Selena Gomez

2002–2006: Career beginnings

Gomez first gained an interest in pursuing a career in entertainment watching her mother prepare for stage productions.^[23] In 2002, she began her acting career on the children's television series Barney & Friends.^[24] She appeared in thirteen episodes between 2002 and 2004, as well as in two direct-to-video films associated with the series.^[25][26] Reflecting on the experience, she said, "I was very shy when I was little [...] I didn't know what 'camera right' was. I didn't know what blocking was. I learned everything from Barney."^[27] She added that after two seasons the producers felt she was "getting a little too old" for the series.^[27] During this period, Gomez had small roles in the family film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and the made-for-television film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005).^[28][29] She also guest-starred in a 2006 episode of the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.^[29][30]

2007–2012: Breakthrough with Disney and Selena Gomez & the Scene

Gomez had a recurring role on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana in 2007 as the rival pop star Mikayla.^[27] Around the same period, she filmed pilot episodes for prospective Disney Channel spin-offs before auditioning for Wizards of Waverly Place,^[30] where she was cast in the lead role of Alex Russo.^[27][31] Gomez and her mother subsequently moved to Los Angeles.^[24][32] The series premiered in October 2007,^[33] became a major success for the network, and helped establish Gomez as a teen idol.^[34][35][36] It received positive reviews,^[37][38] with critics highlighting her comic timing and sarcastic delivery.^[37][39][40] For her performance, she earned an ALMA Award and five consecutive Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress.^[41][42]

In 2008, while working on the second season of Wizards of Waverly Place, Gomez voiced Helga in the animated film Horton Hears a Who!^[43] She also starred as Mary Santiago in the direct-to-video teen musical comedy film Another Cinderella Story, the second installment in the A Cinderella Story series.^[44][45] Her performance earned her a Young Artist Award.^[46] She contributed songs to the film's soundtrack,^[47] including her debut single "Tell Me Something I Don't Know",^[48][49] which marked her first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[50] At age 16, Gomez signed with Hollywood Records,^[51] and formed the production company, July Moon Productions.^[52][53] Among its early announced projects was an adaptation of the novel Thirteen Reasons Why, which was not produced at the time;^[54][55] Gomez later served as an executive producer on its eventual television adaptation.^[56]

In 2009, Gomez continued her television work on Disney Channel, reprising her role as Alex Russo in the crossover episode Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana on The Suite Life on Deck,^[57] and guest-starred on Sonny with a Chance.^[58] She co-starred with Demi Lovato in the television film Princess Protection Program.^[59][60] The pair recorded the song "One and the Same", included on the film's DVD release.^[61] Gomez next starred in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a television film based on the series.^[62] The film premiered in August 2009 to an audience of 11.4 million viewers and ranked as the second-highest-rated cable television film of all time, behind High School Musical 2.^[63][64] Roxana Hadadi of The Washington Post wrote that the film is carried by the performances of its young leads—Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin.^[65] Gomez recorded songs for the franchise's soundtrack, including "Magic".^[66][67] Later that year, she voiced Princess Selenia in Luc Besson's fantasy film Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard.^[68][69] She reprised the role in its sequel Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010).^[68][70]

Gomez formed the band Selena Gomez & the Scene under her deal with Hollywood Records.^[71] The group released three studio albums—Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011)—all of which charted within the top ten of the US Billboard 200.^[72][73] They found mainstream success with singles such as "Naturally", "Who Says", and "Love You Like a Love Song".^[50][74] The lattermost became their highest-performing single in the US,^[74][75] and Billboard later ranked it as the biggest hit to peak at number twenty-two in the country.^[76]

In 2010, Gomez portrayed Beezus Quimby opposite Joey King in the family comedy film Ramona and Beezus, based on the children's novel series by Beverly Cleary.^[77][78] The film was well received by critics;^[79] Roger Ebert described it as "a sweet salute" and found both actresses "appealing".^[80] The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy Monte Carlo alongside Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, playing a dual role as Grace and British socialite Cordelia Winthrop-Scott.^[81][82] In preparation for the part, she learned to play polo and received dialect coaching to perform two British accents.^[83][84] The film received mixed reviews,^[85] and critics were divided on her dual performance,^[86][87][88] with some finding her portrayal of Cordelia unconvincing.^[89][90] That year, she hosted the MuchMusic Video Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards.^[91][92] She later made a cameo appearance in the film The Muppets.^[93]

2012–2014: Stars Dance and films

During 2012, Selena Gomez & the Scene went on hiatus, which 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, stating: "And there was a moment when I felt like I could do it and I wanted to try it on my own".^[94] That year, Wizards of Waverly Place officially ended its run on the Disney Channel after four seasons.^[95][96]

Gomez starred in Harmony Korine's independent crime film Spring Breakers (2012), alongside James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine.^[97] The film premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival,^[98] and was released in March 2013.^[99] She portrayed Faith, a religious college student whose spring break trip takes a criminal turn.^[100][101] Gomez played a more mature role than in her previous work and later recalled finding parts of the shoot emotionally challenging.^[13] Spring Breakers received generally positive reviews from critics,^[102] with some describing it as a potential cult classic.^[103] The film entered various retrospective "best of" lists.^[104][105] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote that the film gave Gomez "the chance to simulate the behavior that feeds the tabloids" without the "humiliations" or "career-crushing price" associated with it.^[106]

