Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Selena Gomez
How Selena Gomez built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Selena Gomez is an American actress, singer-songwriter, businesswoman, and producer. She started her career as a child actress in 'Barney & Friends' before gaining widespread recognition for her role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel's 'Wizards of Waverly Place.' Gomez signed with Hollywood Records in 2008 and formed the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three albums. She has since established herself as a prominent figure in both the music and acting industries.
October 2008: Spokesperson for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
In October 2008, Selena Gomez was named spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.
2008: Participation in St. Jude's Children's Hospital Benefit
In 2008, Selena Gomez participated in St. Jude's Children's Hospital's "Runway for Life" benefit.
2008: Spokesperson for the UR Votes Count Campaign
In 2008, Selena Gomez served as a spokesperson for the UR Votes Count campaign.
2009: Ambassador for DoSomething and RAISE Hope for Congo Event
In 2009, Selena Gomez became an ambassador for DoSomething and attended a RAISE Hope for Congo event in Los Angeles, supporting the Enough Project initiative.
2010: Continued involvement with UNICEF
In 2010, Selena Gomez continued her involvement with the Trick-or-Treat campaign and participated in additional fundraising initiatives, including a benefit concert marking the campaign's 60th anniversary.
2011: UNICEF Field Work in Chile and Promotion of Clean Water Access
In 2011, Selena Gomez visited Chile to observe the UNICEF-supported Programa Puente initiative. That year, she also promoted clean water access through participation in the UNICEF Tap Project.
2011: Consecutive top-forty entries on the Hot 100
Starting in 2011, Selena Gomez recorded 15 consecutive top-forty entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
May 2012: Release of Self-Titled Debut Perfume
In May 2012, Selena Gomez's self-titled debut perfume was released and distributed through Macy's.
2012: Ambassador for Ryan Seacrest Foundation
In 2012, Selena Gomez became an ambassador for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, supporting the establishment of multimedia centers in children's hospitals.
2012: Supporting the Sound the Alarm Campaign
In 2012, Selena Gomez supported the Sound the Alarm campaign, raising awareness of malnutrition in the Sahel region.
2013: Acoustic Charity Concerts benefiting UNICEF
Between 2010 and 2013, Selena Gomez conducted three Acoustic Charity Concerts benefiting UNICEF, which collectively raised nearly US$400,000.
2013: Chris Greicius Celebrity Award from Make-A-Wish Foundation
By 2013, Selena Gomez had granted more than 90 wishes through her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and received the organization's Chris Greicius Celebrity Award.
2013: Narrated Documentary Girl Rising
In 2013, Selena Gomez narrated the documentary Girl Rising, which highlighted the importance of girls' education worldwide.
2013: Release of Vivamore and Signature Nail Polish Collection
In 2013, Selena Gomez released a second fragrance, Vivamore, alongside a signature nail polish collection in collaboration with Nicole by OPI.
April 2014: Ended Management Arrangement
In April 2014, Selena Gomez ended her management arrangement with her mother and stepfather and signed with WME and Brillstein companies to pursue adult-oriented work.
November 2014: Surprise Release of "The Heart Wants What It Wants" and Release of "For You"
In November 2014, Selena Gomez surprise-released the single "The Heart Wants What It Wants," and confirmed a compilation album. She also released her first greatest hits album, For You, which debuted at number twenty-four in the US.
December 2014: Signed with Interscope Records
In December 2014, Selena Gomez officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and signed with Interscope Records.
2014: Hosted We Day Events
In 2014, Selena Gomez began hosting several We Day events, continuing through 2017.
2014: Musical Direction Turning Point
In 2014, the single "The Heart Wants What It Wants" was identified as a turning point in Gomez's musical direction, introducing darker themes and more personal lyrical subject matter.
February 2015: Collaboration with Zedd
In February 2015, Selena Gomez collaborated with Zedd on the song "I Want You to Know", which peaked at number seventeen in the US.
