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These major appearances in secondary media are extremely major in shaping Selena's personality and image. She is shown in both as very humble and emotional. She comes of genuine and thankful for everything that fame has brought her while still maintaining her joking and witty persona. These types of interviews bring her closer the viewer, they make us feel as though we are friends with her and she is showing off her more quirky and loving side to us. She talks about family a lot and her fans in the Vogue interview, she is shown in an extremely fun and positive light while still maintaining a sense of maturity.

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In this interview for National Public Radio we can see how openly and yet respectfully Selena talks about issues such as emotional abuse and mental health. Shedding light to them, opening up about her own experiences an inviting others to do the same in order to overcome their own issues.

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To listen to this broadcast, click here:

HOST: LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO: "Rare," the new album by Selena Gomez, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last week. It's the singer's first album in more than four years. And "Rare" is not just an album. It's also a message that she got tattooed on her neck.

SELENA GOMEZ: We live in a time, especially now, where everything is based on your looks and social media. And there's so many different channels telling people what they should look like and how they should, you know, do this, do that. And I want to represent a person that is just saying, you are who you are. You're unique. And you're rare.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "RARE")

GOMEZ: (Singing) Why don't you recognize I'm so rare? Always there, you don't do the same for me. That's not fair.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Selena Gomez joins me now from our studios in Los Angeles. Hello. And congratulations...

GARCIA-NAVARRO: ...On the No. 1.

GOMEZ: Thank you so much. I'm happy to be here.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yeah. How does it feel to, you know, be topping the charts again?

GOMEZ: It's - I mean, I was so nervous, to be honest. When you take that long of a break, it is pretty nerve-racking. But I'm beyond myself. I'm so happy people are responding to it really well.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: A lot has happened to you since your last album, "Revival," came out in 2015 - and a lot of it in the public eye.

GOMEZ: Right. Super fun.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: (Laughter). I mean, you say it like that because it must have been difficult, I mean - two public breakups, struggles with lupus, a kidney transplant. You've been...

GARCIA-NAVARRO: ...Public about a lot of this, too.

GOMEZ: The reason why I've become so vocal about the trials and tribulations of my life is because people were already going to narrate that for me. I wasn't going to have a choice because of how fast everything moves now. And most of the time, yes, it's not true or it's embellished version of what the truth is. And, you know, I want to be able to tell my story the way I want to tell it. And all of these things happened. And I wasn't going to deny that. I wasn't going to pretend to put a smile on when it actually was awful.

It was one of the worst - I mean a few of the worst moments of my life. And I don't - I just - I don't know if I would have made it. And that's medical reasons, you know, obviously, and emotional reasons. I just had to find a way to claim my story.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FUN")

GOMEZ: (Singing) This is just what the doctor ordered. Put a gold star on my disorder.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: You've spoken about suffering from anxiety and depression. And you took a break in 2018 for your mental health. I want to talk about one of the songs. There's a couple on this album that references your struggles with mental health. Let's listen to "Fun."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FUN")

GOMEZ: (Singing) If I'm looking at you and me, we're on some kind of symmetry, oh. I try not to bother, not to bother you. But my kind of trouble likes your trouble, too.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I mean, it sounds like you're doing a lot better now. How'd you get there? How'd you get there?

GOMEZ: I feel great. Yeah. I'm on the proper medication that I need to be on, even as far as my mental health. I fully believe in, you know, just making sure you check in with your doctors or therapist. And that's forever. That's something I will have to continue to work on. Yes. I don't think I just magically feel better. I have days where it is hard for me to get out of bed or I have major anxiety attacks. And it's not just in the song "Fun." You know, there are other songs on the album that do say - it's like, happiness is something that isn't going to be handed to someone.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DANCE AGAIN")

GOMEZ: (Singing) Happiness ain't something you sit back and you wait for.

I do like learning about it. When I was a kid, I was terrified of thunderstorms. It would freak me out. I would - you know, I was in Texas. So I would assume that thunder and lightning would mean tornado. And so my mom, you know, would - she would give me these books, you know? And they're, like, the little, thin books for kids to know about, what's rain? And she just said, you know, the more that you learn about it and how it works, the less you're going to be afraid of it.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DANCE AGAIN")

GOMEZ: (Singing) With my emotions, I just start going in with everything. To dance again feels so, feels so, feels so good.

But the way I find these moments in my life that are pretty difficult - I think the only way it's helped me is that I can use that for good. So, yeah, I can sit down with somebody who's gone through a lot of health issues. I can sit down with someone who has had their heart completely broken or a family that's broken, fighting for their right to stay in this country or kids who are going through things they shouldn't even be worrying about at that age.

You know, I want to live in a world where an 11-year-old is not committing suicide because of bullying on social media. That's what I think my real mission is. I have such big dreams and ideas for ways that I can give back. And right now I know that this is something that will be for life.

(SOUNDBITE OF SELENA GOMEZ SONG, "LOSE YOU TO LOVE ME")

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I want to listen to a little bit of "Lose You To Love Me," your first No. 1 song off this album. And I can't stop dancing to it. It's awesome. Let's listen.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSE YOU TO LOVE ME")

GOMEZ: (Singing) You promised the world. And I fell for it. I put you first. And you adored it, set fires to my forest. And you let it burn, sang off-key in my chorus cause it wasn't yours.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Tell me about the song.

GOMEZ: Actually, tell me how you dance to it because all I do is sob (laughter).

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I mean, I kind of, like - with my daughter, I kind of - we kind of go around...

GOMEZ: No. It's a...

GARCIA-NAVARRO: ...In a circle.

GOMEZ: I understand. It's a beautiful - it's a - I'm very proud of it. It has a different meaning to me now from when I wrote it. And I felt I didn't get a respectful closure. And I had accepted that. But I know I needed some way to just say a few things that I wish I had said.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSE YOU TO LOVE ME")

GOMEZ: (Singing) I needed to hate you to love me, yeah, to love love, yeah, to love love, yeah, to love, yeah.

It's not a hateful song. It's a song that is saying, I had something beautiful. And I would never deny that it wasn't that. It was very difficult. And I'm happy it's over. And I felt like this was a great way to just say, you know, it's done. And I understand that. And I respect that. And now here I am, stepping into a whole other chapter.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Saying goodbye to Justin Bieber, who I'm assuming you're speaking about.