Gomez voiced Mavis Dracula in the animated film Hotel Transylvania,^[107] which premiered in September 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival,^[108] and was released theatrically later that month to mixed reviews.^[109][110] The film was commercially successful, grossing US$358 million worldwide.^[111] She also made a cameo appearance in the horror film Aftershock.^[112] In 2013, she starred alongside Ethan Hawke in the action thriller Getaway, portraying a hacker.^[113] The film was widely panned by critics and became a box-office bomb.^[114][115] Several critics described Gomez as miscast.^[116][117] That year, she served as executive producer and reprised her role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel television special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.^[118]

Despite earlier claims that she would take a break from music,^[119] Gomez released "Come & Get It" in April 2013 as the lead single from her solo debut album.^[120] It became Gomez's first top-ten entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six,^[121][122] and also reached the top-ten in Canada and the UK.^[123] The album, Stars Dance, was released in July 2013.^[124] Rooted in EDM and electropop,^[125][126] it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 97,000 copies,^[72][127] and also reached number one in Canada.^[128] The record received mixed reviews from music critics, some of whom felt she had yet to establish a distinct musical identity.^[129][130] Its second single, "Slow Down", achieved moderate success.^[121] "Come & Get It" won Best Pop Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.^[131]

Gomez embarked on her Stars Dance Tour in August 2013.^[132] After performing in North America and Europe, she canceled the Australian and Asian legs of the tour in December 2013, wanting to take time for herself.^[133] In January 2014, it was reported that Gomez had spent two weeks at Dawn at The Meadows, a treatment facility in Wickenburg, Arizona.^[134] Her representative stated that she had spent time there "voluntarily [...] but not for substance abuse".^[135][136] In 2015, Gomez confirmed that she had been diagnosed with lupus and had undergone chemotherapy, which had led her to cancel tour dates in 2013.^[137][138]

Gomez had a supporting role in the drama Rudderless (2014), the directorial debut of William H. Macy.^[139][140] The independent film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival,^[139] and received mixed reviews from critics.^[141][142] She then played Nina Pennington in the teen comedy Behaving Badly (2014).^[143][144] Released in August, the film was both a critical and commercial failure.^[145][146] However, critics deemed Gomez's performance superior to the film.^[147][148]

In April 2014, Gomez ended her management arrangement with her mother and stepfather, who had managed her since her Disney years.^[149] She later signed with the WME and Brillstein companies to manage her career.^[150][151] The Hollywood Reporter reported that the move reflected a strategy to pursue more adult-oriented work in film and music.^[152] In November 2014, Gomez surprise-released the single "The Heart Wants What It Wants" and confirmed that she would issue a compilation album to complete her contract with her label.^[153] The song became her second top-ten hit in the US.^[50] Later that month, she released her first greatest hits album, For You,^[154] which debuted at number twenty-four in the US.^[73][155] Gomez officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and signed with Interscope Records in December 2014.^[156] At the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, she received the Ultimate Choice Award in recognition of her impact on youth entertainment.^[157]

2015–2016: Revival

While working on her then-upcoming second studio album, Gomez collaborated with German DJ and producer Zedd on "I Want You to Know", released in February 2015,^[158] which debuted at number seventeen in the US.^[50] In May, she appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for "Bad Blood".^[159] Later that year, Gomez reprised the voice role of Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 2;^[160] the film received mixed reviews and was a commercial success, grossing US$475 million worldwide.^[161][162] She also served as a key advisor during the ninth season of the reality singing competition The Voice,^[163] and was one of the narrators of the documentary Unity.^[164] She later made a cameo appearance in Adam McKay's film The Big Short (2015).^[165]

Gomez released her second studio album, Revival, in October 2015.^[166] Primarily a dance-pop and electropop record with R&B influences,^{[167][168][169]} it received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and lyrical content.^[170] Writing for Rolling Stone, Brittany Spanos described the album as "the sound of a newly empowered pop artist growing into her strengths like never before."^[171] In retrospective commentary, some critics described Revival as an influential pop album of the late 2010s.^[172][173] The album opened at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 117,000 album units in its first week.^[174] It was supported by the singles "Good for You" featuring rapper ASAP Rocky,^[175] "Same Old Love",^[176] "Hands to Myself" and "Kill Em with Kindness".^[177] "Good for You" debuted at number one on the Digital Song Sales chart with first-week sales of 179,000 copies—the best sales week of her career for a single.^[178] The song peaked at number five in the US,^[50] and reached the top ten in Australia and Canada.^[179] The album's first three singles each reached the top ten in the US and Canada,^[50][180] and topped the Pop Airplay chart,^[177] making Gomez the sixth woman to achieve three Pop Airplay number-ones from a single set.^[177] Gomez received the Chart-Topper Award at the Billboard Women in Music event.^[181]

In early 2016, Gomez continued promoting Revival and appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.^[182] She starred as Dot in the comedy-drama The Fundamentals of Caring, alongside Paul Rudd;^[183][184] it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and was released on Netflix in June 2016.^[185] Reviews for the film were positive,^[186] with Tristram Fane Saunders of The Daily Telegraph described Gomez's performance as "impressive" and "mature".^[187] She also appeared in the comedy film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016),^[188] and guest-starred in the Comedy Central sketch series Inside Amy Schumer.^[189] Later that year, Gomez had a supporting role in the drama film In Dubious Battle, starring and directed by James Franco.^[190] The film premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival,^[191] received mixed reviews,^[192][193] and was released the following year.^[194]

