Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez, who started her career acting in the children’s TV show “Barney & Friends,” has become one of America’s biggest pop stars — and an overall force in the entertainment industry. She found massive success with her former band, Selena Gomez and the Scene, and more recently, as a solo artist. She helped turn the teen novel “Thirteen Reasons Why” into a popular Netflix series. We’ll help you celebrate her July 22 birthday right here.

Fast Facts

Birth date:

July 22, 1992

Age:

31

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Background

Selena Gomez is a household name in the music industry, and her dazzling beauty and affectionate personality have won the hearts of millions around the world. She has had her ups and downs, yet continues to stay strong and be a powerful role model.

Selena Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her zodiac sign is Cancer and her ethnicity is half Mexican, half Italian. She is the daughter of Ricardo Gomez and Mandy Teefey, who named her after the iconic Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Selena got into acting after being inspired by her mother who was also an amateur actress. Some of Selena’s earliest acting roles were in the popular kids show “Barney & Friends,” “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,” and “House Broken.”

She moved to Los Angeles, California after landing her breakthrough role of Alex Russo in the Disney Channel original series “Wizards Of Waverly Place” (2007). The show aired for four seasons and ended with a movie. Selena shot to fame and received two Emmy awards for her role. Gomez then starred in a couple of other movies; “Another Cinderella Story” (2008), “Princess Protection Program” (2009), and did her first voice-acting role in the animated film “Horton Hears A Who!” (2008).

Selena next delved into music, releasing her first music album in 2009 with her band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The album ranked at #9 on the Billboard 200 album charts and went Platinum. In the next few years, Selena also engaged in philanthropic works, becoming the youngest ambassador for UNICEF. Always an advocate for environmental sustainability, Selena launched her clothing line Dream Out Loud in 2013, which was made from eco-friendly materials.

Ever since her rise to stardom, Selena’s private life has made headlines. Her high-profile relationship with singer Justin Bieber created a sensation like no other. With both singers at the peak of their careers, fans hyped up the couple, and their on and off relationship status from 2011 to 2018 continued to generate buzz online, earning them the nickname ‘Jelena.’

In 2015, after she was diagnosed with lupus disease, Selena struggled with frequent anxiety and panic attacks, resulting in her canceling her worldwide Revival Tour and checking into rehab. She made her first public appearance again at the 2016 American Music Awards.

In the following year, Selena started dating The Weeknd, and returned to the music scene with her collaboration song with Kygo ‘It Ain’t Me,’ which ranked in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the same year, Selena was honored with Billboard’s Woman of the Year award.

In September 2020, Selena launched Rare Beauty, her beauty line for everyone with no barriers. Her unique product design is easy to use, especially for those who struggle to open makeup items due to shaky hands or other autoimmune conditions. Rare Beauty has already become a favorite in the beauty community and is available at makeup retailer Sephora.

Career timeline

July 22, 1992
Selena Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas

Named after famous singer Selena Quintanilla, Gomez was born to a 16-year-old mother. Her parents divorced five years later — after which her mom raised her.

2002
"Barney & Friends"

Gomez began her acting career with 13 episodes of the show before leaving in 2004 when producers decided she was getting "too old."

2007
First lead role

After several smaller stints on other Disney series, Gomez received the lead role on the award-winning show "Wizards of Waverly Place." The stint lasted five years.

2009
Ambassador to UNICEF

At the age of 17, Selena Gomez becomes the youngest ambassador for UNICEF.

2013
First solo album

The "Stars Dance" album included the single "Come & Get It," which became her first top-ten hit.

September 25, 2016
One Hundred Million Followers

Selena Gomez becomes the first person to reach one hundred million followers on Instagram.

September 14, 2017
Major surgery

Gomez was diagnosed with lupus around 2012. She underwent a kidney transplant thanks to her best friend and actress Francia Raisa.

2020
Rare Beauty

Selena Gomez launches her Beauty line Rare Beauty.

Why We Love Selena Gomez

  1. Selena is such a sweetheart!

    Selena is the all-rounder girl next door who you can’t help but admire. Despite her popularity, she hasn’t been scandalous, and uses her fame and social media platforms for worthy causes — not to mention her gorgeous selfies!

  2. Selena is a great role model

    Selena Gomez is an idol to whom the younger generation looks up to. Her influence on the younger demographic has been consistently positive, and we can’t think of a better role model!

  3. Selena is fierce!

    Bubbly and full of life, Selena’s radiant smile turns our gloomy days into happy ones. But she has had her fair share of struggles, from fighting lupus disease to having rocky relationships. With her struggles out there for the world to see, she remained fierce and composed, and we love her strength! More power to you, Selena!

5 Fun Facts About Selena Gomez

  1. Selena eats whole lemons

    She often eats whole lemons but promises that she isn’t as sour in real life.

  2. Her mom was her manager

    Selena’s mom was her manager for a while until she decided she wanted to have more independence in making her own decisions.

  3. She is not a “Harry Potter” fan

    Even though she was the main character on the show “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Selena Gomez is not a fan of magic or “Harry Potter”.

  4. The executive producer for "13 Reasons Why"

    Selena worked to adapt the teen novel into a TV series for Netflix, describing it as a "passion project."

  5. Her love for burgers!

    Selena loves burgers and famously indulged in a meal from McDonald’s before her walk on the 2015 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

Selena Gomez FAQs

What is Selena Gomez's disease?

Selena Gomez has struggled with lupus since its diagnosis in 2015. She has been open about the impact of this autoimmune disease on her life, career, and health. 

Who is Selena Gomez dating?

Currently, Selena Gomez is not seeing anyone. The star is focusing on her health, well-being, and different ventures. 

What is Selena Gomez’s makeup?

Rare Beauty is Selena Gomez’s makeup line. It is makeup to feel good in and doesn’t advocate unrealistic standards of perfection.

Selena Gomez’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024July 22Monday
2025July 22Tuesday
2026July 22Wednesday
2027July 22Thursday
2028July 22Saturday

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