GOMEZ: You had to get the name in. I get it.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSE YOU TO LOVE ME")

GOMEZ: (Singing) In two months, you replaced us like it was easy, made me think I deserved it in the thick of healing.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Do you look back on the time and is - when you think about the parts of your life that were painful, that you've kind of moved on from, is that one of the harder parts?

GOMEZ: No, because I've found the strength in it. It's dangerous to stay in a victim mentality. And I'm not being disrespectful. I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse. And I...

GARCIA-NAVARRO: You mean emotional abuse?

GOMEZ: Yes. And I think that it's something that - I had to find a way to understand it as an adult. And I had to understand the choices I was making. As much as I definitely don't want to spend the rest of my life talking about this, I am really proud that I can say I feel the strongest I've ever felt. And I've found a way to just walk through it with as much grace as possible.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I think we're going to go out on the song "Vulnerable" because, to me, the idea of staying vulnerable represents the ability to kind of move forward.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "VULNERABLE")

GOMEZ: (Singing) If I gave you every piece of me, I know that you could drop it - give you the chance, I know that you could take advantage once you got it.

Someone actually gave me the biggest compliment the other day. They said that "Vulnerable," the song, is the heart of the album. And that means, to me, that vulnerability - and I've said this before - is a strength. And as I grew up in this chaotic space, I did have to learn how to be tough and to be strong. But I'm not this hard person. And I have every right to be. From 7 years old to 27, I've been working. And I've had the most horrible things said to me, said about me.

One of my issues is that I always felt like I was just this weak person because I would cry. Or I'd get emotional. Or I hated when people were rude. I just started getting to the place, I would say, definitely a few years ago, where I understood that vulnerability is actually such a strength.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "VULNERABLE")

GOMEZ: (Singing) If I show you all my demons and we dive into the deep end, would we crash and burn like every time before? I would tell you all my secrets, wrap your arms around my weakness if the only other option's letting go. I'll stay vulnerable.

I shine the most within when I'm sharing my story with someone or when I'm there for a friend or when I do meet someone. I'm not bitter and sarcastic. I mean, sometimes, I am. But I'm proud that I'm OK with speaking about my heart. And the whole song is saying, hey, if I give this to you, if I give myself to you, are you strong enough to be there for me? It's like, if not, I'll let go of the situation. But I'm still going to be vulnerable to what's next.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOOK AT HER NOW")

GOMEZ: (Singing) They fell in love one summer, a little too wild for each other, shiny till it wasn't.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Selena Gomez - her new album is "Rare." Thank you very much.

GOMEZ: Thank you. This was a huge - such a - like a huge moment, bucket-list moment to be on NPR. So thank you for having me.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOOK AT HER NOW")

GOMEZ: (Singing) Of course she was sad. But now she's glad...

GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we should say we reached out to Justin Bieber's team to give them an opportunity to respond to the allegations of emotional abuse. And we did not hear back.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOOK AT HER NOW")

GOMEZ: (Singing) Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Look at her now. Watch her go. Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Wow. Look at her now. Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Look at her now.

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Selena Gomez On Recapturing Her Public Image, Mental Health And Her No. 1 Album.

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To listen to this broadcast, click here: HOST: LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO: "Rare," the new album by Selena Gomez, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last week. It's the singer's first album in more than four years. And "Rare" is not just an album.

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In this short article we see how praised and well received this album was. Perhaps due to the sincerity and raw emotion that fans felt was behind it.

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Selena Gomez live on instagram August 2018!

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Selena's most recent major project and most mature one to date debuted in 2020 on the billboard 200 list at number 1. In this record Selena talks about many personal issues and topics, making it much more sincere than just a typical catchy pop album. It has a more serious message and meaning which adds to the maturity of the album as well as the way Selena is portrayed in this new era. She talks about her past relationships, heartbreak, abuse and finding and picking yourself up from a difficult place in the song 'Lose You to Love Me'. She also talks about self-empowerment, women-empowerment and finding self love in the song 'Rare'. In both music videos Selena is portrayed in a very mature and beautiful manner, she emphasises the beauty of simplicity and showcases how far she has become as an artist and as a person. Proud to show off her growth.

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Selena Gomez - Lose You To Love Me (Official Music Video)

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Selena Gomez - Rare (Official Music Video)

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Selena Gomez talks openly about her struggles with depression and anxiety. She even talks about attending rehab and therapy, and how important taking a break from social media and the limelight was for her recovery. She has always come off as an authentic and open girl who cares about her fans greatly and wants what is best for them. Therefore she uses her fame and her role model status to all of her young fans to talk about difficult things. Through this not only does she gain tremendous support and sympathy for her own journey, but she also raises awareness about issues that are highly prominent in today's society.

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Psycom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986

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In the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, Selena Gomez reveals that her top priority in 2018 is to focus on her well-being. "I've had a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, and I've been very vocal about it," she said, "but it's not something I feel I'll ever overcome." ¹

"I think it's a battle I'm gonna have to face for the rest of my life, and I'm okay with that because I know that I'm choosing myself over anything else," she continued. "I'm starting my year off with that thought. I want to make sure I'm healthy. If that's good, everything else will fall into place."

Last summer Gomez revealed that she underwent a kidney transplant due to complications from the auto-immune disease lupus. ² Soon after, Gomez opened up about to The Today Show about her longtime battle with pain, anxiety and depression, which she said stemmed from her lupus. ³

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In January, citing emotional difficulties related to the transplant and family issues, Gomez checked into a treatment facility in New York City for two weeks to tackle anxiety and depression, according to The Blast. ⁴

At the facility, Gomez underwent therapy, ate healthy meals and took pilates and meditation sessions. "She felt like she needed to get away and focus on herself with no distractions," a source close to Gomez told PEOPLE. "She came back feeling very empowered." ⁵

This was Gomez's second in-patient treatment for her emotional health.

A year ago, Gomez revealed to Vogue in its April 2017 issue that after she canceled her tour in the summer of 2016, she entered a treatment facility in Tennessee for help with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

She also told Vogue that sees her therapist five days a week, and "is a profound believer in Dialectical Behavior Therapy."

The treatment, first developed for patients with borderline personality disorder, is now used to treat other conditions including depression by cultivating mindfulness, teaching communication skills and developing the cognitive tools to regulate emotions. ⁶

"DBT has completely changed my life," she told Vogue. "I wish more people would talk about therapy."

Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system creates antibodies that attack healthy cells in the body. It can have symptoms including fatigue, weight loss and two or more painful joints, with pain lasting for many weeks. ⁷

According to The Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, depression and anxiety are found in almost one-third of all people with lupus. ⁸

It can be caused by the disease itself, by medications used to treat the disease, or by inadequate coping mechanisms. ⁹

But it's actually quite rare to enter a facility due to lupus-related mental distress, says rheumatologist and lupus researcher Dr. H. Michael Belmont, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. ¹⁰

(Belmont notes he has not interviewed, examined or seen the chart of Gomez, and is speaking generically.)

"I've treated 3,000 lupus patients," he says, "and maybe a half dozen at some point had the equivalent of a mental complication that is as Selena described."

How Gomez handled her lupus diagnosis could have been a factor in triggering her emotions, says Belmont.

"People with chronic diseases, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, disfiguring skin diseases, they can become anxious and depressed because no one likes that feeling," Belmont says.

"She was a high functioning famous entertainer and when you become ill it changes the quality of your life," he continues.

"I think she had a serious illness that compromised her quality of life, changed her morale and ability to function and be on the stage and that in a more indirect way led to anxiety and panic attacks or whatever she described to the public."

Gomez's distress could be a result of persistent emotional stressors, says David Cosio, PhD, a psychologist and pain specialist. ¹¹ "Depression also has a relationship with anxiety," he says, noting that this synergy could contribute to physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pains, and the "inflammatory picture" of lupus.

With pain a hallmark of lupus sufferers, does depression and anxiety typically trigger pain or is it the other way around?

"It's the classic chicken and egg problem to determine the direction of causation between pain and mood disorders," Cosio says.

As for keeping anxiety and depression at bay, Cosio says that a variety of cognitive and behavioral treatment (CBTs) approaches have been studied for chronic pain and anxiety, including breathing control, muscle relaxation, exposure therapy, and hypnosis.

He adds that four major classes of medications -selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and benzodiazepines-also may be helpful in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

"However, " he says, "when treating anxiety in people who suffer from chronic pain, prescribing a benzodiazepine and an opioid concurrently generally is discouraged."

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Selena Gomez: Depression, Anxiety and Therapy

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In the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, Selena Gomez reveals that her top priority in 2018 is to focus on her well-being. "I've had a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, and I've been very vocal about it," she said, "but it's not something I feel I'll ever overcome."

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Selena Gomez talks about going to rehab for an addiction you probably also have.

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Selena Gomez might seem like she truly "has it all"-a hugely successful career, the most Instagram followers of anyone in the world, and relationships with some of the biggest musicians in history. But the singer battles...

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Selena's partnership with the television show '13 Reasons Why' is the first time that Selena starts opening up in detail about her own mental health issues. Furthering her authentic and 'real' persona as a celebrity who is open and honest with her fans.

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Though she may not appear on screen, Selena Gomez has been a driving force behind Netflix's adaptation of 13 Reasons Why. She's referred to the show as a "passion project" since signing on as an executive producer, and she's been doing a number of interviews with the cast since the show premiered. Back when we spoke with the stars before the show debuted, Dylan Minnette talked about one of the days Gomez turned up on the set: "She stayed with us the whole day on set and talked to everyone. She took us out to dinner and saw a movie with us, and we hung out with her. I don't think I can emphasise how generous she is and how genuinely she cares."

Whether or not the series continues for another season, Gomez will probably stay behind the camera. "A book is frightening for me because I know the cult following it has," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "Which is the reason why I didn't want to be in it." In fact, it was her mother who brought the project to her back when it was still going to be adapted into a film. Despite not wanting to star, Gomez was so drawn to the material that she took on the project as an executive producer and helped get it made as a Netflix miniseries.

On top of supporting the cast and crew, Gomez contributed two songs to the soundtrack: a cover of Yazoo's 1982 track "Only You" and an acoustic version of "Kill Em With Kindness."

Now that the show itself has a cult following, it's likely that a second season will be greenlit. Even Gomez has said she's hoping for season two!

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Here's How Selena Gomez Is Involved in 13 Reasons Why

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Though she may not appear on screen, Selena Gomez has been a driving force behind Netflix's adaptation of 13 Reasons Why . She's referred to the show as a "passion project" since signing on as an executive producer, and she's been doing a number of interviews with the cast since the show premiered.

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After 'Revival' Selena Gomez takes quite the break in making music and acting. Having been dealing with lots of personal issues in her dating life, as well as mental health issues she took a break from releasing new work. In 2018 however, Selena started opening up about her own mental health a lot, as well as talking and shedding light onto mental health issues that her young audience may be encountering or dealing with. She has always been extremely open with her fans therefore she had no problem talking about these issues. She releases the song 'Back To You' as a single alongside a partnership with the teen drama named '13 Reasons Why' a show heavily focused on talking and discussing heavy topics such as suicide, sexual harassment, drug abuse and etc. The show sets itself a goal of raising awareness and trying to get people to talk about these issues in order for more people to feel comfortable in seeking help. In this video Selena goes back to her more quirky, funny and 'out there' personality. Getting rid of the sexy persona for this new project, Selena is seen doing funny dances, goofy faces and overall enjoying herself in this heartfelt music video and song. This goes back to her funny and down-to-earth personality that she has showcased to the public since the very start of her career.

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Selena has always been very goofy and weird. At times people on social media have called her annoying and cringeworthy, however fan-made videos like these as well as accounts dedicated to Selena Gomez made on instagram, twitter and youtube are a clear indication that her fanbase finds i endearing and entertaining. As previously stated, Selena works hard on her down-to-earth persona, she comes off as a girl that people want to be friends with and could see themselves hanging out with and having fun with despite the fact that she is one of the most famous pop singers in the world. It allows for a deeper sense of connection between the artist and the fanbase, which in turn allows for success when it comes to new releases and projects due to the established loyalty of her followers and fans.

