus, my kidney transplant, chemotherapy, having a mental illness, going through very public heartbreaks — these were all things that honestly should have taken me down," Gomez told Elle. The silver lining? What keeps her going is knowing she's helping those with similar struggles.
Her makeup line has some unique selling points
In 2020, Selena Gomez joined the long list of celebrities with their own makeup lines when she launched Rare Beauty. The brand has been incredibly successful since its introduction, bringing in $60 million in sales within its first year. What set Rare Beauty apart from the competition? It might have been the company's user-friendly approach to beauty. During an interview with Nylon, Gomez discussed why this was important to her as the face of the makeup line. "I developed all the products to be uncomplicated and easy to use. Almost everything in the line is liquid and is so easy to blend into the skin," she explained. "Whether you wear barely any makeup or a full face of glam, this was made for you to wear exactly as you want to wear it."
Rare Beauty is also unique because it donates 1 percent of its sales to Gomez's nonprofit, the Rare Impact Fund, which provides communities with resources and education for better mental health support. According to Allure, the organization has a goal of raising $100 million over a 10-year period. "Helping young people gain access to mental health resources is exactly why we created the [fund]," Gomez explained. She elaborated that having bipolar disorder gives her a lived experience of the challenges that come with mental illness. "I'm gonna take [my experience] and create a space for other[s] ... [so] they don't go through what I've gone through," she proclaimed.
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Selena's love life has featured some famous faces
Selena Gomez's romantic relationships have been in the spotlight since her teen years. The musician's first publicly documented boyfriend was fellow Disney Channel star, Nick Jonas. Per Us Weekly, she was apparently first spotted with the teen idol in 2008. The couple split just months later before briefly reuniting in 2010. Five years later, Gomez revealed the truth about her relationship with Jonas, telling Capital FM, "That to me was like puppy love."
Gomez's years-long on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber was arguably one of the most publicized celebrity romances of its time. The couple began dating in 2010 and finally parted ways in 2018. Two years later, Gomez opened up about the relationship in a shocking interview on NPR. "I've found the strength in it. It's dangerous to stay in a victim mentality," she said of moving on from her ex. "And I'm not being disrespectful, I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse." She clarified that she was referencing emotional abuse. As of this writing, Bieber has never publicly responded to his ex-girlfriend's comments.
According to Life&Style, some of Gomez's other famous flings are rumored to have included The Weeknd, Niall Horan, Orlando Bloom, and Taylor Lautner, who also dated Taylor Swift during the same year.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
She may be all about philanthropy and motherhood
It seems that Selena Gomez is really looking forward to motherhood because she's mentioned that she has dreams of raising her own little ones away from the spotlight. During an interview for TaTaTu's "Giving Back Generation" podcast (via Independent) in August 2022, she explained that her main life goals were focused on charity work and motherhood. "Eventually, I'm going to be tired of all of this," she said of her fame. "So I'm probably just going to devote most of my life to philanthropy before I peace out ... Just keep it real." The star went on to share that watching her younger sister grow up has only added to her desire to become a mom.
This wasn't the first time Gomez addressed the possibility of becoming a parent. In a June 2022 interview for The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast, the star pondered what her life would be like if she had never left Texas, and she theorized that she likely would have been a mom. "I would have four kids, for sure," she said. "Maybe not planned, maybe planned, maybe both. And there's nothing wrong with the life I would have led ... I just know that that's not my path, and I'm really grateful I had my mom to give me that opportunity to be what I want to be."