You come because you see Selena Gomez in the title.
You stay because Selena Gomez is the subject of this post.
Social media is indeed powerful. With just a few clicks, it can reach a multitude of people in a blink of an eye. Even when someone updates every minute of their life on the internet, though, it doesn’t mean we really know them as a person.
One example is the 30-year-old pop sensation – Selena Gomez. We were introduced to this girl in “Barney and Friends,” watched her rise to stardom in “Wizards of the Waverly Place,” and witnessed her grow up into a fine lady in “Only Murders In The Building”. With 310 million followers and counting, the former Disney princess is undoubtedly the highest order of influencers. Selena uses her social media accounts to promote her own music, appear as a model for major brands like Puma and Coach, and flex her full celebrity mode by looking gorgeous in just any frame.
Little do we know, the star’s life is worlds apart from those glamorous shots. Off the stage, Selena might be just another girl who couldn’t get enough cheeseburgers. Did you know that her assistant was holding her Cheesy Todd while she was posing for the Jingle Ball carpet?
If that makes you want to see more of her quirky, vulnerable side behind the lens, read on – JobandEdu has some eye-opening facts about Selena Gomez to discover. Let us take you on the journey of this modern-day princess and see what lies beneath the glitters and glamor!
Table of Contents
Early Days: Scramble For Quarters
Selena’s Mom Had Her Age The Age Of 16
Kicking off the list is a fact that many may not have been aware of: Selena’s mother could have appeared on MTV’s reality show “Teen Mom!” Formerly a theater actress, Amanda “Mandy” Dawn Teefy gave birth to her daughter in 1992 when she was just 16 years old. At that time, she didn’t know her child would become one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
As glamorous as she is now, Selly’s childhood was much more challenging than you think. In a recent interview with Vogue, the “Lose You To Love Me” singer recalled growing up in a dangerous neighborhood, to the point where she couldn’t leave the house. Her whole family struggled to make ends meet. “I remember always being reminded that people had less than we did, and we didn’t have much,” Selena 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.”
Facts About Selena Gomez – Her Destiny Is To Heal The World
In 2021, Selena Gomez had an honest, heart-felt interview with Vogue. During the interview, she opened up about her on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Bieber and why she thought her love life had been “cursed.”
If you look at Selena Gomez birth chart, her struggles with emotions and romance were signaled early on. They are written in her stars:
When was Selena born? In case you forget, the A-lister entered the world on July 22, 1992. This makes her an emotional Cancer Sun with a passionate Aries Moon. When it comes to inner energy, Hollywood’s “Rare Beauty” possesses an outstanding balance of Earth and Fire.
“That shows how enthusiastic and rebellious she can be underneath it all,” Kylie Thomas – a pop culture astrologer – explains. Whether love or career, Selly always keeps her eyes fixed on her goals, and she will give it all to get what she wants. This can be a double-edged sword: Led by her heart, the singer tends to act hastily, plunging headfirst into her desires without giving them a second thought.
And, yes, Selena Gomez’s intense personality is part of the reason she faces many heartbreaks regarding emotional attachments, love, and union. However, these challenges will fuel her until she can rise and heal the world around her. Mercury, the ruler of Selena’s mind, is joined by Chiron, revealing how she has to deal with mental scars until she learns how to become less emotionally attached to people and spread her healing journey with others.
In Case You Don’t Know, She Also Has Two (Gorgeous) Siblings
Even the most loyal Selenator might overlook the fact that Selena has siblings. But hey, if you recall her portrayal as Alex Russo on “Wizards of Waverly Place”, it’s not hard to imagine her as a sister!
The actress has been a great role model for her two half-sisters, Gracie Elliot Teefey and Victoria Gomez. Gracie was born in June 2013 to Selena’s mom and stepfather, Brian Teefey. Meanwhile, Victoria is the daughter of her dad, Ricardo Joel Gomez, and stepmother, Sara Gomez.
Selena Gomez’s siblings have stayed very private, which is understandable: Their big sis has spent enough time in the limelight for all of them. From what she revealed, though, we can see the strong connection she shares with Gracie, as they live under the same roof. In 2017, she even posted a cute video of Gracie on Instagram, with a loving caption that said:
“I will forever let my sister know she is strong, bold, and beautiful. She will be raised to know her voice matters. She is going to understand the importance behind being a leader and inspire others by her truth.”
She Won A Beauty Pageant When She Was… Four
Nowadays, Selena has blossomed into a stunning young lady with an impeccable flair for fashion. But a cute “Throwback Thursday” snapshot posted on her Twitter a few years ago is proof that she has always been blessed with beauty.
In the old photo, we see a young Selena (who appears to be four or five) posing with a trophy while wearing a pretty frock and a crown. Across her body was a ribbon that read “Model”; she had that signature half-smile on her face. Fans spectacled that Selly had just won a competition, and the “Lose You To Love Me” singer confirmed.
