Selena Gomez Biography

NAME: Selena Gomez

OCCUPATION: Film Actress, Television Actress, Philanthropist

BIRTH DATE: July 22, 1992 (Age: 19)

PLACE OF BIRTH: Grand Prairie, Texas

ZODIAC SIGN: Cance

Synopsis

Born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas, Selena Gomez got her start in show business with a two-year run on the kids' show Barney and Friends. After a few bit parts in movies, Gomez guest-starred on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. In 2007, she was cast in the lead on Wizards of Waverly Place and in 2009 released a music album.

Profile

Actress. Born Selena Marie Gomez on July 22, 1992, to Amanda Cornett and Ricardo Gomez in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her mother, commonly known as Mandy, gave birth to Gomez at the age of 16.

Selena began her career in show business in 2001 when she performed on the popular children's show Barney & Friends, as Gianna. Gomez was dropped from the series after two years in 2003. Over the next two years, Gomez auditioned for shows without much success. She landed a small role in the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in 2003 and a bit part as Julie on Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire in 2005. She also got a part as Emily Grace Garcia in the television show Brain Zapped in 2006, and even recorded a song for the show.

In 2006, Selena Gomez got her first major role when she guest starred as Gwen in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody on the Disney Channel. Also on the Disney Channel, Gomez played the role as the evil Mikayla in Hannah Montana.

Gomez landed her first starring role when the Disney Channel cast her as Alex Russo in the series Wizards of Waverly Place in 2007. The series has become a popular fixture on the channel.

Selena Gomez Relationships:

Mandy Teefey - Mother

Ricardo Gomez - Father

Brian Teefey - Stepfather

Nick Jonas - Ex-significant Other

Justin Bieber - Significant Other

The Next Miley Cyrus

With a TV hit on her hands, Gomez's star-power draws her comparisons to reigning Disney princess Miley Cyrus. "I think it's an honor, it's a good compliment," Gomez tells the AP. In March, Cyrus ignites a reported feud with Gomez when she and her pal Mandy Jiroux mock Gomez and her friend Demi Lovato on YouTube. Both stars deny a feud, with Cyrus saying she's "super sorry" about the video.

Selena's Twilight Love

While filming Ramona and Beezus in Vancouver, Gomez is photographed with Twilight hunk Taylor Lautner – who is also in town filming New Moon. The Wizards of Waverly Place star, 16, and the ripped cutie, 17, cuddle during dinner and a movie in the Canadian city. "He has been visiting her on the set and they've been hanging out in Vancouver," says a source close to Gomez.

Making the 'Scene'

Following the launch of her Kmart clothing line Dream Out Loud, Gomez returns to music, releasing A Year Without Rain – her sophomore effort with her band The Scene. "My influences, especially with this record, would be Cheryl Cole from the U.K. and Katy Perry," she tells Access Hollywood. "The way that they carry themselves and their music styles were very inspiring for me so I kind of made my own version of that."

The Kissing Game

After playing coy about her romance with Justin Bieber, Gomez and the tween heartthrob are caught kissing during a Caribbean getaway in St. Lucia. "We just like to hang out. They shouldn't be stopping us from going out to dinner and things like that," Gomez told PEOPLE in December.