Gomez embarked on her worldwide Revival Tour in May 2016.^[195][196] She began working on her third studio album while touring and added a new song titled "Feel Me" to the tour's setlist;^[197] it was later released in 2020.^[198] After completing dates in North America, Asia and Oceania, she canceled the European and South American legs in August 2016 due to anxiety, panic attacks and depression caused by her lupus.^[199] That year, Gomez was featured on two collaborations: Charlie Puth's single "We Don't Talk Anymore"^[200] and Cashmere Cat's "Trust Nobody".^[201] "We Don't Talk Anymore" was an international success,^[202] and reached the top ten in the US, Australia, France, Spain, and topped the charts in Italy.^[203] After taking time off to address health issues, she made a surprise return to the public eye at the 2016 American Music Awards,^[204] where she won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and was nominated for Artist of the Year.^[205] She also received two Billboard Music Award nominations, including Top Female Artist.^[206]

2017–2019: Standalone releases and 13 Reasons Why

Gomez and the Norwegian DJ Kygo released the single "It Ain't Me" in February 2017.^[207] The collaboration reached the top ten on most major music charts worldwide, including the US and the UK,^[208][209] and attained top five peaks in Australia, Canada, Germany and many European countries.^[210] It later received nominations for Top Dance/Electronic Song at the Billboard Music Awards and Best Dance at the MTV Video Music Awards.^[211][212]

Gomez served as an executive producer on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, an adaptation of Jay Asher's novel.^[56] She was initially attached to portray Hannah Baker in a planned film adaptation before the project shifted to television, with Gomez remaining involved as an executive producer.^[213] The show premiered in March 2017.^[214] It drew criticism from mental health and suicide-prevention groups over concerns about its content and handling of sensitive themes.^[215] Gomez addressed the controversy, saying that the production aimed to remain faithful to the book and "do it justice," adding that backlash was inevitable and that "it’s not an easy subject to talk about."^[215] The first season was a critical success,^[216] while later seasons were met with generally negative reviews.^{[217][218][219]} 13 Reasons Why was the most-watched original streaming series of 2018,^[220] and concluded after four seasons in June 2020.^[221]

In May 2017, Gomez released the single "Bad Liar", accompanied by a vertical music video available exclusively on Spotify;^[222] it was the first music video to premiere on the platform.^[223] The song received widespread critical acclaim,^{[224][225][226]} with some deeming it Gomez's best song to date;^[227] Billboard ranked it as the best song of 2017.^[228] Two months later, she released "Fetish" featuring rapper Gucci Mane.^[229] In October, Gomez and music producer Marshmello released the single "Wolves".^[230] The song was a commercial success, and reached the top ten on charts in Australia, Canada, the UK, and several European countries,^[231] peaking at number twenty in the US.^[50] Later that year, Gomez was named Billboard's Woman of the Year.^[232]

In May 2018, Gomez released the single "Back to You" from the soundtrack to the second season of 13 Reasons Why.^[233] It reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, and several European countries,^[234] and peaked within the top twenty in the US and the UK.^[235] In July, Gomez voiced Mavis again in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.^[236][237] With a worldwide gross of US$528 million,^[238] the film was a commercial success,^[239] and received mixed to positive reviews.^[240] Later that year, she featured on DJ Snake's single "Taki Taki" alongside Ozuna and Cardi B.^[241] The single achieved global success,^[242] reaching the top-ten in Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, topping the charts in Spain and several Latin American countries,^[243] and peaked at number eleven in the US.^[50] The song received nominations for Best Dance at the MTV Video Music Awards,^[244] and two Billboard Music Award nominations.^[245] Gomez featured on two songs in 2019: Julia Michaels's "Anxiety",^[246] and "I Can't Get Enough" with Benny Blanco, Tainy and J Balvin.^[247] Billboard noted that these standalone releases sustained her prominence throughout the streaming era.^[35]

Gomez was part of the ensemble cast of Jim Jarmusch's comedy horror The Dead Don't Die (2019).^[248] The film premiered as the opening film at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival,^[249] and received mixed reviews.^[250][251] That year, she starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy A Rainy Day in New York, alongside Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning.^[252][253] Amid renewed attention to the 1992 sexual abuse allegation against Allen prompted by the MeToo movement, Gomez donated over $1 million—more than her salary from the film—to the Time's Up initiative.^[254] The film garnered mixed reviews,^[255] but Gomez's performance was praised;^{[256][257][258]} Jessica Kiang of Variety wrote that she "comes out the best of the younger cast, husking her way through some of the film's better lines."^[259]

Gomez served as an executive producer for the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented, released in October 2019, which follows eight undocumented families in America.^[260][261] In an op-ed for Time, she wrote that she had been approached about the project in 2017 and chose to participate after viewing footage that captured the "shame, uncertainty, and fear" her own family had experienced, as well as the "hope, optimism, and patriotism" many undocumented immigrants still hold.^[262]