Although the image was taken years ago, and Selena has definitely grown up, her grace remains. The brunette’s eyes are still glowing, and we can recognize that Mona Lisa-style grin. However, Selena’s sense of fashion has evolved significantly: The little girl in the vintage puffy dress is a far cry from her present chic and on-trend look.
Facts About Selena Gomez – She Was Named After A Major Star
Asking someone who would come to their mind when they hear the name “Selena” is a great way to illustrate a cultural divide. If you think of Selena Gomez, well, that totally makes sense! However, for millions of music lovers, the name belongs to Selena Quintanilla-Peréz, the Latina diva tragically murdered in 1995.
Here’s an interesting fact: Selena Gomez’s parents chose to name her in honor of the late singer. Many fans commented that her dad probably made her career with this choice. Selly spent her entire childhood listening to many of Selena Quintanilla’s songs; her father even took her to the musician’s memorial statue.
Selena Gomez pays homage to Selena Quintanilla
Growing up under such an influence, there’s no surprise she was inspired to become an artist at a young age.
Like Many Of Us, Selena Grew Up Watching “Friends”
But Selena’s childhood isn’t all about music. The Disney Channel alum took her appreciation for the cult classic “Friends” to the next level when she shared her memories on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“Rachel was a huge inspiration!” Selena divulged. “I sobbed when the last episode aired, but seeing everyone my age is obsessed with the show makes me so happy. ‘Friends’ is truly iconic.”
In real life, she is friends with Rachel – Jennifer Aniston – herself. The 53-year-old actress acknowledged Selena as “a genuine Friends fan” and invited her over for some pizza. A lucky fan she is!
The Complicated Relationship With Disney And A First Kiss
Before Rising To Stardom, Selena Appeared On Miley Cyrus’ Iconic Show
Even though Selena Gomez is widely known as a “Disney princess”, she didn’t start the journey with a crown. Like many actors, her acting career began with minor, recurring roles. One is Mikayla from “Hannah Montage” – the series that made Miley Cyrus’ name.
Her character is a friend of Miley Stewart but resents Hannah Montana. The movie weirdly predicts the future: After Miley dated Selena’s ex-boyfriend in 2008, their relationship went downhill. It seemed the two pop stars took their onscreen rivalry backstage, too!
She (Might Be) Living In The “Hannah Montana” House
Selena Gomez’s relationship with “Hannah Montana” doesn’t stop here. You probably know that she is the host of the reality show “Selena + Chef”, in which the star brushes up on her cooking skills with the help of master chefs. In the latest season’s trailer, fans spot something strange: The filming location looks so familiar.
That’s right: Selena is cooking in the kitchen of Hannah Montana’s house! Immediately, we are taken on a train down memory lane. “The fact that Selena Gomez is filming her show in the Hannah Montana mansion speaks directly to my inner 12-year-old,” one user expressed her delight on Twitter. “Alex Russo in Miley Stewart’s house … Okay I’m weeping,” another fan wrote, referring to Selena’s character in Wizards of Waverly Place.
Selena Gomez takes over the “Hannah Montana” house for season 4 of “Selena + Chef”
Selena does give us a quick tour of the house in a behind-the-scene vid, though. According to her, the Hannah Montana cast used to hang out, watch movies, and chill in the living room. For the star, “it’s been pretty much a dream living here.”
But, of course, she’s not staying in the house. For those who are wondering “Where does Selena Gomez live?”, she is currently the owner of two spectacular houses, one in L.A and one in Texas. But hey, that doesn’t stop Disney Channel fans from dreaming! Maybe it’s just a wishful thought, but cross your fingers for a Selena and Miley reunion in “Selena + Chef” season 4.
Facts About Selena Gomez – She Was Offered A Role “High School Musical 3”
Not long after “Hannah Montana,” Selena got her first lead role. “Wizards of Waverly Place” was a smashing hit for both Disney Channel and the young girl. Thus, it was only natural that the network wanted her to appear in the final “High School Musical” installment.
But you don’t have to rewatch the HSM franchise (though I’m not blaming you if you do) because Selena turned down the role. Why did she?
During the production of “HSM 3: Senior Year”, Disney offered Selena the role of Tiara Gold – Sharpay’s Evans’ cunning assistant. At that time, the 16-year-old girl was in the midst of playing Alex Russo. However, it’s not the only reason she rejected the opportunity. She also wanted to be taken seriously as an actress for years to come and would like to challenge herself with more mature characters.
Truth be told, it was a shame for both Selenators and the series’ fans. Like Redditor “faeriethorne” commented, “Selena Gomez would be a great addition to the cast with her powerful voice.” Still, the Disney prodigy has made the right move: After “Wizards of Waverly Place” wrapped up in 2012, Selena began working on more prominent – and more adult – movies and projects.
Just one year later, she landed the role of Faith in “Spring Breakers” in an attempt to escape Disney Channel’s shadow. And it’s not the end: She went on to perform in “Behaving Badly, “In Dubious Battle,” and, most notably, “The Fundamentals of Caring”. The last flick has marked her transformation from a teen star to a true artist.