October 2015: Release of Revival
In October 2015, Selena Gomez released her second studio album, Revival, which opened at number one on the US Billboard 200. It received positive reviews.
May 2016: Began Revival Tour
In May 2016, Selena Gomez embarked on her worldwide Revival Tour and began working on her third studio album, adding a new song titled "Feel Me" to the tour's setlist.
June 2016: Release of The Fundamentals of Caring on Netflix
In June 2016, Selena Gomez starred as Dot in The Fundamentals of Caring, which was released on Netflix. Reviews for the film were positive.
December 2016: Partnership with Coach
In December 2016, Selena Gomez entered into a partnership with Coach, collaborating with creative director Stuart Vevers on design projects and appearing in advertising campaigns.
2016: Donation to Equality North Carolina During Revival Tour
During her 2016 Revival Tour, Selena Gomez donated proceeds from a North Carolina concert to Equality North Carolina in opposition to the state's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.
2016: Collaboration on Charity Single "Hands" and Support for Lupus Research Alliance
In 2016, Selena Gomez collaborated with other artists on the charity single "Hands" to raise funds following the Pulse nightclub shooting and supported the Lupus Research Alliance, raising nearly US$500,000 for research through ticket sales from her Revival Tour and public donations.
February 2017: Release of "It Ain't Me" with Kygo
In February 2017, Selena Gomez and Kygo released the single "It Ain't Me", which reached the top ten on most major music charts worldwide.
March 2017: Premiere of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix
In March 2017, the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, on which Selena Gomez served as an executive producer, premiered. The show drew criticism for its handling of sensitive themes.
2017: Hosted We Day Events
In 2017, Selena Gomez continued hosting several We Day events, having started in 2014.
2017: Contribution to Billboard's "30 Days of Pride" Initiative
In 2017, Selena Gomez contributed a "love letter" to Billboard's "30 Days of Pride" initiative.
2017: Partnership with Keck School of Medicine and Coach Foundation
In 2017, Selena Gomez partnered with the Keck School of Medicine of USC to establish the Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research. Also in 2017, as part of her collaboration with Puma, the company donated US$100,000 to the fund and she partnered with the Coach Foundation in its support of Step Up, a nonprofit organization mentoring girls from under-resourced communities.
2017: Opposition to DACA Rescission
In 2017, Selena Gomez publicly opposed the Trump administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
2017: Coach x Selena Gomez Collections
In 2017, Selena Gomez's collaboration with Coach produced the Coach x Selena Gomez collections, beginning with the Selena Grace handbag line and later expanding into ready-to-wear apparel.
May 2018: Release of "Back to You"
In May 2018, Selena Gomez released the single "Back to You" from the soundtrack to the second season of 13 Reasons Why.
2018: Consecutive top-forty entries on the Hot 100
In 2018, Selena Gomez ended the run of 15 consecutive top-forty entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
2018: Volunteering with A21
In 2018, Selena Gomez revealed that she had been volunteering with A21, an anti-human trafficking organization.
October 2019: Release of Living Undocumented
In October 2019, the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented, for which Selena Gomez served as an executive producer, was released. The series follows eight undocumented families in America.
2019: Joined When We All Vote as Co-Chair
In 2019, Selena Gomez joined Michelle Obama's nonpartisan organization When We All Vote as a co-chair.
2019: Donations during the Australian bushfire season
In 2019, Selena Gomez pledged donations to humanitarian relief efforts during the Australian bushfire season.
2019: Starred in A Rainy Day in New York and Donated Salary
In 2019, Selena Gomez starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy A Rainy Day in New York, and donated over $1 million, more than her salary from the film, to the Time's Up initiative amid renewed attention to the sexual abuse allegation against Allen.
January 2020: Release of Rare
In January 2020, Selena Gomez released her third studio album, Rare. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received positive reviews.
June 2020: Partnership with PLUS1 to launch the Black Equality Fund
In June 2020, Selena Gomez partnered with PLUS1 to launch the Black Equality Fund, directing proceeds to organizations supporting racial justice.