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Selena Gomez funny moments Compilation 2018 || 2018 Funny Selena

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In March of 2016 Selena Gomez became the most followed celebrity of all time on instagram. I believe this is an extremely important point to make. Although theories as to why and how she became the most followed celebrity are endless and nobody can clearly state what the direct cause of this was. I find it vital to state that a lot of this may have had to do with her star image and social media presence. Of course her huge fanbase accumulated over the years most definitely played a factor in this, I think it is also due to the fact that over the years she has never been involved in any major scandals as she herself has worked extremely hard to maintain her proper (to an extent) genuine and kind image. She has always been open about her life on social media, drawing in many fans with her authenticity and honesty about real life issues and struggles. She is also very quirky and displays a 'fun to be around' attitude in interviews and public appearances. I believe that this star image that she has created herself over the years as well as her openness about mental health issues and etc. ,especially in todays world where mental health is one of the most important topics globally, has contributed to her huge instagram and twitter following.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)

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Over the weekend, you might not have heard it-the sound it made was like a collection of ribbons falling to the ground on top of one another, or like the gasp of a teenager in the face of an unexpected text-but a new ruler of the Insta-world was coronated. Selena Gomez became the most followed person on Instagram, surpassing her best friend, Taylor Swift. As of the very moment of this posting, Gomez is followed by 69.7 million people, which is more than the entire population of France.

Now, Selena Gomez is not the most famous person on the planet. She is not even the most famous person with an Instagram account (that would be Beyoncé, or Swift, or Kim Kardashian). Most people know her as either the ex-girlfriend of Justin Bieber, or the girl who was on that Disney show about witches, or as a pop star whose songs are always playing in their spin class. She comes across as perfectly appealing in interviews, and has been famous for nearly a decade now, and has carved out a very successful career for herself. But none of this quite explains why she would be the most followed person on arguably the most popular social network.

We have some theories, though, as to how Gomez rose to the top.

She doesn't post that often. This might seem like a minor point, but we think it actually makes a significant difference when it comes to one's decision to follow a celebrity (we can think of a whole range of celebrities we've considered following only to learn, upon brief perusal, that they post anywhere from 12 to 89 photos the morning after any given event they attend). Gomez has posted a total of 1,131 photos on her account, which is about a fourth of the number the seventh-most-followed Kylie Jenner has put up, and half as many as fourth-most-followed Ariana Grande (Swift has only posted 857 times-which indicates there is perhaps a lesson to be learned here for the non-Gomez-and-Swift celebrities.) Also, not to sound like a fifth-grade math teacher, but if you post fewer Instagrams, each individual one becomes more of an "event," of course, which also benefits Gomez. There's a certain "specialness" when she posts a shot that other celebrities, who post much more frequently, aren't quite able to achieve.

Her fans are highly engaged. Selena Gomez's fans, as anyone who has so much as included her name in a joke on Twitter has learned, are very, very passionate. And her fans are extremely excited to see any and all Selena output. In September of 2015, we calculated the "engagement rate" of the top celebrities on Instagram, to see which celebrities earned the most likes per picture. Gomez was second on that list behind only soccer star Leo Messi (who has 39 million followers). Of the five most liked Instagram posts of all time (all of which have 3 million likes or more), three of them were posted by Gomez (and one of the other two, posted by Bieber, features Gomez). Now, what motivates this fervent affection is hard to pinpoint exactly, but the fact that many of Gomez's fans "grew up" with her, as she began her run on Wizards of Waverly Place at the age of 15, probably doesn't hurt. Nor does the fact that she is something of a triple threat, still currently working in film, television, and music (all three singles from her most recent album have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 10). Her friendship with Taylor Swift and the Bieber element (which we will get to in more depth in a second) have also only heightened her relevance. And since her fans are more passionate with their double-tapping than pretty much any other fan base, it also seems safe to assume they are the type of people who would screenshot Selena's Instagrams and post them on Twitter, sound some sort of melodious alarm when she posts a new photo, or otherwise promote and advertise her content (hell, they probably print her Instagrams out and canvass their neighborhoods with the printouts), all creating more awareness about her 'grams.

The "Justin" factor. Due to her on-again, off-again relationship (currently off) with Justin Bieber, there is also a very, very intense gossip and intrigue factor with Gomez. For sure, this must be somewhat irritating for her, as everything she posts, basically, ends up interpreted as some kind of commentary on her relationship with Bieber. ("Oh, she's posting a photo in sunglasses!!!! Once, Justin wore sunglasses!!!! She CLEARLY misses him so much right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!") But, as much as she might (or might not) wish it otherwise, that dynamic adds a certain frisson to her posts, and it makes her photos catnip for the Us Weekly/people.com brigade. (Also, it is quite possible there is a large portion of Beliebers who follow her-whether out of affection or derision-in order to monitor her every move.) Gomez's friendship with Swift (she was Swift's central co-star in the "Bad Blood" music video)-and frequent posts with unexpected celebrity pals and co-stars ( Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Brad Pitt) also provide fodder for the click-hungry Internet suppliers-and, consequently, direct followers her way.

"Relatable" content. As mentioned previously, Gomez's fans grew up with her and feel, and we hesitate to put ourselves in the shoes of young fans we do not know (though apparently that's not going to stop us from making a sweeping declaration about their feelings), a certain kinship with the 23-year-old. But Gomez's posts themselves also aim for a certain relatability, in their low-key, low-maintenance manner. Rare is the pouting selfie or view from a luxury yacht or glamorous hotel suite shot. Gomez doesn't position herself as the Queen Bee, or the big-time movie star: there's much more of an "Oh, whoa, I guess this is happening!" vibe to all of her output. The captions of her posts are typically on the self-deprecating side. A recent red-carpet composite was captioned, "last night was fun." A semi-glam selfie was captioned, "This means we had good lighting.... Right ladies??" She doesn't go over the top with the self-deprecation, which is appreciated, and there are certainly several caption-less posts of fancy magazine shots or of a "Look at me quirkily sipping on this iced coffee" nature, but she generally seems to have a bemused take on her rare station in life. She recently posted a shot from Paris Fashion Week, where she's wearing a provocative black jumpsuit-coat ensemble (definitely the proper sartorial term for it), which she captioned, "It's fun to look cool sometimes." It is fun to look cool sometimes, it's true.
Previously: The Semi-Scientific Search for the Most Engaging Celebrity on Instagram

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How Did Selena Gomez Become the Most Followed Person on Instagram?

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Over the weekend, you might not have heard it-the sound it made was like a collection of ribbons falling to the ground on top of one another, or like the gasp of a teenager in the face of an unexpected text-but a new ruler of the Insta-world was coronated.

