Well, gather up, fans! We’ve collected 16 fun Selena Gomez facts so you can get to know more about one of the world’s most popular celebrities.
Well, gather up, fans! We’ve collected 16 fun Selena Gomez facts so you can get to know more about one of the world’s most popular celebrities.
1. She was in ‘Barney and Friends’ with Demi Lovato
When Selena first stepped onto the music scene, we knew we’d seen that cute, adorable face somewhere before. That’s right guys, Selena starred in Barney and Friends in the early 2000s. Before becoming one of the world’s leading superstars, the singer spent a lot of her childhood days with everyone’s favorite big purple dinosaur. That isn’t the only lucky thing she’s got to brag about. This is also where Selena met her longtime friend, Demi Lovato, who also starred on the children’s show!
2. Her Mom had her Aged 16
Selena’s mom could have made an appearance on Teen Mom! Former stage actress, Mandy Dawn Teefey gave birth to her future star in 1992 when she was only 16-years-old. It is her who inspired Selena to become an actress after watching her mother prepare for stage performances.
3. She’s Named After a Major Star
Here’s something interesting! Selena’s parents named her after the late Latino singer, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez who was shot and killed in 1995. The star was raised listening to a lot of Selena’s music and her father even took her to the singer’s memorial statue in Texas. It’s a shame Gomez didn’t get a chance to meet the late star.
4. Selena Appeared on “Hannah Montana”
Before rising to fame on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena actually had a recurring role on the Disney series Hannah Montana. She joined Miley Cyrus and played the role of Hannah’s music rival, Mikayla. It seems the two popstars took their onscreen rivalry backstage, too. Miley fell out with Selena in 2008 after she dated her ex.
5. She’s Exec Producer on a Hit TV Show
That’s right! Here’s some trivia you may not have known about Sel! She’s the executive producer of Netflix’s original show, 13 Reasons Why, which she has described as a “passion project”. Dylan Minnette, the star of the hit TV series discussed 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.”
6. She’s Dated the Same Guys as Miley and Taylor
Before Selena dated Justin Bieber, she hooked up with Miley Cyrus’ ex, Nick Jonas. The two stars dated briefly in 2008 before being romantically linked to Twilight star, Taylor Launter, who also happened to date her BFF, Taylor Swift later in 2009. Unlike Selena’s relationship with Miley Cyrus, Selena and Taylor remained friends. We guess The Heart Wants What It Wants, right? Even if it wants the same as her BFFs!
7. She has Odd Eating Habits
Call her strangely wonderful! If you’re wondering what Selena likes to eat, well, apparently the star likes to eat lemons whole. She also drinks olive oil because it’s said to protect her voice. Okay…
8. Selena is also a Business Woman
Other than launching the ever-popular cosmetics line, Rare Beauty, the Good For You singer has also had a clothing line named “Dream Out Loud”, which launched in 2010. Extra fun fact? The clothing line featured material made from eco-friendly and recycled material. Selena also has her own self-titled perfume, a handbag line and a production company named July Moonhead Productions.
9. She’s an Awesome Impersonator
Selena isn’t afraid to impersonate Shakira or Taylor Swift! In a Q&A with iHeartRadio, the cutie was asked to make an impression of Shakira’s accent as well as her BFF Taylor Swift. Let’s just say her enactment of TayTay was spot on!
10. She Loves Skateboarding and Surfboarding
What does Selena do in her spare time? Other than looking super glam and hanging out with friends, the starlet is actually an avid skateboarder and surf boarder. Who would’ve thought?
11. Selena Gets Starstruck
Believe it or not, even celebrities get star-struck once in a while. Selena Gomez admitted to Ellen DeGeneres that she fan-girled when meeting Brad Pitt for the first-time. She also met Shia LaBeouf and freaked out like anyone of us would! She’s so cute!
12. Selena Was the Youngest UNICEF Ambassador
In 2009, when she was just 17-years-old, Selena became the youngest UNICEF Ambassador in the history of the organization (Millie Bobby Brown later took that title). On her role as ambassador, Selena told Associated Press – “Every day 25,000 children die from preventable causes. I stand with UNICEF in the belief that we can change that number from 25,000 to zero. I know we can achieve this because every moment, UNICEF is on the ground providing children with the lifesaving assistance needed to ensure zero becomes a reality.”
13. Selena Cried about Bieber in Public
She doesn’t shy away from exposing her emotions, that’s for sure. Breaking up with Justin Bieber hasn’t been an easy ride for Selena. In her music video for The Heart Wants What It Wants, Selena was filmed breaking down. She also cried over the difficult break up whilst performing the same song at the 2014 AMAs. She wears her heart on her sleeve and that’s what makes her so loved by Selenators worldwide.
14. Her Best Friend Gave her a Kidney
Yep, you read that right. Selena had a kidney transplant in the summer of 2017 due to suffering from Lupus Disease. In a surprise Instagram post, the popstar revealed that her best friend Francia Raisa was the one to donate her kidney, calling it the “ultimate gift”. In an October 2015 interview with Billboard, Selena revealed that she was diagnosed with Lupus and was having chemotherapy for the autoimmune disease.
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15. Selena Quit Social Media Due to Body-Shamers
While Selena has been bravely open about gaining weight over the years, sadly, so have her haters. The star had to deal with several body-shamers online when they’d noticed she put on weight. In an interview with vodcast Giving Back Generation, Sel revealed that the medication she was taking for Lupus was actually affecting her weight.
Trolls were “attacking” her appearance on social media without knowing she was sick – “That got me big time,” she said. “That really messed me up for a bit…It’s the medication I have to take for the rest of my life—it depends on even the month, to be honest…I really noticed when people started attacking me for that. And in reality, that’s just my truth. I fluctuate. It depends on what’s happening in my life.”
16. She Suffered from Anxiety and Depression
She may be one of the biggest stars in the world, but Selena hasn’t had it easy. She has been open about suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and depression over the years. According to E! News, Sel had depression for five years and a lot of it stemmed from hateful online comments which led her to take regular breaks from social media.
“I think before I turned 26 there was like this weird time in my life [where] I think I was kind of on autopilot for about five years. Kinda just going through the motions and figuring out who I am and just doing the best I could…every time I try to do something right; every time I try to do something good, I felt like people were picking me apart…”
From owning her own clothing line to being the youngest UNICEF Ambassador, it’s safe to say Selena has a lot of great accomplishments under her belt.
If you really are a true Selenator, pat yourself on the back because you should be proud to support such a successful and humble lady!
Let us know your favorite facts about Selena in the comments below!