Selena Has Her Own Celebrity Crush (I Feel Ya, Sel!)
Off the stage, the Disney Princess shares many hobbies with other girls around her age and doesn’t shy away from sharing them. Wanna hear something even more relatable? Selena Gomez also has her celebrity crush!
Back in 2011, she had a surprise encounter with the “Transfomers” star (and favorite meme icon), Shia LaBeouf. Initially, she was told that some friends were waiting. According to Hollywood Reporter, she was utterly startled to see LaBeouf inside.
The singer didn’t hesitate to speak her heart out. When LaBeouf gave her a friendly hug, Selena said, “I’m very sorry to trouble you. I admire you very much.” After their first meeting, she even worried that he would consider her crazy. Doesn’t it sound familiar, folks?
Facts About Selena Gomez – She Shared A Youtube Channel With Demi Lovato
Tracing back to her Disney Channel days, long-time fans of the Reveclación singer will recall that she was close friends with Demi Lovato. As their acting careers were taking off – Selly with “Wizards of the Waverly” and Demi with “Camp Rock” – they decided to host a series of YouTube videos together.
“This is my best friend in the entire world,” Demi declared in their first vlog, to which Selena replied, “And this has been my best friend since we were 7 years old.”
Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez vlog #1
In the following videos, the duo showed their friendship handshake and answered questions from viewers. After reading a question about what makes them best buddies, Selena said, “I think really what makes her a true friend for me is just that she’s honest with me, and she’s always there for me, no matter if it’s 3 in the morning, even if we’re not saying anything on the phone, just to talk to her and tell her anything. And she’s got the biggest heart ever.”
And The Two Made A Perfect Pair Of Princesses!
On the same YouTube channel, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato announced their collaboration in Disney’s original movie “Princess Protection Program.”
Does the title sound familiar to you? Fine if it doesn’t. With a predictable premise and a rating of 5.6/10 on IMDb, “Princess Protection Program” is said to be “one of the most forgettable works” from the network.
The hype, if any, comes from the two girls’ performances and their chemistry. Not only are they good actresses, but Demi and Selena are also compatible together. Though underrated, this movie is a memorial to their past friendship and is a must-watch for anyone nostalgic about Disney’s early days.
Unfortunately, those were just fragments from the past. Over the years, the duo’s friendship couldn’t stay the same as their paths diverged. Nowadays, Selena and Demi are certainly not BFFs anymore.
Facts About Selena Gomez – Selly’s First Kiss Was On-Screen
Selena Gomez once told audiences about her crush on Cole Sprouse during her Disney days: “I was in love with Cole… I was obsessed with ‘The Suit Life of Zach & Cody’ and I thought we would be together one day.”
As far as we recall, the brunette had a chance to star in the same series with her crush. Did she share the first kiss with Cole Sprouse, then? That’s not the case!
Ironically, the one who stole Selena’s first kiss was… Dylan Sprouse, Cole’s twin brother. When she guest-starred in the series, the director made her kiss Dylan instead.
Given that everyone was filming her first kiss, it should have been one of the worst moments in her teenage years. Still, Selena chuckled as she recalled this memory, so at least the kiss wasn’t too traumatic!
She Didn’t Really Happy About Being A “Disney Kid”
Despite many memorable moments with Disney, the 30-year-old beauty still finds it “frustrating” being a child star. In her emotional documentary “My Mind & Me,” Selena lays bare the difficulties of growing up as a “Disney kid”, saying that the experience still haunts her today.
“I signed my life away to Disney when I was very young and I had no idea what I was doing,” she laughed on August 7. “I wanted to take on the challenge cuz’ of the level of sophistication, but I don’t know? I was just a kid at the time and I didn’t know what to expect. I was just running amok on the set.”
Selena Gomez speaks about how Disney has treated her
Many raise their eyebrows at Selena’s revelations, and I know how they feel. We spent many years watching Sel as a Disney darling, so it’s kinda uncomfortable to see her hitting out at the network. Redditor “HavABreakHavAKitkat” has remarked, and I quote, “it does feel like a piece of our childhood has been ruined.”
Soon enough, though, the reason behind Selena’s comment began to unfold. Turned out, she doesn’t really have any trauma with her Disney Channel past; she just believes that growing up as a child star prevents her from unleashing her full potential. As People pointed out, the network’s shadow makes it difficult for people in the industry to take Selena seriously, and sometimes she “feels like a joke” for that.
The struggle often referred to as the “child star curse,” has led to the downfall of many young talents. Unfortunately, even Selena Gomez couldn’t escape it…
The “Child Star Curse” – When The Problems Begin
Selena Shared The Same Exes With Miley Cyrus And Taylor Swift
Just like any child star, Selena Gomez has a complicated dating history. Her relationship profile includes some wild-card celebrities like Orlando Bloom and Zedd. Among, two of the most notable names are Nick Jonas and Taylor Lautner.