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Gomez has been criticised for her singing technique many times in the past. Anti-fans pick performances, moments and songs and make comments about them. Selena has especially been criticised for her lack of outstanding vocal techniques and skills many times in the past on every social media platform. So much so that she herself is very aware of these allegations and criticisms. In this interview on the Kelly Clarkson show in 2020, Gomez mentions that she is very aware of the fact that people have their opinions on her vocal technique, but brushes it off by saying that she wants to create genuine music with genuine and authentic feelings and experiences behind it for her fans who she cherishes deeply. This once again shows how she herself in her public appearances plays into the authenticity of her star image, she is not bitter or angry, she invites sympathy for herself if anything in this interview. Another thing worth mentioning is how she once again talks about Disney, she mentions once again that she felt controlled and like she could not develop her own identity but doesn't forget to say how grateful she is for everything and how much she still enjoyed her time at Disney. Once again inviting a sympathetic and positive response as she showcases her gratitude and genuine attitude.

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Selena Gomez CAN'T SING (With Proof!) | Expectation vs Reality {Studio vs Live}

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Selena Gomez Opens Up About Finding Her Own Identity

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Selena Gomez CAN'T SING (With Proof!) | Expectation vs Reality {Studio vs Live}

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) October 1, 2014

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.

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Random, long flight. So happy to be home.

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) October 2, 2014

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.

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Sometimes we think we aren't good enough. But then I realize when I think I'm alone I have God.

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Selena Gomez uses social media in a very personable and intimate way. Very often she replies to fans comments and the love they send to her, she is always present and always showcases her fans on her instagram and twitter accounts. She always expresses her overwhelming love and gratitude to the fans. This further pushes her persona as an extremely genuine and kind girl who has made her dreams come true and it brings her joy and happiness to connect with her fans. She often speaks from her heart in her tweets such as in the ones I have chosen here. Mentioning God, family and feeling lonely. She taps into contagious topics and characteristics that many of her fans and an audience can relate to. She is relatable which gives her kind persona with a big heart more authenticity. Additionally, she goes 'live' on instagram very often, which allows her to interact with her fans directly, responding to comments and questions. Usually she does these live broadcasts from intimate settings such as a car, her house or her backstage rooms etc. This direct interaction with fans adds to the authenticity of Selena's star persona. She comes off as a regular girl using instagram who is keen to connect with her audience. Her social media seems authentic and does not feel as though it is being ran or controlled by her management team or by brands etc.

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Rockville, Md., Oct. 15 - Two years ago, pop star and actress Selena Gomez strutted onto Ellen DeGeneres stage wearing a black floor-length dress and heels. Her hair was slicked back and wavy. Her face held a look of intention. She sat with both a stiff back and smile and told Ellen and the world what it is like to live with Lupus.

"It is an autoimmune disease; I will have it forever and you just have to take care of yourself," Gomez told Ellen and the audience. "I can relate to people."

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself, unable to differentiate between its own healthy tissue and invaders. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, 1.5 million people have Lupus in America and five million have it worldwide.

Since her diagnosis, Gomez now 25, has prioritized her wellbeing but also has continued advancing her career. Studies show many people within the Latino and other communities hide their invisible disability due to negative stigmas, but Gomez has chosen to use her expansive platform to educate the world and invite people to engage with and learn about disabilities. It is because of this, that she is the perfect candidate for RespectAbility's #RespectTheAbility campaign, which is highlighting individuals with disabilities who are extremely successful in their chosen career.

Fully one-in-five Americans have a disability and polls show that most of them want to work. Yet 70 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities are outside of the workforce. There are 4,869,400 Latinx/Hispanics living with a disability in the U.S. Only 37 percent of working-age Latinx/Hispanics with disabilities are employed in the U.S. compared to 73.9 percent of working-age Latinx/Hispanics without disabilities. Gomez is defying these statistics and has remained successful with her disability.

Thank you @selenagomez @ladygaga @KeshaRose @IMKristenBell for your leadership in speaking out about your #Disability. You inspire us all. pic.twitter.com/QjJmyLt59E

- Jay Ruderman (@JayRuderman) December 12, 2016

If it wasn't for @selenagomez I wouldn't have pushed the doctors to redo my lupus test...and now I can start my journey to getting better 💜

- Alice Sene (@AliceSene) October 8, 2017

Well done @selenagomez putting #lupus in the spotlight. Vicki has lupus. We are proud to be an inclusive company working with #disability

- Wide Eyed Theatre (@WideEyedTheatre) October 9, 2015

Early Life

Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas where her single mother raised her. She was named after famous Tejano singer and actress Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

At the age of 10, Gomez made her first television appearance alongside actress and singer, Demi Lovato on Barney and Friends. From there, her career took off as she starred in both the Disney television series The Wizards of Waverly Place and the movie of the same name. However, it did not take long for her audience to perceive her as more of a singer than an actor. After recording a handful of songs for the Disney Channel, in 2009 Gomez formed a pop rock band Selena Gomez and The Scene. Their first single came out August of the same year. Since 2009 she has created two studio albums, one compilation album and fourteen singles both with and without her band, and her musical career is only continuing to grow.

Most recently, the public noticed that Gomez had been out of the media spotlight. Due to her lupus, her kidneys failed, leading to a transplant.

"There aren't words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."

Gomez used her experiences with the media and her disability as inspiration for her newest album, "Revival," which hit shelves Oct. 9. It is rumored that fans can expect Gomez to share even more of her story as she is said to be working on a documentary about her Lupus. There is no news as to when this documentary is to come out, however, she has proven that she will never stop acting as a role model for her fans, now including those with disabilities.

Our nation's economy is strongest when it is inclusive of the value that diverse talent brings to the workplace. Celebrities like Gomez are making a difference.

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Selena Gomez Serves as Role Model for Young Women with Disabilities - Respect Ability

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Rockville, Md., Oct. 15 - Two years ago, pop star and actress Selena Gomez strutted onto Ellen DeGeneres stage wearing a black floor-length dress and heels. Her hair was slicked back and wavy. Her face held a look of intention.