September 2020: Launch of Rare Beauty
In September 2020, Selena Gomez launched her own makeup and cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, which aims to promote inclusivity and mental health initiatives.
2020: Investor and Partner in Serendipity Brands
In 2020, Selena Gomez became an investor and partner in Serendipity Brands, co-developing the flavor Cookies & Cream Remix in conjunction with the release of her single "Ice Cream" with Blackpink.
2020: Founding of the Rare Impact Fund
In 2020, Selena Gomez founded the Rare Impact Fund, committing to raise US$100 million over ten years to expand access to youth mental health services and education; one percent of company sales supports the initiative.
2020: Urged Facebook Executives to Address Hate Speech and Misinformation
In 2020, Selena Gomez urged Facebook executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg to address hate speech and misinformation on their platforms ahead of the 2020 US presidential election, reiterating those concerns following the January 6 US Capitol attack.
2020: Named Co-Chair of Voto Latino Foundation's Impact Council
In 2020, Selena Gomez was named co-chair of the Voto Latino Foundation's Impact Council.
March 2021: Release of Revelación
In March 2021, Selena Gomez released her first Spanish-language project, an EP titled Revelación. It debuted at number twenty-two in the US and atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
May 2021: Hosted Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World
In May 2021, Selena Gomez hosted Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, organized by Global Citizen to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX program. The campaign raised US$302 million and secured more than 26 million vaccine doses for global distribution.
August 2021: Only Murders in the Building Premiere
In August 2021, Only Murders in the Building, starring and executive produced by Gomez, premiered and became Hulu's most-watched comedy premiere day. Gomez expressed feeling more in control of her television return and was glad to play a character closer to her age. The series received critical acclaim.
2021: UNICEF Fundraising and Open Letter for Vaccine Donations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021 Selena Gomez participated in a collective UNICEF fundraising effort supporting vaccination initiatives and signed an open letter urging G7 nations to increase vaccine donations to the COVAX initiative.
2021: Collaboration with La'Mariette and Co-founded Wondermind
In 2021, Selena Gomez collaborated with swimwear brand La'Mariette on a capsule collection and co-founded the mental health media platform Wondermind.
2021: Signing Letter Supporting the Equality Act and Transgender Women
In 2021, Selena Gomez was among numerous artists who signed a letter organized by The Ally Coalition supporting passage of the Equality Act. She also signed an open letter organized by GLAAD supporting transgender women and girls on Transgender Day of Visibility.
May 2022: Participation in the Mental Health Youth Action Forum
In May 2022, Selena Gomez participated in the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House.
August 2022: Feature on Rema's "Calm Down" Remix
In August 2022, Selena Gomez was featured on the remix of Nigerian singer Rema's single "Calm Down". The song became an international hit.
November 2022: Premiere of Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me Documentary
In November 2022, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, directed by Alek Keshishian, premiered at AFI Fest. It was later released on Apple TV+ and in select theaters, receiving positive reviews for its candid approach to mental health. Gomez also released the song "My Mind & Me" to coincide with the documentary.
2022: Recordings amass over 45 billion global streams
As of 2022, Selena Gomez's recordings had amassed over 45 billion global streams.
2022: Reiterated Support for Abortion Rights
In 2022, Selena Gomez reiterated her support for abortion rights after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
2022: Wondermind Funding and Collaboration with Our Place
In 2022, Wondermind raised US$5 million in funding, valuing the startup at US$100 million, and Selena Gomez collaborated with cookware brand Our Place on product collections.
August 2023: Release of "Single Soon"
In August 2023, Selena Gomez released the standalone single "Single Soon", which reached the top-twenty on the Billboard Global 200 and in the US.
October 2023: Signed Open Letter Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza War
In October 2023, Selena Gomez was among more than 260 artists who signed an open letter organized by Artists4Ceasefire urging US leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war.