Although their romance was short-lived, Selena and Nick were together in 2008. She even starred in one of his most notable MV, “Burnin’ Up,” just a few months before they parted ways. The pair seemed to end it on a good note because when Selena was asked about Nick on a talk show, she only had good things to say.
On being asked, “How gay is Nick Jonas?”, Selena Gomez immediately says: “I dated him.”
The same couldn’t be said about the relationship between Selena and Miley Cyrus – who also had a thing with Nick Jonas in this era. Apparently, Selena told W Magazine that they didn’t fight because of this: “We have never been at odds. When we were 16, we both had this crush on the same man, but now we find our footing.” Still, fans can sense a feud in the air whenever these two interact.
Next on the list of Selena Gomez’s famous boyfriends is… Twilight’s werewolf, Taylor Lautner. The two first met each other when she was on the set of Ramona, and he was in the middle of filming Twilight: New Moon. They made a cute couple, but attention from the media ruined their vibe.
Later, Lautner began dating Sel’s good friend and fellow Taylor, Taylor Swift. Swifty even composed “Back To December” for him, and when the actor was asked about his opinion of the song, he responded by musing, “That’s what she does.” Cool.
She Took Off Her Purity Ring As She Dated Justin Bieber
So, yeah, Selena had more than one boyfriend in her life. But here’s a universally acknowledged truth: People on the internet only enjoy discussing Jelena. Let’s talk about them, then.
Many celebrities decided to wear a purity ring, and Selena Gomez is one of them. It stands for chastity, meaning the person who wears one vow to wait until marriage before having sex. Back in 2008, the 18-year-old pop star sat down with Extra and explained how she got the ring: “I said, ‘Dad, I want a promise ring.’ He went to the church and got it blessed. 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.”
What does it have to do with Justin Bieber? Well, some fans noticed that the ring disappeared when Selena began the three-year, on-again-off-again relationship with the “Baby” singer:
After all, purity is a heart’s choice and isn’t for everyone, so we have no reason to judge her decision. Their love story didn’t come to a happy ending, but at the time, Selena saw Justin as her Mr.Right, someone worth breaking the vow for. There’s a reason they become the “unsinkable ship,” even after all these years!
Not So Many People Around Her Approve Of This Relationship…
The fact that Selena took off the ring for Justin horrified her loved ones. Her mom, Mandy Teefey, was the first one to state that she “wasn’t happy” with Jelena’s reconciliation in 2015.
In the same interview, Selena’s mom also made it clear that she hadn’t spoken to or even texted Justin for years. Still, she said: “I do not have control over her. Selena is an adult and can make her own choices.”
Mom Mandy wanted to smooth things over, but the pop star’s circle of friends didn’t react so calmly. Selena’s closest pals thought JB had a bad influence on her, and she became too dependent on him. A backstage video was posted on Youtube, in which the young couple got cozy while running at each other at the music kudos fest and Taylor Swift standing on the side with a disgusted expression.
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez kissing backstage (and Taylor Swift’s priceless expression)
Swifty’s face got as much attention as the lovers, and as the user, @yoshikokesya tweeted, “we know she clearly is not #TeamBieber from that split second. Priceless.”
Facts About Selena Gomez – After All, Selena Still Has A Close Bond With Tay Tay
Although Taylor disapproved of Selena’s long-term ex (and even went on to date another ex), the two are doing just fine. Since 2008, they have been giving us many glimpses of their strong bond, from showing support to each other at award shows to celebrating significant milestones together. They even collaborated on several projects.
After going through a lot together, the “Love Story” singer is now Selena’s closest friend in the industry, as well as the one she would turn to for relationship advice: “Whenever I have a problem, Taylor has overcome it. She is older than me, and she gives the most thought-out solutions. And what I most about her is that she always has faith in love, Prince Charming, and soul mates. Thanks to her, I still have hope. We talk to each other every day, and all of my problems are healable by Taylor Swift,” Sel said.
But The Romance With JB Led To A Rift Between Her And Her Mom
On the other hand, things didn’t go well between Selena and her family. This is the first sign of the A-lister’s mental breakdown, beginning her vicious cycle of anxiety and depression that lasted for years.
Mom Mandy was undoubtedly the catalyst for the actress’ decision to pursue a stage career. Then, together with her husband, Brian Teefy, she morphed into Selena’s manager. At the same time, conflicts and debates about her relationship with Justin Bieber, along with the question “who’s making money here,” started to surface.
In 2014, the star abruptly cut ties with both of them over the management. The public viewed it as her attempt to chafe at their control, especially when Selena was old enough to make her own career decisions. Still, a trusted source confirmed to People that it was actually because her family disapproved of her boyfriend, JB.
Whatever the reason was, the family issues had a significant impact on Selena’s mental health. The former child star always said that the one person who matters most to her is her mom, so Selenators could see this coming.
During Her Toughest Time, Selena Checked Into Rehab Again And Again
Following the incident, Selena Gomez checked into rehab for the first time. All we knew was that she “needed some time for herself,” so her two weeks spent in Arizona rehab raised many questions, concerns, and, of course, rumors.
