Selena Gomez, an international superstar, rose to fame after starring in Disney Channel shows as a child. She climbed her way to the top by starring in movies, releasing hit songs and starting her own makeup brand. Students at WJ feel like they have grown up with her and been by her side throughout her journey.
Teenagers who flipped on the TV during their childhood and saw the face of Gomez immediately felt satisfaction and joy. Gomez is a name known all around the world. As the most followed woman on Instagram with over 423 million followers, Gomez has made an outstanding name for herself as an actress, musician, producer and business owner. Known for her childhood role, Alex Russo, from the beloved Disney show, “Wizards of Waverly Place”, Gomez has achieved stardom in multiple industries.
When “Wizards of Waverly Place” premiered in 2007, it attracted 5.9 million viewers. The show centers around Gomez’s character, Alex Russo, and her family. As a family of wizards who live in New York City, Alex and her brothers learn magic and face teenage dilemmas, getting them into crazy situations. “Wizards of Waverly Place” had become one of the most popular shows on Disney Channel.
“Wizards of Waverly Place was my favorite TV show that Selena Gomez was in,” junior Sarah Foley said. “I was always really excited to watch it with my older sister after school when I was younger.”
While filming “Wizards of Waverly Place”, Gomez also starred in other films such as “Another Cinderella Story” ,“Princess Protection Program”, “Monte Carlo” and “Ramona and Beezus”. After starring in all of these films, fans started to adore her and follow her career.
“Another Cinderella Story’ was my favorite movie Selena was in,” junior Ava Wahl said. “I really liked that movie growing up. After watching it I really started to love Selena Gomez and the way she presents herself.”
In 2008, Gomez started a band called “Selena Gomez & The Scene” and released three albums over the course of two years. After receiving the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Breakout Artist in 2011, Gomez officially became a star and her fans were obsessed with her and her songs. Favorites of her three albums included, “Love You Like A Love Song”, “Who Says”, “A Year Without Rain” and “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.”
“My favorite song from that era of Selena is probably ‘Love You Like a Love Song,’” senior Addie Pollit said. “I remember dancing to that song with my mom in the living room and just having a lot of fun.”
“Wizards of Waverly Place” came to an end in 2012, but Gomez had big things ahead of her. After she left her band, Gomez released her debut solo album in 2013 titled “Stars Dance”. Gomez had started her music career on her own. Her first big hit “Come & Get It” from her debut album “Come & Get It” reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Gomez’s first top 10 hit. After this, Gomez started to focus on her music career.
Subsequent albums like “Revival” and “Rare” showcased her growth, featuring hits like “Good for You”, “Hands to Myself” and the emotional ballad “Lose You to Love Me”. These songs revealed a more personal side to Gomez, resonating with fans worldwide. Gomez was even named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2017.
“I love ‘Hands to Myself’. That song is so good. It’s off her ‘Revival’ album and I love that album so much,” junior Gabby Scherr said.
Beyond music, Gomez has built an impressive resume as a producer and actress. She was an executive producer for the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” and “Living Undocumented”, taking on challenging subjects like mental health and immigration. Gomez returned to the screen with the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building” which allowed her to display her comedic timing alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Gomez’s career is not only about entertainment. She has also used her platform to advocate for mental health and body positivity. A lupus diagnosis in 2015 and a kidney transplant brought her health struggles into the spotlight. Instead of retreating, Gomez became an advocate for mental and physical wellness.
In 2020, Gomez launched Rare Beauty, a cosmetics brand with inclusivity and mental health awareness at its core. The Rare Impact Fund, associated with the brand, aims to raise $100 million over 10 years to expand mental health services. Students are familiar with Rare Beauty and love the products they sell.
“I have a ton of their blushes and mascara,” Pollit said. “It’s so good and it’s affordable, which is even better. I love it. It’s perfect.”
Students throughout all grades feel like they have grown up with Gomez. From watching her on television as kids to buying products from her own makeup brand as teenagers, students have been with Gomez every step of the way and supported her through everything.
“I feel like I have grown up with Selena Gomez because when I was younger, I used to watch ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ and then now that I’m older and she’s older,” sophomore Karla Fabregat said. “I’m now watching ‘Only Murders in the Building’. She is amazing and I really love her.”
As of 2024, Gomez has established herself as a major player in the entertainment business. Her career reflects a rare blend of talent, determination and love. Whether she’s topping the music charts, producing meaningful content or advocating for mental health initiatives, Gomez continues to redefine what it means to be a global icon. Her journey proves that reinvention and authenticity are key to enduring success and fans at WJ and worldwide are ready to remain by her side.