2023: "Calm Down" success and awards
In 2023, "Calm Down" became the second best-selling song worldwide according to the IFPI. It received five nominations at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, winning Top Afrobeats Song, and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats.
2023: Collaboration with Our Place
In 2023, Selena Gomez collaborated with cookware brand Our Place on product collections.
2023: Pete Born Impact Award for Rare Beauty
In 2023, Selena Gomez earned the Pete Born Impact Award for Rare Beauty, recognizing the brand's impact.
2023: Donations Amid the Gaza War
In 2023, amid the Gaza war, Selena Gomez and Rare Beauty announced donations to Magen David Adom, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, and UNICEF to support urgent care efforts and provide medical relief to children in Gaza. The donations were met with both criticism and support.
2023: Hosting the Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit
Since 2023, Selena Gomez has hosted the annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit, continuing her commitment to charitable giving.
January 2024: Preference for Acting Over Music
In January 2024, Selena Gomez expressed a preference for acting over music, mentioning having "one more album in me". She clarified that "music isn't going away".
April 2024: Speaking at the Time 100 Summit
In April 2024, Selena Gomez spoke at the Time 100 Summit about mental health and the impact of social media.
May 2024: Rare Beauty Valued at US$2 Billion
As of May 2024, Rare Beauty was valued at US$2 billion, reflecting the brand's success.
September 2024: Selena Gomez Reported as Billionaire
In September 2024, Bloomberg L.P. reported that Selena Gomez had become a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, with roughly 81% derived from Rare Beauty. At age 32, she was described as "one of the country's youngest female self-made billionaires".
October 2024: Release of Louder: The Soundtrack of Change and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Premiere
In October 2024, Gomez co-produced and appeared in the documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change, released on HBO Max. She also guest-starred in and reprised her role as Alex Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which premiered on Disney Channel and Disney+.
2024: Preference for Auteur Filmmakers and Unconventional Supporting Roles
In 2024, Selena Gomez expressed a preference for working with auteur filmmakers and taking on unconventional supporting roles, citing her role in Spring Breakers as a turning point. She accepted the Spotlight Award at the IndieWire honors and stated that she would "rather have four scenes in a Martin Scorsese film" than star in a standard coming-of-age romance.
2024: Starring in Emilia Pérez and Best Actress Award at Cannes
In 2024, Selena Gomez starred in Jacques Audiard's Spanish-language musical crime film Emilia Pérez, premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Gomez and her co-stars jointly won the Best Actress Award. She also performed two songs for the film's soundtrack.
2024: Included in Inc.'s Female Founders 250 List
In 2024, Selena Gomez was included in Inc.'s Female Founders 250 list, recognizing her entrepreneurial achievements.
March 2025: Release of I Said I Love You First Album
In March 2025, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco released the collaborative album I Said I Love You First, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Three singles were released in support of the album.
June 2025: Collaboration with Mondelez International for Oreo Cookie Release
In June 2025, Selena Gomez collaborated with Mondelez International to launch a limited-edition Oreo cookie inspired by horchata for international release.
2025: Rare Impact Fund's Progress
As of 2025, the Rare Impact Fund, founded by Selena Gomez, had raised over US$20 million and partnered with 30 nonprofit organizations across five continents.
2025: Volunteering During the Southern California Wildfires
During the 2025 Southern California wildfires, Selena Gomez volunteered in local relief efforts, while Rare Beauty assembled emergency care kits and made donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and World Central Kitchen.
2025: Launch of Rare Eau de Parfum
In 2025, Rare Beauty, founded by Selena Gomez, expanded into fragrance with the launch of Rare Eau de Parfum, its first perfume.
2025: SAG Award Win for 'Only Murders in the Building'
In 2025, the cast of Only Murders in the Building, including Selena Gomez, won the SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
2026: Rare Beauty Available at Ulta Beauty Stores
In 2026, the Rare Beauty brand, founded by Selena Gomez, also became available at Ulta Beauty stores in the US.
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