The “Come & Get It” singer didn’t reveal the real reason until a year later. As it turned out, she was diagnosed with lupus – an autoimmune disease affecting the skin, joints, and kidneys. Selena opened up about her condition in a Billboard article, saying she wanted to spend that two weeks off the public eye to deal with her health struggles. “That’s what my break was really about,” she concluded.
Since she was back on stage and didn’t hesitate to mention her disease, we all hoped everything would turn out well for Sel. But life wanted to take this girl on more and more challenges: In 2016, she checked in rehab again before getting a kidney transplant in 2017. About Selena Gomez’s kidney transplant, we have some shocking disclosures to tell…
The Healing Journey & What She’s Doing Now
Facts About Selena Gomez – We Almost Lost Her To Lupus…
I know, I know: You probably heard about Selena’s famous transplant too many times. Everyone knows about her kidney donor, Francia Raisa, and the touching friendship between the two.
But did you know that Selena almost died after the surgery?
You didn’t read it wrong: The kidney transplant that was supposed to save Selena Gomez’s life almost killed her. Francia, the kidney donor, told W Magazine that one day, she woke up to a text from her friend that said, “I’m really scared.”
“Apparently, my kidney was overly active, so when she turned, an artery was broken,” said Francia. “They had to take her into emergency surgery, get a vein from her leg, and build a new artery to keep my kidney in place. She could have died.”
Considering that Selena faced a near brush with death after the procedure, it’s respectable that the pop star remains candid about her shocking experience. Since then, Selena has embraced her celebrity to spread awareness about being diagnosed and living with lupus.
And Mental Illness
Lupus wasn’t the only thing she had to fight at the time. As she dealt with the disease, Selena was also having a battle with anxiety and depression. Spiteful comments about her voice changes and weight gain finally took her down.
Before the actress checked into rehab for the second time, a source told Radar Online that she was “partying way too wild” and “experimenting with drugs, particularly Ambien and Xanax.”
That made people close to Selena increasingly worried about her mental health. Soon enough, their concerns were confirmed: When the singer and actress embarked on a world tour to promote her new album, “Revival,” she was struck with depression and anxiety on the stage. Ultimately, Selena has to cancel her tour after 55 performances.
All these happened just after she discovered her autoimmune disease, so we are reminded that chronic illness can cause or exacerbate depression and anxiety. Being chronically sick can drain someone both mentally and physically, not to mention she was still dealing with backlash from her relationship with Bieber, all before the public eyes. This is certainly Selena Gomez’s toughest period.
Later On, Selena Said She “Suffered From Certain Abuse” In The Relationship With JB
Selena had endured all of these, only to realize that her family and friends might be right to a certain extent. She and Justin Bieber went through an on-and-off romance that lasted 8 years before ultimately parted ways in 2018.
Who was the one at fault here, then? We will never know. But there’s one thing for sure: The bumpy relationship with JB left Selena in deep emotional pain. She put an end to this heart-rending chapter of her life with a piano-driven ballad:
“In two months, you replaced us
Like it was easy
Made me think I deserved it”
You probably realized it by now: “Lose You To Love Me” is one of Selena Gomez’s greatest hits and the piece she chooses to begin her new era with. There wasn’t any chart-topping producer, big-name collaboration, or catchy pop beats. It’s just the singer in a monochromatic background, pouring out her emotions.
Selena Gomez – Lose You To Love Me
In the description, Selena wrote, “This song was inspired by many things that have happened in my life since releasing my last album.” But the lyrics don’t seem like a coincidence: Just two months after breaking up with the hitmaker, Justin tied the knot with an old flame, Hailey Baldwin. Despite the Grammy winner and the Guess model’s marital bliss, Jelena shippers still attacked Hailey for supposedly stepping in between the now-exes.
Then comes the most sentimental part of the piece, where she sings:
“We’d always go into it blindly
I needed to lose you to find me
This dance, it was killing me softly
I needed to hate you to love me, yeah”
It hints at a toxic relationship: You have to fight against your emotions to leave one. There was no room for Selena to compromise. Her well-being and her boyfriend’s happiness were at stake. Getting out of it wasn’t a walk in the park.
At the time, though, these were just wild guesses from internet users. We had to wait until an interview with NPR to get a confirmation: Indeed, the singer felt like she suffered from “certain abuse” while dating Justin Bieber.
“Justin Bieber emotionally abused me”
That’s not enough evidence for the public to say Selena was the only victim and point the finger at JB the way they are doing. As an outsider, I feel like his side of Jelena has been either ignored or exaggerated to present him in a negative light. Even Selena herself emphasized that both of them made mistakes and contributed to their downfall, but the media overlooked her statement.
Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that the two were emotionally scarred by each other. As painful as it is, Selena has chosen to move on to find herself.
And Ever Since Then, Dating Has Become A Burden For Her
But a breakup is still agonizing, no matter what brought it about. Even if you are entitled to the “queen of social media,” it’s still natural to struggle with harsh feelings, like anger or despair, before diving back into the dating pool. In that sense, Selena Gomez is just like all of us.