2020–2023: Rare, Revelación, and Only Murders in the Building

Gomez released her third studio album, Rare, in January 2020.^[263] Primarily a dance-pop record,^[264] it incorporates elements of R&B and electronic.^[265][266] Critics responded positively,^[267] praising its production and cohesiveness, with several publications describing it as Gomez's best album to date.^{[268][269][270]} Jem Aswad of Variety labeled Rare "one of the best pop albums to be released in recent memory".^[271] The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 112,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, becoming her third consecutive number-one album in the US.^[272] It also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and several territories, and peaked at number two in the UK.^[273][274] Rare was supported by lead single "Lose You to Love Me",^[275] followed the next day by the surprise release of "Look at Her Now" as a promotional single.^[276] "Lose You to Love Me" became Gomez's first number-one song in the US and Canada,^[277][180] and reached the top five on various national charts, including Australia and the UK.^[278] Two other singles were the title track and "Boyfriend".^[279][280] Gomez was also featured on the remix of Trevor Daniel's "Past Life",^[281] and collaborated with South Korean girl group Blackpink on "Ice Cream",^[282] which peaked at number thirteen in the US,^[283] and reached the top ten on the Billboard Global 200 and in South Korea.^[284][285]

Beyond music, Gomez voiced Betsy the giraffe in the adventure film Dolittle (2020), starring Robert Downey Jr.^[286][287] She then hosted and executive produced the HBO Max cooking show Selena + Chef, which premiered in August 2020 and was initially filmed remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[288][289] The series ran for four seasons,^[290] and later expanded into two Food Network projects—Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays (2023) and Selena + Restaurant (2024)—both hosted and executive produced by Gomez.^{[291][292][293]} Her work across the franchise earned her three nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Program.^[294] In 2020, she also executive produced two films: the teen comedy-drama This Is the Year,^[295] and the romantic comedy The Broken Hearts Gallery,^[296] the latter of which received positive reviews from critics.^[297][298] That year, Gomez was honored by The Latin Recording Academy as one of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment,^[299] and Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.^[300]

Gomez released her first Spanish-language project, an EP titled Revelación, in March 2021.^[301] Incorporating reggaeton and latin pop with urbano elements, the project marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of Rare.^[302][303] It debuted at number twenty-two in the US and atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, becoming the first release by a woman to achieve this in several years.^[304] The EP received positive reviews,^[305] and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.^[306] It was supported by the singles "Baila Conmigo" with Rauw Alejandro, and "Selfish Love" with DJ Snake.^[307][308] With Revelación and "Baila Conmigo", she became the first female act to top the US Latin Albums and Latin Airplay charts simultaneously in over a decade.^[304] The music video for the promotional single "De Una Vez" was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.^[309] Gomez performed at the 2021 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony in May.^[310] In August, she collaborated with Colombian singer Camilo on the single "999".^[311]

Gomez starred in and executive produced the mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short, portraying Mabel Mora.^[312][313] The series premiered in August 2021 and set a record as Hulu's most-watched comedy premiere day.^[314][315] Ahead of the premiere, Gomez said she felt more in control of her return to television and was glad to portray a character closer to her own age, reflecting: "I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age and I didn't know what I was doing."^[316] The series has received critical acclaim since its debut.^[317] Critics praised the performances and chemistry among the main trio;^{[318][319][320]} Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "Gomez is a true co-star in the series and does a superb job of meshing with Martin and Short to form one of the more entertaining albeit unlikely friendship trios in recent memory."^[321] For her performance, Gomez won the Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy,^[322] and received nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award and the Primetime Emmy Award,^[323][324] as well as four Golden Globe Award nominations,^[325] all for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. The cast won the SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2025.^[326] As an executive producer, Gomez has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series.^[327][328]

Gomez reprised her voice role as Mavis and served as an executive producer for the animated film Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022).^[329] The film was released on Amazon Prime Video in January 2022 to mixed reviews.^[330][331] She collaborated with Coldplay on "Let Somebody Go", released as a single in February.^[332] In May, she hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live,^[333] and returned for a cameo appearance later that year.^[334] Gomez also executive produced the ViX+ docuseries Mi vecino, el cartel.^[335]

In August 2022, Gomez was featured on the remix of Nigerian singer Rema's single "Calm Down".^[336] The single became an international hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Hot 100.^[337][50] It marked Gomez's ninth top-ten entry in the US and her second number-one hit in Canada.^[338][180] In the US, the song topped Billboard's all-genre Radio Songs chart for ten weeks and set a record as the longest-running number-one in the history of the US Afrobeats Songs chart.^[339][340] It also became the longest-charting song both in the top ten and overall on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart.^[341] Billboard described the track as "Afrobeats' biggest crossover hit."^[342] According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), it was the second best-selling song worldwide of 2023.^[343] At the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, it received five nominations, winning Top Afrobeats Song,^[344] and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats.^[345]

Gomez was the subject of the Alek Keshishian-directed documentary film Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.^[346] The film premiered at the AFI Fest in November 2022,^[347] and was subsequently released on Apple TV+ and in select theaters.^[348][349] It was met with a positive critical reception upon release,^[350] with critics noting its candid approach to mental health.^[351][352] Chris Azzopardi of The New York Times described it as an "honest portrait study of stardom and mental illness".^[351] Gomez released the song "My Mind & Me" to coincide with the documentary.^[353] In March 2023, she appeared in the Apple TV+ documentary television series Dear....^[354][355] She released the standalone single "Single Soon" in August 2023.^[356] It reached the top-twenty on the Billboard Global 200 and in the US.^[284][50]