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A complete history of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez's relationship

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Selena Gomez has always been honest and genuine with her fans about what is going on in her life, be it her mental health, family or of course the dating life. She has had two major and very openly public relationships with fellow artists Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. Gomez speaks about them very openly and honestly, this shows off her genuine persona. She has always come off as very friendly and fun to be around, someone you could see yourself being friends in real life. She treats her fans as a major part of her life and cherishes them greatly. She is always very intimate and open with the things she shares on social media, showcasing her love for her fans, her gratitude and filling them in and updating them on what is going on in her life and in her head. This adds to her genuine and kind persona that she has worked for over the years.
Her relationship with Justin Bieber being especially something that fans of both hers and Bieber's have followed and been invested for years, almost like a narrative or storyline of a real life couple going through their ups and downs. Selena is very aware of the majority of her fans being teenage girls, and she wants to be able to act as a good role model in showcasing that people go through things and its okay to be emotional about them, simultaneously she reassures them and shows them that everything will always turn out okay through her own story. She also doesn't shy away from talking about her mental health struggles and journeys, knowing that nowadays especially role models who are open about mental health can make that much of a difference in a fans life who might be going through something similar. Through her social media presence Gomez showcases a raw, honest and real side of herself.

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Selena Gomez openly speaks out in many interviews and articles about her stance on her past with Disney. She always expresses gratitude for everything that Disney has done for her and allowed her to do herself. Which taps into her humble and genuine persona that she has stayed true to over the years. However she also criticises some of the aspects of her past. She states that she felt as though her passion was disappearing as she was forced into doing things she maybe didn't exactly want to in terms of her career and where she wanted to go in the future. This explains her desire to set herself apart and the transformation in her image that occurred right after finishing her contract with Disney. She also states that she felt uncomfortable at times when having to deal with the fame and the public limelight at such a young age. This could explain her eventual spiral an struggles in the adult life which we will also get into.

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Selena promotes her album and singles by performing on several shows and events such as The Ellen Degeneres Show and the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball. These performances are very significant in the creation of her public image as she is seen wearing very flattering and sexy outfits. In the first one we see her wearing a bra and an unbuttoned blazer over it while in the second she is wearing a black jumpsuit which compliments her figure very well. Gomez and her team are fully in control of how Selena wants to be seen by the public, having been previously criticised for her poor singing skills as well as associated with her Disney past that she wants to break away from, she wants to set herself apart from all of these previous events and establish herself as a sexy, powerful and independent female pop artist.

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Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself (Live From iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2015)

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In the music video to 'Hands To Myself' Selena is portrayed as a hyper-feminine and overly sexual stalker. We see her wearing lingerie and taking a bath while the song itself talks about not being able to keep her hands to herself and her infatuation and attraction with (supposedly) the man we see in the music video alongside her. Selena has now taken on more mature topics and themes in both her lyrics and her music videos. Partially due to the fact that she wants to further set herself apart as her own artist. Also due to the fact that she has now acquired a new, perhaps older, audience due to her appearances in more serious films in the previous years. Finally possibly also due to the fact that as much as she herself has now grown up, so has her audience, therefore she wants to tackle and present more daring and mature themes in order to stay relevant and still appeal to the massive audience that she has acquired over the years of her fame.

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Selena Gomez - Same Old Love (Live On Ellen)

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Selena's music journey continues as she establishes herself in the pop industry by releasing her third studio album titled 'Revival' and debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 List. With singles such as 'Same Old Love' and 'Hands To Myself' Gomez showcases her new mature and sexy image. The cover art for the album features Gomez completely unclothed with a black and white effect to add to the sensual feel of the album art. Selena is the main focus of the cover. In an interview for VEVO she states that the songs on this album make her feel sensual, sexy and like 'such a woman' . She states that this is what makes her as an artist with her lower register and 'whisper' style of singing she can translate this sensuous and intimate feeling not only through the imagery and visuals but also through the sounds on the album.

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In the years 2012-2014 we see Selena take on more daring projects, dramas, crime and action films are more of interest to her now as opposed to the more lighthearted films for the younger demographic.

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During the years 2012-2013 Selena's public image undergoes a major transformation. An example of this can be seen when we analyse her magazine cover appearances during these years. Prior to 2013 we see Selena portrayed as more youthful and radiant on the covers of for example Seventeen Magazine and TeenVogue. She isn't wearing that much make up at all, she is wearing more youthful and girly clothing. She is associated with youthfulness, teenagers and even seen on a magazine about 'getting pretty for prom'. After that, Selena as we have seen takes on more risky projects, and her public image also starts to transform. We now see her wearing more revealing clothing (or lack there of), outfits that are more mature such as pantsuits, she is not radiating the same youthful spirit as she did before. She is seen wearing a lot more make-up. Overall her presence and vibe have transformed into a more mature and serious one, she is growing up and she wants her fans and the general public to notice and acknowledge this.

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In 2013 Selena releases her first independent studio album titled 'Stars Dance'. The song lyrics are mostly about love, attraction and boys. Selena is 21 at the time therefore these topics seem fitting for a girl her age who is finally experiencing some freedom in terms of her career. The album's aesthetic and concept as well as the outfits and the main singles and music videos are a more mature vibe than any of her previous work. This is all tapping into the notion of Selena wanting to do her own thing without the constraints of a contract or a controlling label/company above her. She wants to showcase a transition into a more mature image with the imagery and concept of the album, as well as her public appearances and other content such as magazine covers that she appears on.

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If you haven't already heard all the buzz about the movie " Spring Breakers" you're not properly keeping up with stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson - or you missed our exclusive premiere of the trailer earlier this month.

What you need to know about the Harmony Korine-directed film is that it is not at all your typical spring break party-themed movie and that the performances from the lovely leading ladies are unlike anything they've ever done before. As such, if you're expecting to see anything squeaky-clean in the film, prepare to be shocked.

MTV News recently caught up with Gomez to talk about her involvement in the provocative film, specifically about its forthcoming hard R-rating and how it may affect her fans' image of her.

"I do everything for my fans," Gomez said. "I know that I have a younger following and I so appreciate that and I'm so thankful for that. But I did warn them in my best ability as I could. When I see the parents I'm like, 'Maybe [your children] don't go and see this one.' "

But for her fans who are old enough to see the film, Gomez said that she has complete faith in their abilities to understand fiction vs. fact and real-life not imitating art.