“I hate dating now,” she admitted. “It feels so hard after everything I experienced, and I’m weirded out by the idea that it would happen before the public eyes, like what has happened.”
The singer and actress’ trauma with love and relationship was further emphasized when she was filming “Only Murders In The Building.” At some points, dating rumors between her and co-star Aaron Dominguez were spread all over the internet:
Fans of the series will immediately recognize those photos: Yes, they were taken on the set of “Only Murder,” in which Aaron played Selena Gomez’s love interest. At the time, though, internet users jumped to the conclusion that he was dating Selena. Immediately, the star received a slew of hate on social media, including spiteful telling him to “stay the f**k away from her” and that “Selena deserves better.”
Can you guess how she cleared all the rumors? Well, she told Los Angeles Times that the public’s reaction was part of the reason her relationships don’t work out:
“I honestly thought, ‘no wonder guys don’t want to date me.’ I think people only care because I’m still young, and the older I get the less they’ll care. I’m actually grateful that I’m not involved with anyone right now.”
That answer alone put down any hearsay. At the same time, it gives us a glimpse of stardom’s downside and the struggle she might have with her love life.
Instead Of Succumbing Into Depression, Selena Tried To Spread Light
Even during her darkest time, the “Only Murder In The Building” actress still used her influence to spread positivity. She stays vocal about things that are real – mental health awareness, self-confidence, body image, societal expectations, and women’s rights. This is significant since the more we bring up these issues, the less power they hold over us.
One notable example is when she reached out to a struggling fan and left a lengthy comment regarding suicide and mental illness – again, while she was also fighting her own battle:
I love how she points out that those dealing with anxiety and depression can be an inspiration for others. That’s what Selena Gomez is doing right now, as a singer, actress, and… movie producer.
Perhaps That’s Why She Decided To Work On This Hit TV Series
Maybe that’s one of the lesser-known facts about Selena Gomez: Aside from her commonly-seen roles, she also contributes her talent to movie production. “13 Reasons Why” has aired for 4 seasons and still remains one of the most-watched series on Netflix, but did you know that the “Back To You” singer is a spearhead behind this drama?
Don’t get blown away by the news: If you knew that the original “13 Reasons Why” book was Selena’s mother’s all-time favorite, you wouldn’t be too surprised. Since she first read it, Mandy Teefey has always wanted to know the novel’s story. The star wanted to make her mom’s dream come true.
But that’s not the only reason she went on to be the series’ executive producer. A bigger driving force, according to Selena, is that she deeply relates to the plot.
“We discussed about a lot of the difficulties that these characters are going through, [so] I would say yes,” Selena remarked during a panel. “I had to deal with those problems, but on another scale. I was told how to live my life and I bear so much pressure growing up at the world’s biggest high school, namely the Disney Channel. It threw me for a loop, to say the least… I didn’t know who I wanted to be and who I was going to become. It definitely hit home.”
Selena Gomez on why “13 Reasons Why” is so important to her
Selena Gomez is a Hollywood luminary, but at the same time, she was a teenager with her own struggles. Since the star has been there and done that, she knows what 13RW needs to address, and she works on the show to spread awareness about the issues young people are facing today. The content is dark, with challenging moments to swallow, but it is happening. She hopes the show will open the door for people to accept what’s happening and take action instead of avoiding it.
That explains how “13 Reasons Why” is said to be so realistic to American high schoolers, despite sparking profound debate among the audience, concerned parents, and mental health experts about how it delivers the core message. As user “Yul L” stated on Rotten Tomatoes, “the show is one of the most honest take on being a teenager, and the problems it portrays are so freaking valid.”
She No Longer Controls Her Instagram (Sorry If This Disappoints You!)
The “13 Reasons Why” project lets us know one thing: Parts of Selena Gomez’s healing journey are to become a mental health role model and spread awareness to the public. But, unlike before, it doesn’t mean she will sacrifice her private life. The current Selena has learned a lot from her past fall down.
Back then, the artist was famous for being one of the celebrities that handled her own social media accounts. While this helped her stay closer to fans, Selena has spoken out quite a bit about its negative influence on her mental health. According to the 30-year-old, her relationship with Instagram isn’t a healthy one:
“At one point Instagram became my whole world, and it was really dangerous. In my early 20s, I felt like I wasn’t pretty enough. There was a whole period in my life when I thought I needed makeup and never wanted to be seen without it.”
Thus, for her own sake, the artist decided to take a break from the photo-sharing platform. Selena has apparently uninstalled the application from her phone for four and a half years. Apart from the breakup with Bieber, this has to be one of the best things that have ever happened to her: Our girl seems a lot happier, more present, and connects with people more as the virtual world no longer binds her.
“But her Instagram account is still active,” you say? Here’s the truth: Selena’s assistant is in charge of posting all the content. Next time if you get a “like” from @selenagomez, sorry for disappointing you, but that doesn’t come from your idol!