2024–present: Continued acting and I Said I Love You First

In January 2024, Gomez admitted to having a preference for acting over music and mentioned having "one more album in me".^[357] She said she had "never really intended on being a singer full-time", but "that hobby" evolved into a career during her days working with Disney.^[357] Gomez later clarified that "music isn't going away" and that she had "just set it down for a second".^[358] In February, she released the standalone single "Love On".^[359]

Gomez starred in Jacques Audiard's Spanish-language musical crime film Emilia Pérez, portraying Jessi, the title character's wife.^[360][361] She took Spanish lessons for the role.^[362] The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival,^[363] where Gomez and her co-stars—Karla Sofía Gascón, Adriana Paz, and Zoe Saldaña—jointly won the Best Actress Award.^[364] It received generally positive reviews,^[365] though it drew criticism for its depiction of Mexico and transgender identity.^[366] Critics praised her "scene-stealing" presence and emotional range,^{[367][368][369]} though her Spanish pronunciation drew some criticism.^[370] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that although her role is less central, she "plays both the hard edges and the vulnerability of a woman whose life has been uprooted twice and who needs to find her own happiness, even if it sets her on a dangerous path."^[371] Gomez received nominations for the BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress,^[372][373] while the ensemble cast was nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a SAG Award.^[374][326] She also performed two songs for the film's soundtrack, including "Mi camino".^[375]

Gomez co-produced and appeared in the documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change, released on HBO Max in October 2024.^[376] She also guest-starred in and reprised her role as Alex Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, a sequel series to Wizards of Waverly Place,^[377][378] and served as an executive producer.^[379] Gomez cited her attachment to the original series as a reason for returning to the franchise.^[380] The series premiered on Disney Channel and Disney+ in October 2024.^[379] Critics responded positively to her return, highlighting her comedic timing and her dynamic with former co-star David Henrie.^{[381][382][383]}

In March 2025, Gomez and record producer Benny Blanco released the collaborative album I Said I Love You First, which also marked her fourth studio album.^[384] It received positive reviews,^[385] with Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield praising its stylistic diversity and describing it as a celebration of Gomez and Blanco's real-life romance.^[386] The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with 120,000 units, marking the largest sales week of her career.^[387] It also debuted within the top five in several countries, including Australia, Germany, and the UK.^[388] Three singles were released in support of the album: "Call Me When You Break Up" with Gracie Abrams,^[389] "Sunset Blvd",^[390] and "Ojos Tristes" with The Marías.^[391] The album track "Bluest Flame" received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Pop Recording.^[392] In April, Gomez was named Billboard Latin Women of the Year.^[393] Later that year, she was featured on the song "Pick It Up" from Cardi B's second studio album, Am I the Drama?.^[394] She also released the single "In the Dark" in October for the soundtrack to the second season of the Netflix series Nobody Wants This.^[395]

Musical style and songwriting

Gomez is a pop artist whose music primarily encompasses dance-pop.^[396][35] Her early recordings with Selena Gomez & the Scene incorporated electronic rock and pop rock influences,^[35][397] before transitioning toward dance-pop and electropop on later releases.^{[398][399][400]} Stars Dance adopted an EDM-pop sound incorporating electronic, disco, techno, and dancehall influences,^[125][401] which she described as "baby dubstep".^[402] The 2014 single "The Heart Wants What It Wants" has been widely identified as a turning point in Gomez's musical direction, introducing darker themes and more personal lyrical subject matter.^[35]

Revival incorporated dance-pop, electropop, and R&B influences,^{[167][168][169]} and was described as marking a more mature artistic phase in Gomez's career.^[35][171] Gomez said she was more creatively involved in the songwriting process on the album than on her previous releases.^[403] Billboard wrote that the album highlighted Gomez's restrained vocal style—often described as "soft, delicate, husky, and whispery"—and her relatively limited vocal range and lack of vocal theatrics.^[35] The publication also credited Revival with helping define mainstream pop's mid-2010s shift away from EDM maximalism toward softer, R&B-inflected production styles.^[35] Its follow-up, Rare, was noted for its more personal and introspective themes inspired by Gomez's experiences.^[168][266] Her Spanish-language EP Revelación explored reggaeton, Latin pop, and urbano influences, marking a further expansion of her sound.^[302][303]

Writing for The Guardian, Peter Robinson credited Gomez with popularizing so-called "whisper pop", a style characterized by soft and hushed vocal performances; songs such as "Good for You" and "Bad Liar" were described as representing the apotheosis of the style.^[404] Other songwriting briefs reportedly sought a "Selena whisper sound".^[404] Producer Tainy described her voice as distinctive and said that she conveys emotion through "subtlety" rather than power.^[405] Gomez has said that her strengths as a singer lie in storytelling and performing in a lower vocal register with a softer tone.^[406] Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield observed that Gomez often sings about her emotions with a sense of vulnerability and described her lyrics as forming an "awesomely contorted private language" that is instantly recognizable.^[407] Critics have highlighted Gomez's artistic versatility;^[303][408] Entertainment Weekly critic Marcus Jones described her as "a far more versatile musician than she's been given credit for".^[303]