"My fans that are my age, I went to Toronto and we premiered it at the festival and there were girls my age that were laughing at the parts they needed to laugh at, scared at the parts they needed to be scared at," she recalled. "And I feel like I didn't even give them enough credit because they understood what this film was. It's an art piece and it's real, it's so raw, and I think they're going to understand why I did it. I mean for the younger fans, maybe they'll wait a little bit, but I don't know. I think it was a good thing for me and my fans were super supportive."
Check out everything we've got on "Spring Breakers," in theaters everywhere March 29.

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Selena Gomez: Fans Will Understand Why I Did 'Spring Breakers'

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If you haven't already heard all the buzz about the movie " Spring Breakers" you're not properly keeping up with stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson - or you missed our exclusive premiere of the trailer earlier this month.

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Selena Gomez, who broke out on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, has talked a little about the dark side of growing up as a famous child star. But there was a turning point about ten years ago, she explained in candid detail to Business of Fashion. At that time, her fame became more about her personal relationships and looks.

"I started getting known for things that weren't [related to] my work," she said. "That's when my passion started to really feel like it was going further and further away. And that scared me. When I was younger, it was all fun to me. When I did state fairs and 100 people would show up, I would be stoked. That was the best feeling in the world. But when I got older, I started to become exposed to the truth behind some stuff and that's when it flipped a little bit."

"I realized that, 'Oh this is actually really hard, and kind of slimy in certain areas,' and I didn't realize that certain people wanted certain things from me. My confidence went through a lot with that."

The sudden interest in her bikini body was one example: "I remember just feeling really violated when I was younger, even just being on the beach. I was maybe 15 or 16 and people were taking pictures-photographers," she recalled. "I don't think anyone really knew who I was. But I felt very violated and I didn't like it or understand it, and that felt very weird, because I was a young girl and they were grown men. I didn't like that feeling. Then, I would say the last season of my show, I was probably 18 years old, is when I felt like the flip happened. I didn't feel like it was about my art as much. I was on the fourth season of the show, and I felt like I was outgrowing it. I wanted something different and obviously I fell in love [ with then-boyfriend Justin Bieber] for the first time. There was all this stuff that was happening, and I didn't know what to do."

The discomfort led Gomez to take time to herself. Most notably, she's ended two tours early: Stars Dance in 2013 to get treatment for lupus, and Revival last year, where she went to a treatment center for anxiety and depression. "I stopped and then I continued, because I realized that I needed to challenge myself," she said. "Do I really love this? Is this worth it anymore? I would look at my crowd on tour and think, 'Yes, this is worth it, right?' But then I would look at myself in the mirror and I just felt like 'I've had enough, I don't know if I can go on anymore.' And I stopped it for a second. But it didn't mean that I didn't love it, I just had to find what I was going to do with it. As long as I'm healthy and happy in my mind, I'm all about it."

A strong, small friend group has supported Gomez through this journey-though the singer has let go of some people, too. "You are who you surround yourself with-100 percent," she said. "If you're around people who think that stuff is dumb, that think it's ridiculous-'You're crazy! You're fine!'-but you don't feel that way, then maybe it's time to reevaluate that. It's a lonely journey to really figure out where all this stuff is coming from. And to detach from it. It becomes an addiction, it becomes a habit, retraining your mind to not go to these negative places when you say something wrong, do something wrong, when you wear a certain thing or represent a certain culture. But it is lonely, I had to lose a lot of people in my life to get there."

"You have to figure out the people that are in your circle. I feel like I know everybody but have no friends," she said with a laugh. "I have like three good friends that I can tell everything to, but I know everyone. I go anywhere and I'm like, 'Hey guys, how's it going?' And it feels great to be connected to people, but having boundaries is so important. You have to have those few people that respect you, want the best for you and you want the best for them. It sounds cheesy, but it's hard."

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Selena Gomez on the Moment Disney Teen Fame Almost Made Her Leave the Industry

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​Selena Gomez, who broke out on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, has talked a little about the dark side of growing up as a famous child star​. But there was one turning point about 10 years ago, she explained in candid detail to Business of Fashion​, where she really started to dislike-and be disturbed by-fame because it became more about her personal relationships and looks.

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Selena Gomez has discussed her time at Disney, admitting working with the company came with highs and lows.

The pop singer made her comments while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show to talk about her new album, Rare.

Emplaning how the environment at Disney affected her, the 27-year-old told Clarkson: "When I was working with Disney, it was the best time of my life, I had a great time and I have nothing but good things to say, but it was a bit more controlled.

"There were certain thing that I kind of had to do, and not maybe go into maybe figuring out what my sound would be."

Gomez added that she "started [her career] so young, there's a huge part of me that didn't get a chance to develop my identity in normal setting."

"So I've constantly been trying to make my music better and better because I know that people may not think I'm the greatest singer," she said.

Rare, Gomez's third studio album, was released in January 2020.

The record debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart and at number two in the UK, missing out on the top spot to Lewis Capaldi's Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.

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Selena Gomez says she felt 'controlled' working at Disney

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Selena Gomez has discussed her time at Disney, admitting working with the company came with highs and lows. The pop singer made her comments while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show to talk about her new album, Rare.

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She's not the first actress to speak out about the bad side of life on the Disney Channel.

Being a young Disney Channel actress can really take its toll on the psyche... just ask Bella Thorne, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Now, speaking to Business of Fashion, Selena Gomez revealed that she "felt violated" and uncomfortable with the fact that people had started to value her looks over her talent during those five years she spent on the Disney Channel and it's actually really sad.
via giphy.com"When I got older, I started to become exposed to the truth behind some stuff and that's when it flipped a little bit. I realized that, 'Oh this is actually really hard, and kind of slimy in certain areas and I didn't realize that certain people wanted certain things from me. My confidence went through a lot with that."
Selena joined the Disney Channel in 2007 at the age of 15 and rose to fame as the iconic Alex Russo in Wizards Of Waverly Place. She remained on the show until it ended in 2012. She recalls moments throughout those five years where she realised the "truth" about how her "celebrity" was being used in ways she didn't quite have a grasp on yet.
"I remember just feeling really violated when I was younger, even just being on the beach. I was maybe 15 or 16 and people were taking pictures-photographers. I don't think anyone really knew who I was. But I felt very violated and I didn't like it or understand it, and that felt very weird, because I was a young girl and they were grown men. I didn't like that feeling."
One of the huge turning points for Selena was when she was photographed on the beach by the paparazzi... at the age of 15 and, by the way, still very much a minor.

via giphy.com

She also recalls how hard it was for an 18-19 year old girl to mature and grow up while still working on a show focused at kids. Between falling in love for the first time (with Justin Bieber), become a tabloid favourite and feeling like people weren't focusing on her "art" as much as they were her image, that's when she decided she had finally decided she needed out.