Looking at the bright side, though, she doesn’t have to wake up feeling plagued by the intense scrutiny that Instagram places her under. Shouldn’t we be happy for her?
What’s She Doing Now?
Steve Martin Had Never Seen Selena’s Iconic Role Before Casting Her In “Only Murders In The Building”
Following her mental health improvement, our queen has risen again, first with the multi-platinum hit “Lose You To Love Me” and then the television series “Only Murders In The Building.” With a rating of 4.8 on IMDb and a total view time of 391 minutes in less than a week, “Only Murders” deserves to be one of Selena Gomez’s best shows.
“Only Murders In The Building” – Official Teaser
Parts of what made season 1 successful is Mabel Mora’s millennial cynicism, which balances out Martin Shorts’ chronic wanderlust and Steve Martin’s desire for solitude. The viewers all agree that the role was tailor-made for Selena. Unbeknown to most, director Steve Martin was going out on a limb when casting the actress.
To me, this is the most intriguing behind-the-scene secret: As Martin shared with Vogue, he didn’t watch any of her roles before, not even the signature Alex Russo. All he had in mind was that if he could get Selena Gomez to play Mabel Mora, he should. It turned out that trusting your gut feeling can pay off in some situations. The singer and actress perfectly captured the modern New Yorker vibe, with a hint of underneath wit.
Well, at least Steve Martin had heard of her! We can’t say the same about Selena’s reaction to her co-star, Martin Short. In fact, she was completely unaware of the comedian’s existence. When Short asked her about the first thing she did knowing they would collaborate, her response was, “I Googled you.”
The remark proves that on-screen chemistry can overcome even the most significant generational gaps. Did Selena do her homework and watch “Father of the Bridge” before her first day of shooting?
She Suffered A Wardrobe Malfunction At The 2022 Emmy Awards
“Only Murders In The Building” eventually won the “Outstanding Comedy Series” at Emmy 2022. But it has won something more prominent: the audiences’ hearts. Just look at how the fans reacted after the award, and you will know why:
With a whopping number of 17 nominations, the show is a delightful landmark in Selena Gomez’s career. The actress hit the red carpet in full celebrity mode to celebrate this. Styled by Hollywood’s power stylist Kate Young, Selena came in a white floor-length Celine gown paired with a pair of metallic silver platform heels. To complete the look, her hair was pulled into a chic updo:
Fashion fanatics agree that Selena was “brilliant” in the simple gown, but it was more troublesome than they thought. “My dress was actually riding up the entire time, so a lot of people saw something they didn’t want to see,” the beauty explained.
Well, if there was any wardrobe malfunction, Selena Gomez definitely handled it with grace. Throughout the Emmy award, we only saw her confidently rocking the red carpet and smiling at the camera. She was uncomfortable in that dress without anyone noticing!
Until Now, Her Mother Still Refused To Watch Her Documentary
While “Only Murders” showcases the artist’s breakthrough in acting, “My Mind & Me” sheds light on another facet: The real, raw Selena. The documentary pulls back the curtain of stardom to expose a young woman trying to learn self-love.
Selena Gomez had taken a big step in accepting herself, as shown when she decided to tell us her side of the story. Of course, Selenators couldn’t wait to see what Selena would reveal in “My Mind & Me.” But not everyone was as excited: Mom Mandy, the most important woman in her life, downright refused to watch the movie.
Are they still fighting? Had Selena spoken to her mom again after her scandalous breakup? How’s their relationship now? Calm your mind first, folks! Mandy Teefey doesn’t tune into her daughter’s soul-baring documentary for a good reason: It would be emotionally difficult for her to watch the entire movie.
The explanation totally makes sense if you view it from a mother’s perspective. Mom Mandy just doesn’t want to relive the painful experiences shown in “My Mind & Me” – such as Selena’s panic attack in 2018, followed by her bipolar disorder diagnosis and physical discomfort associated with lupus. “It’s going to hurt my stomach and put me in that mindset. I’m going to wish I could go and protect her,” she said.
It might sound like a bummer that Selena’s mom refuses to watch the film she pours her heart and soul into. From what Mandy shared, though, we can say that the mother-daughter duo was able to get their relationship back on track again. After all, the Hollywood beauty still has her mom as the no.1 cheerleader.
Facts About Selena Gomez – She Defended Hailey Bieber More Than Once
Mandy Teefey is right when she says her daughter is doing “amazing” now. Not only does Selena mend the relationship with her mom, but she also finds balance in her personal life as well. Proof? She even defends Hailey Bieber!
In case you missed out on this scoop, on September 28, 2022, Hailey made her first public comment about Selena Gomez and the rumored “feud” between the two. According to the model, JB was not in a relationship when she just dated him, and she is not the type of person who would mess with a couple’s happiness. The interview that was supposed to clear her name somehow backfired: In less than an hour, Hailey’s Instagram was torn apart by hate comments.