Gomez has described songwriting as an emotional outlet, saying that writing music helps her process her feelings and calling it "the best therapy".^[409] Songwriter Ali Tamposi described her as "extremely collaborative", noting that she contributes numerous ideas and concepts during songwriting sessions and is willing to be honest in her lyrics.^[410] Gomez frequently collaborates with songwriters Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, with whom she has co-written several songs since the mid-2010s, and whom she considers part of a close circle of trusted collaborators.^{[35][411][412]} According to Tranter, many of their songs emerge from conversations during studio sessions, with collaborators drawing on Gomez's personal experiences and emotional vulnerability when developing lyrics.^[413][414]

Influences

Gomez grew up listening to artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, and the boy band NSYNC.^[415] She has described Aguilera's album Stripped (2002) as a favorite and an influence on the conceptual approach behind Revival.^[415][416] Gomez also named Bruno Mars and Rihanna among her artistic influences.^[417] She has further cited Taylor Swift as an inspiration, praising her songwriting and ability to transition between musical genres.^[418][419] Gomez has additionally said she draws inspiration from singers of earlier eras, including Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, Carole King and Ella Fitzgerald, noting that she is drawn to the "smoky, soft tenderness" and distinct vocal tones of their voices.^[420]

Gomez has cited Spears as a major inspiration for her performances and described her as a "huge inspiration" when she sought to shed her Disney image.^[421][422] Performers such as Spears and Jackson influenced the dance-focused concept of her Stars Dance Tour.^[423][424] She has also pointed to the work of EDM producer Skrillex as an influence on the sound of Stars Dance, particularly his score for Spring Breakers, in which she starred.^[425]

In terms of acting influences, Gomez has said that her mannerisms for portraying Alex Russo were patterned after Jennifer Aniston's performance as Rachel Green on Friends.^[426]

UNICEF

In October 2008, Gomez was named spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which encourages children to raise funds on Halloween to support vulnerable children worldwide.^[427][428] The 2008 campaign raised over US$700,000.^[429] In September 2009, at age 17, she was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, becoming the organization's youngest ambassador at the time.^{[428][430][431]} Later that month, she traveled to Ghana on her first official field mission, visiting programs addressing access to clean water, nutrition, education, and healthcare.^[429][432]

Gomez continued her involvement with the Trick-or-Treat campaign and participated in additional fundraising initiatives,^{[433][434][435]} including a benefit concert marking the campaign's 60th anniversary in 2010;^[436] that year's campaign raised approximately US$4 million.^[437] Between 2010 and 2013, she conducted three Acoustic Charity Concerts benefiting UNICEF, which collectively raised nearly US$400,000 for programs supporting nutrition, clean water, medicine, and education.^{[438][439][440][441]}

Her subsequent field work included a 2011 visit to Chile, where she observed the UNICEF-supported Programa Puente initiative assisting vulnerable families with early childhood development and parenting support.^[442] That year, she also promoted clean water access through participation in the UNICEF Tap Project,^[443][444] and in 2012 supported the Sound the Alarm campaign, raising awareness of malnutrition in the Sahel region.^[431][445] In 2014, she traveled to Nepal to highlight challenges related to poverty and access to education.^[446]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gomez participated in a collective UNICEF fundraising effort supporting vaccination initiatives,^[430] and was among public figures who signed a 2021 open letter urging the G7 nations to increase vaccine donations to the COVAX initiative.^[447]

Other charity work

Gomez has supported numerous charitable initiatives beyond her work with UNICEF. In 2008, she participated in St. Jude's Children's Hospital's "Runway for Life" benefit, which raised over US$1 million.^[448] In 2009, she became an ambassador for DoSomething,^[449] and supported RAISE Hope for Congo, an initiative of the Enough Project focused on raising awareness about conflict minerals and violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[450][451] She also contributed to Disney's Friends for Change environmental campaign and recorded the charity single "Send It On" with Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers.^[452][453] Proceeds benefited the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund;^[454] the song debuted at number 20 in the US and raised over US$500,000.^[453][455] In 2012, she became an ambassador for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, supporting the establishment of multimedia centers in children's hospitals.^[456] Through her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, she granted more than 90 wishes by 2013 and received the organization's Chris Greicius Celebrity Award.^[457][458]

Following the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, Gomez collaborated with other artists on the charity single "Hands" to raise funds for Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the LGBT Community Center of Central Florida.^[459] That same year, she supported the Lupus Research Alliance by donating a portion of ticket sales from her Revival Tour and encouraging public donations; the organization reported that her efforts raised nearly US$500,000 for research.^[460][461] In 2017, she partnered with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California to establish the Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research,^[461] and as part of her collaboration with Puma, the company donated US$100,000 of profits to the fund in support of lupus research.^[462] That year, she also partnered with the Coach Foundation in its support of Step Up, a nonprofit organization mentoring girls from under-resourced communities.^[463][464]