Eventually Selena left the Disney Channel and later took multiple periods away from the limelight to focus on her own mental and physical health - which is a pretty damn great reminder and inspiration for us all.

via giphy.com

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Selena Gomez Says She Felt "Violated" During Her Disney Channel Days And It's So Sad

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She's not the first actress to speak out about the bad side of life on the Disney Channel. Being a young Disney Channel actress can really take its toll on the psyche... just ask Bella Thorne, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

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In this interview for the movie 'Spring Breakers" we see Selena presented in a more mature way than she has before. She is still coming off as a playful and fun to be around girl's girl, but the interview mentions topics such as boys, pick-up lines, controversies and themes of the film. She is showcased as a more mature person than in her previous work, the topics she talks about are more explicit and mature as opposed to the work she had previously done for Disney. We can see how this is a stepping stone for Selena to transition into a more mature and girly image which she has more control over.

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SPRING BREAKERS Interview: Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine

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In 2012 Selena announces that her contract and partnership with Disney had come to an end and with thus she begins embarking on more independent journeys in her career. The first project she is seen in right after leaving Disney is a 2012 Crime/Drama film called 'Spring Breakers'. The film is a complete departure from any previous work that Selena has done. The themes and topics of the movie are unlike anything we have seen Selena star in previously. The film features direct mentions and references to sex, drugs, alcohol, guns, violence etc. Many tabloids and press at the time criticised the movie for its explicitness, as well as Selena herself for taking on such a role, especially right after parting with Disney. Many say that this was Selena's attempt at breaking away from the stigma of being a child star, trying to attract a new, perhaps more mature audience. 'Spring Breakers' was a way for Gomez to expand the vernacular of her work and shake up her image, which it certainly did.

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In 2009 Selena releases her first studio album titled 'Selena Gomez & The Scene'. This is her first break into an actual music career which has been her goal all along. Selena, although independently making music at this point is still under contract with Disney as all of her music videos are advertised and broadcasted on the Disney Channel. She continues to be a face of recognition for Disney, despite her more mature look in these music videos she still appears as more innocent and tame than perhaps she may have wanted to be as indicated by her future work. This is all due to the fact that she is still obligated to produce content for Disney as at the time, she is still a huge part of 'Wizards of Waverly Place' and her fanbase is predominantly if not entirely underage.

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Selena Gomez & The Scene - Love You Like A Love Song

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Selena Gomez & The Scene - A Year Without Rain

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Selena Gomez finds herself portraying three quite similar roles of a regular girl who sometimes doesn't fit in because she is either a tomboy, clumsy or from a small town. This adds to Selena's image at the time of a regular girl living in the marvellous city of Hollywood. She is usually placed in the role of the main protagonist, allowing for her fanbase to grow and for people to become more fond of her, while young girls identify with her witty and down to earth portrayals of characters. Selena during this time becomes one of the biggest faces of Disney alongside Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato. She appears on several Disney Channel produced spin-off films for Wizards of Waverly Place and other Disney Channel features throughout her Disney Channel career.

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In this film Selena portrays a character named Carter who is a small town, 'regular' teenager juxtaposed with the second main character who is showcased as a princess.

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Selena stars in several children/teen movies at the time when her career is taking off. The most significant ones being 'Another Cinderella Story' and 'Princess Protection Program'. In 'Another Cinderella Story' Gomez plays a girl named Mary who is described to the viewer as a clumsy, unfairly treated girl who doesn't fit in, but is actually extremely pretty and very bright.

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Selena Gomez singing in Wizards of Waverly Place [Make It Happen]

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Selena Gomez singing in Wizards of Waverly Place

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While under contract with Disney and while still being a major part of one of Disney Channel's most popular television shows, Selena began dabbling into music, a career that she has stated many times before that she would like to pursue. Once again this taps into the narrative of Selena following her dreams.

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Wizards of Waverly Place | Magic Music Video - Selena Gomez 🎶 | Disney Channel UK

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Selena got her major break to fame when she received the starring role of the hit Disney Channel television show 'Wizards of Waverly Place'  in the year 2007. Throughout the course of the several seasons of the show Gomez portrays the main protagonist named Alex Russo. Her characters story arch resolves over the course of the entirety of the show, going from a irresponsible but witty teenager to a more responsible and reliant  successful young adult, allowing for the viewer demographic of the show to identify with the coming of age story as they themselves grew older over the course of the development of the show itself.
Another thing worth mentioning is Selena's character (Alex) is portrayed as an offbeat, tom-boy, rough and funny sort of personality. This becomes interesting when we take a look at some of the other characters Selena portrays in other projects that she is apart of during that time.

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In a recent interview for BBC Radio 1 Selena was asked to recite the lyrics to some of her songs throughout the many years of her career. After having struggled with most, she perfectly recited the lyrics to a song from 'Barney & Friends' and then when asked she says that she looks backs on those early days of her career extremely fondly as it brought about her whole career. She then cracks a couple jokes about her childhood self, keeping up her fun, lovable, dorky and down-to-earth persona that she has created for herself over the years through her personality.

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Can Selena Gomez remember her own lyrics?

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Although not much can be said about her early career other than the creation of a generic, innocent, mature for their age and extremely talented child star image forming as Gomez stars in a widely popular kids show and takes her first steps into stardom. The foundation is set for a common Hollywood narrative of a child star coming into fame at an extremely young age and in many cases (as well as Gomez's) they remain in the limelight for the rest of their lives. Growing up, coming of age, finding themselves etc. while in the public eye at all times.
In this audition video young Gomez mentions that when she grows up she would like to become a singer, something that she does indeed achieve in the future having released four studio albums as of today. This, along with her Disney career and eventual rise to fame as a pop music sensation showcases the narrative of a little girl with big dreams making it big, allowing for viewers at the time and throughout the years to identify with the notion of a regular girl with big dreams.

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Selena Gomez began her career as early as 2002 at the age of seven when she starred in the popular kids tv show 'Barney & Friends'.