By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
Selena Gomez has lived much of her life in the public eye, but her journey goes far beyond music charts and movie screens. At just 33, she has grown into an artist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate whose influence stretches across entertainment, business, and social impact.
Born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas, Selena Marie Gomez was raised by her mother, Mandy Teefey, who had Selena at the age of 16. Growing up in modest circumstances, Gomez often recalls that her mother’s passion for theater and storytelling inspired her early dreams.
“I looked up to my mom so much. She worked so hard to give me opportunities, and she’s the reason I believed I could do this,” Gomez once said in an interview.
Her first steps into entertainment came with a recurring role on Barney & Friends in 2002, where she acted alongside Demi Lovato. But her real breakthrough came in 2007 when Disney cast her as Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. The show became a massive success, running for five years and cementing Gomez as one of Disney Channel’s brightest young stars
While working with Disney, Gomez ventured into music. She fronted the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three albums that included hits like Love You Like a Love Song. By 2013, she stepped into a solo career with the album Stars Dance, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Her subsequent albums Revival (2015), Rare (2020), and the Spanish-language EP Revelación (2021) showcased a more personal and mature artistry. Songs such as Lose You to Love Me resonated deeply with fans, marking her first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single.
On the big screen, Gomez sought roles that moved beyond her Disney roots. She starred in films like Spring Breakers (2012), Monte Carlo (2011), and voiced Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania franchise. More recently, she has earned critical acclaim as one of the leads in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, where she stars alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Behind the fame, Gomez faced serious personal challenges. She was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease, in the early 2010s and revealed in 2017 that she had undergone a kidney transplant. Her friend Francia Raisa donated the kidney, a gesture Gomez described as “the ultimate gift of life.”
She also opened up about her mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and later, a bipolar disorder diagnosis. In 2022, she released the documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, which candidly chronicled her health battles.
“By being honest about what I’ve been through, I hope people realize they are not alone,” Gomez said about the film.
In 2020, Gomez expanded her impact beyond entertainment with the launch of Rare Beauty, a cosmetics brand that emphasizes self-acceptance and inclusivity. The brand quickly became a global success, celebrated not just for its products but also for its mission.
She tied the company to the Rare Impact Fund, pledging millions to support mental health initiatives worldwide. In July 2025, on her 33rd birthday, Gomez announced the Rare Impact Giving Circle, encouraging fans and supporters to contribute as little as $1 a month to help fund mental health programs.
“I wanted Rare Beauty to be about more than makeup. It’s about starting conversations and making people feel comfortable in their own skin,” she explained.
Selena Gomez’s personal life has long fascinated the public, but in recent years she has embraced a more private happiness. In December 2024, she got engaged to music producer Benny Blanco, with whom she had also collaborated musically.
On September 27, 2025, the couple tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. Gomez wore a custom Ralph Lauren gown with delicate floral detailing, while Blanco described her as his “real life Disney princess.”
The pair also worked together on the joint album I Said I Love You First, released in March 2025. The record tells their love story through music, from their first encounters to their wedding day.
From child actress to global superstar, Gomez’s career is marked not just by her versatility but also by her resilience. She has turned health struggles into advocacy, heartbreak into music, and fame into platforms for meaningful change.
Today, she remains one of the most followed women on Instagram, but she uses that spotlight to promote mental health awareness, philanthropy, and empowerment.
“I’m not perfect, and I don’t want to be,” Gomez once said. “What matters to me is being real and using my voice for something that helps people.”
As she begins this new chapter both as an artist and as a wife Selena Gomez continues to embody strength, vulnerability, and authenticity. For her millions of fans worldwide, she is not just a pop culture figure, but a reminder that it is possible to rise, fall, and rise again with grace.