In 2020, in conjunction with the launch of her cosmetics company Rare Beauty, Gomez founded the Rare Impact Fund, committing to raise US$100 million over ten years to expand access to youth mental health services and education; one percent of company sales supports the initiative.^[465] As of 2025, the fund had raised over US$20 million and partnered with 30 nonprofit organizations across five continents.^[466] In June 2020, she partnered with PLUS1 to launch the Black Equality Fund, directing proceeds to organizations supporting racial justice.^[467] Gomez has hosted the annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit since 2023.^{[466][468][469]} She has incorporated charitable giving into several of her professional projects, including Selena + Chef, which donated US$10,000 per episode to selected charities,^[470] collectively raising US$400,000,^[471] as well as brand partnerships that have directed portions of proceeds to the Rare Impact Fund.^{[472][473][474]}

Gomez has contributed to humanitarian relief efforts, including pledging donations during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.^[475][476] In 2023, amid the Gaza war, Gomez and Rare Beauty announced donations to Magen David Adom and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to support urgent care efforts, as well as to UNICEF to provide medical relief and resources to children in Gaza.^[477][478] The inclusion of Magen David Adom among the recipient organizations drew criticism from some commentators, while others expressed support for the humanitarian focus of the initiative.^[479] During the 2025 Southern California wildfires, she volunteered in local relief efforts, while Rare Beauty assembled emergency care kits and made donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and World Central Kitchen.^[480]

Advocacy

Gomez has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, speaking openly about her own experiences with mental health challenges.^[481] In 2019, she received the McLean Award for mental health advocacy,^[482] and in 2022 was honored by the Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab and the Ruderman Family Foundation for her advocacy efforts.^[483][484] In May 2022, she participated in the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House.^[485] The following year, she hosted the inaugural Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit and has continued to host the event annually.^[486][487] In April 2024, she spoke at the Time 100 Summit about mental health and the impact of social media.^[488]

Beyond mental health, Gomez has been involved in a range of civic and youth-focused initiatives. In 2008, she served as a spokesperson for the UR Votes Count campaign.^[489] She narrated the documentary Girl Rising (2013), which highlighted the importance of girls' education worldwide,^[490] and hosted several We Day events between 2014 and 2017.^{[491][492][493]} In 2019, she joined Michelle Obama's nonpartisan organization When We All Vote as a co-chair,^[494] and in 2020 was named co-chair of the Voto Latino Foundation's Impact Council.^[495]

Gomez has supported various civil rights initiatives, including LGBTQ rights and racial justice efforts. In 2013, scheduled concerts in Russia were canceled after authorities reportedly denied her visa request amid controversy surrounding the country's anti-LGBT legislation.^[496][497] During her 2016 Revival Tour, she donated proceeds from a North Carolina concert to Equality North Carolina in opposition to the state's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.^[498][499] In 2017, she contributed a "love letter" to Billboard's "30 Days of Pride" initiative.^[500][501] In June 2020, she voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement and temporarily gave control of her Instagram account to several Black activists, including Alicia Garza.^[502][503] In 2021, she was among numerous artists who signed a letter organized by The Ally Coalition supporting passage of the Equality Act.^[504][505] She was also among more than 400 signatories of an open letter organized by GLAAD supporting transgender women and girls on Transgender Day of Visibility.^[506]

Gomez has also spoken out on political and humanitarian issues. During the 2014 Gaza War, she posted a message on social media asking for prayers for Gaza, and later clarified that she was "not picking any sides" but praying for "peace and humanity for all".^[507] In 2017, she publicly opposed the Trump administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.^[508] In 2019, she expressed support for abortion rights following the Alabama abortion ban,^[509] and reiterated her support in 2022 after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.^[510] In 2020, she urged Facebook executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg to address hate speech and misinformation on their platforms ahead of the 2020 US presidential election,^[511] reiterating those concerns following the January 6 US Capitol attack.^[512][513]

In May 2021, Gomez hosted Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, organized by Global Citizen to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX program.^[514] The campaign raised US$302 million and secured more than 26 million vaccine doses for global distribution.^[515] In October 2023, she was among more than 260 artists who signed an open letter organized by Artists4Ceasefire urging US leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war.^[516] In January 2025, she posted and later deleted a video expressing distress over increased deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration; the post drew criticism from conservative commentators, and the White House subsequently shared a response video defending the administration's immigration policies.^{[517][518][519]}

Products and endorsements

In 2009, Gomez appeared in advertising campaigns for Sears and Borden Milk.^{[520][521][522]} The following year, she launched Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez, a clothing line developed with designers Tony Melillo and Sandra Campos and distributed through Kmart.^[523][524] The collection featured bohemian-inspired apparel and incorporated recycled and eco-friendly materials.^[525] She later expanded into beauty licensing through a fragrance agreement with Adrenalina.^[526][527] Her self-titled debut perfume was released in May 2012 and distributed through Macy's.^[528][529] A second fragrance, Vivamore, followed in 2013,^[530][531] alongside a signature nail polish collection in collaboration with Nicole by OPI.^[532]

From 2013 to 2015, Gomez served as a representative and guest designer for the Adidas NEO label, appearing in advertising campaigns and collaborating on seasonal collections.^[533][534] In 2015, she signed an endorsement deal with Pantene, becoming the face of its "Strong Is Beautiful" campaign.^[535][536] She later appeared in campaigns for Louis Vuitton under creative director Nicolas Ghesquière,^[537][538] and participated in Coca-Cola's "Share a Coke and a Song" campaign,^[539] whose associated promotional Instagram post became the most-liked image on the platform at the time.^[540]