Amidst the chaos, the first person who got her back was not her husband, but… Selena Gomez. One day after Hailey Bieber’s interview, the pop sensation hosted an Instagram Live to unveil her new makeup brand, “Rare Beauty.” She wrapped up the session with a heartfelt message:
“I think some of the things that I don’t even need to be aware of are just vile and disgusting, and it’s not fair, and no one, ever, should be spoken to in the manner that I’ve seen. All I have to say is, it’s incredibly ironic that I would release something that is all about kind words, ’cause that’s exactly what I want. That’s it.”
Selena Gomez defends Hailey Bieber
While the Rare Beauty founder didn’t address Hailey by name, we all speculated that she was referring to the hatred spewed at JB’s wife online. Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so!
Seeing this gives us a sense of déjà vu: In 2020, upon releasing her comeback track “Lose You To Love Me,” the Disney alum also took to Instagram to defend her alleged “love rival” from hateful comments. Speaking directly to the camera, in the exact same manner, Selena asked her followers to be “as kind as possible.” More precisely, she said:
“I am so grateful for the response this song is getting. However, I do not stand for women tearing women down. And I will never, ever be by that.”
The Internet loooves pitting Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez against each other, as it has been doing for years. There’s no denying that their relationship is complicated, so now that Justin and Hailey are officially married, you’d think they can never get along. But now that the two are even on an amicable term, it seems that Selena has cleared the air, moved on with her life, and closed that chapter.
Not Just An Actress, She’s Also A Business Woman
Did I just mention Rare Beauty? Now that Selena Gomez has picked herself up, the popstar-producer-actress is ready to spice up her résumé. With her beauty line, she officially gains a new job title: Entrepreneur.
We don’t always see businesses that serve a particular philanthropic mission at their core, and a global celebrity founds even fewer of them. When Selena Gomez launched “Rare Beauty,” she wanted to introduce more than just vibrant lip colors and blushes. The multi-hyphenate is truly a big advocate for mental health, and the way she positions the makeup line remains reflective of that:
“I live with bipolar, and I have no shame in admitting that. I’ll use my experience to found a safe place for other boys and girls – whoever they want to identify themselves – so they don’t have to suffer from the same things as me.”
And, yes, her products embrace all kinds of “beauty”: The Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation and Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer are both available in a whopping 48 shades “to suit all skin tones,” while the Soft Pinch Liquid Brush comes in 8 shades for you to choose from.
In addition to the extensive shade range, the products’ packaging is also disability-friendly. The Rare Beauty tools are designed to mirror your finger’s shape. This, together with the rounded caps of the product bottles, makes applying makeup much simpler for those with restricted joint movement.
Taking all of this into mind, Selena’s brainchild really stands out as an industry game-changer. As Redditor “Minerva_Moon” noted, her brand manages to capture a bit of the star founder’s essence, making it so “Rare”.
Yet, Whenever Possible, She Still Prefers Chilling At Home
As you can see, despite facing many ups and downs, the “rare beauty” never steps back. Selena Gomez has been emerging non-stop for the past two decades, working as a successful actress, pop star, social activist, and even a businesswoman.
When the spotlight turns off, however, she’s back to who she is: An introvert who loves to spend a mellow night at home, all by her lonesome. “When I’m alone in my home, or you can say, my ‘zen zone’, my mind is at peace. I’m most comfortable and completely content,” the star explains, showing a commonality among introverts.
It seems that, after every pain stardom has caused, personal space is more critical to Selena than ever. As she previously suffered from body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety, JOMO (the joy of missing out) is now a part of her healing process.
On difficult days, the “Lose You To Love Me” singer doesn’t only stay at home to relax but also to take care of her mind. What would Selena do at home when she doesn’t feel well, then? The artist makes an effort to learn about herself, so she can better look at what affects her mood. Her number one strategy is to keep reading and loading her mind with knowledge so she can implement all the things she finds in her daily life to improve her mental health. That’s usually what helps her.
Selena Gomez shares her mental health routine
The second most useful tip, according to Selena, is to find a way to sweat. “I suggest working out at home,” she said, “I don’t like it, it’s quite boring, but I’ve been doing these rigorous boxing sessions for the past few months. They really helped me to take out a lot of exceed energy and frustration, and it feels so good.”
The Ultimate Fact: We Love Selena Like A Love Song!
I know this one might sound weird, but at some points, I cannot help but think about how celebrities are just normal people.
These facts about Selena Gomez volume it up: She is entitled to a “modern day princess” with extraordinary life experiences that we will never have, but at the end of the day, she still has her own struggles. She also feels swamped with emotions, gets hurt by mean comments, and craves good company like anyone out there.
Society often looks up to celebrities as if they are untouchable Gods, and the way they show up in cyberspace further highlights this impression. Then Selena Gomez comes and breaks the regularity. The singer-and-actress captures everyone’s hearts by just being herself, showing her vulnerable sides, and giving fans a chance to understand what she has been through as a person. She doesn’t hesitate to use her true story to inspire us all. That’s why she becomes a phenomenon and why we love her so much.