In December 2016, Gomez entered into a partnership with Coach, collaborating with creative director Stuart Vevers on design projects and appearing in advertising campaigns.^[541][542] The collaboration produced the Coach x Selena Gomez collections, beginning with the Selena Grace handbag line in 2017 and later expanding into ready-to-wear apparel.^{[542][543][544]} The following year, she signed with Puma as brand ambassador and collaborator,^[545] contributing to footwear designs including the Phenom Lux and Defy sneakers as well as the SG x PUMA "Strong Girl" collection.^[545][546]

In 2020, Gomez became an investor and partner in Serendipity Brands, co-developing the flavor Cookies & Cream Remix in conjunction with the release of her single "Ice Cream" with Blackpink,^[547][548] and later became a co-owner of the company.^[474][549] In 2021, she collaborated with swimwear brand La'Mariette on a capsule collection,^[550] and co-founded the mental health media platform Wondermind.^[551] Wondermind raised US$5 million in funding in 2022, valuing the pre-revenue startup at US$100 million,^[551] and Gomez was later included in Inc.'s Female Founders 250 list in 2024.^[552] She has also invested in the food delivery company Gopuff,^[553] and collaborated with cookware brand Our Place on product collections released in 2022 and 2023.^[554][555] In June 2025, she collaborated with Mondelez International to launch a limited-edition Oreo cookie inspired by horchata for international release.^[556] A 2025 profile in Vogue described Gomez as having shifted from endorsement deals toward business development and ownership ventures.^[462]

Rare Beauty

In September 2020, Gomez launched her own makeup and cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty.^[557] The brand "[instead of selling an unattainable image] aims to help people feel good about themselves" by promoting inclusivity and mental health initiatives;^[558] it sells cruelty-free and vegan products packaged with recyclable materials.^[559] Initially released through its official webstore and Sephora stores in the US,^[560] Rare Beauty later expanded internationally and became available in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.^[561] The brand was named Startup of the Year at the WWD Beauty Inc Awards in 2020 and later earned Gomez the Pete Born Impact Award in 2023.^[562][563] In 2025, the company expanded into fragrance with the launch of Rare Eau de Parfum, its first perfume.^[564] In 2026, the brand also became available at Ulta Beauty stores in the US.^[565]

As of May 2024, the brand is valued at US$2 billion.^[558][566] In 2023, the brand's estimated annual revenue reached US$300 million, up approximately 50 percent from 2022.^[567] The company was also included on Time's list of the most influential companies of 2024.^[558] In September 2024, Bloomberg L.P. reported that Gomez had become a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion,^[568][569] with roughly 81% derived from Rare Beauty.^[570] At age 32, she was described as "one of the country's youngest female self-made billionaires".^[568]

Beliefs

Gomez was raised Catholic. In 2005, at age 13, she wanted a purity ring, and her father went to the church and had it blessed. She has said, "He actually used me as an example for other kids: I'm going to keep my promise to myself, to my family and to God." Gomez stopped wearing the ring in 2010.^[642] In 2014, Gomez said that she listened to "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United before performing at the 2014 American Music Awards.^[643] In 2016, she appeared at a Hillsong Young & Free concert in Los Angeles, leading worship by singing her song "Nobody".^{[644][645][646]} When a fan on Twitter asked her who the lyrics to "Nobody" refer to, Gomez replied that they refer to God.^[647] She also covered Hillsong Worship's song "Transfiguration", a reference to the Christian doctrine of the Transfiguration of Jesus, during her Revival Tour.^[648]

In June 2017, she expressed discomfort with the term "religion", stating that "It freaks me out".^[649] Gomez also said "I don't know if it's necessarily that I believe in religion as much as I believe in faith and a relationship with God."^[650][32] Gomez, with Justin Bieber, started worshiping at the Pentecostal Hillsong Church in Los Angeles in 2017.^[651] In 2021, she remarked that she maintained her Christian faith and had read The Purpose Driven Life by Baptist pastor Rick Warren three times.^[405]

Health

Gomez was diagnosed with a form of lupus erythematosus sometime between 2012 and early 2014.^[652] In September 2017, she revealed on Instagram that she had withdrawn from public events during the previous few months because she had received a kidney transplant from actress and friend Francia Raisa.^{[653][654][655]} During the transplant, one of her arteries ruptured, requiring emergency autotransplantation of a femoral vein to replace the artery.^{[656][657][658]}

Gomez has been open about her struggles with both anxiety and depression. She began psychotherapy 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.^[659] In April 2020, she revealed she has bipolar disorder.^[660][661] In November 2022, she revealed that she had an episode of psychosis in 2018.^[362]

In October 2022, Gomez canceled an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after testing positive for COVID-19.^[662] 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.^[663] In November 2024, she disclosed a prior diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.^[664]

Relationships

Gomez dated singer Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers in 2008. She appeared in the music video for the band's song "Burnin' Up".^[665] From December 2010 to March 2018, Gomez was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Canadian singer Justin Bieber.^[666][667] During their breakups, Gomez dated Russian-German disc jockey Zedd and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd.^[668][669]

Gomez began dating record producer Benny Blanco in June 2023.^[670][671] She formally announced their engagement on December 11, 2024,^[672] following a period of media rumors.^[673] The couple were married on September 27, 2025, at the Sea Crest Nursery in Santa Barbara, California.^[674][675]