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, producer, and businesswoman. She started as a child actress on 'Barney & Friends' before gaining prominence as Alex Russo in Disney's 'Wizards of Waverly Place.' She signed with Hollywood Records in 2008 and fronted the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three albums: 'Kiss & Tell,' 'A Year Without Rain,' and 'When the Sun Goes Down.'
1992: Resurgence of Woody Allen Allegations
In 2019, due to a resurgence of the 1992 sexual abuse allegation against Woody Allen prompted by the MeToo movement, Gomez donated over $1 million, exceeding her salary from the film A Rainy Day in New York, to the Time's Up initiative.
2002: Inspiration for Revival album
In 2002, Christina Aguilera's album Stripped was the main inspiration for Selena Gomez's second album, Revival, along with Janet Jackson and Britney Spears.
2006: Appearance in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
In 2006, Selena Gomez appeared in 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'.
October 2008: Participation in St. Jude's "Runway For Life" and UNICEF Spokesperson
In October 2008, Selena Gomez participated in St. Jude's Children's Hospital's "Runway For Life" in Beverly Hills, which raised over $1 million. That same month, she was named UNICEF's spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.
2008: Appearance in Another Cinderella Story
In 2008, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Another Cinderella Story'.
2008: Raised over $700,000 for charity in 2008
In 2008, Selena Gomez raised over $700,000 for the charity.
2008: Involvement in UR Votes Count Campaign
In 2008, Selena Gomez was involved in the UR Votes Count campaign, which encouraged teenagers to learn more about presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.
August 2009: Youngest UNICEF Ambassador
In August 2009, Selena Gomez, then 17 years old, became the youngest UNICEF ambassador.
2009: Involvement in Disney's Friends for Change
From 2009, Selena Gomez was involved in "Disney's Friends for Change", an organization which promoted "environmentally-friendly behavior", and appeared in its public service announcements. Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers recorded the charity single "Send It On".
2009: Appearance in Princess Protection Program
In 2009, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Princess Protection Program'.
2009: Ambassador of DoSomething and Involvement with RAISE Hope For Congo
In 2009, Selena Gomez became the ambassador of DoSomething after being involved with the charity Island Dog. Also in 2009, she became involved with the charity RAISE Hope For Congo, an initiative of the Enough Project.
2009: Spokesperson for UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat Campaign
In 2009, Selena Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat campaign for the second year in a row and hoped to raise US$1 million. She participated in various activities to support the campaign.
2009: Partnership with Sears and Borden Milk
In 2009, Selena Gomez was part of Sears's back-to-school fashion campaign and featured in television commercials. She hosted the "Sears Arrive Air Band Casting Call" and became the spokesperson for Borden Milk, starring in campaign's print ads and television commercials.
2009: Active Role as UNICEF Ambassador
Since 2009, Selena Gomez has played an active role as a UNICEF ambassador, advocating for the world's "most vulnerable children" through various campaigns, events, and initiatives.
2010: Charity Concerts for UNICEF
In 2010, Selena Gomez conducted the first of three charity concerts to help UNICEF provide children around the world with life-saving therapeutic foods, medicines, clean water, education, and immunization.
2010: UNICEF Spokesperson and Benefit Concert
In 2010, Selena Gomez returned as the UNICEF spokesperson for the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. She and the Scene held a benefit concert and raised $4 million.
2010: Madame Tussauds Wax Figure
Since 2010, a wax figure of Selena Gomez has been exhibited at Madame Tussauds Wax Museums in various cities.
February 2011: Visit to Chile with UNICEF
In February 2011, Selena Gomez traveled to Chile to meet with families of the UNICEF-supported "Programa Puente", which focused on early childhood education and development.
July 14, 2011: License Agreement with Adrenalina
On July 14, 2011, Selena Gomez signed a license agreement with Adrenalina to develop, manufacture, and distribute her own fragrance.
2011: Billboard Top 40 streak begins
From 2011 to 2018, Selena Gomez achieved a streak of 16 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, which is the longest active run of any artist according to Billboard.
April 2012: Named ambassador to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation
In April 2012, Selena Gomez was named ambassador to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
May 2012: Release of First Perfume
In May 2012, Selena Gomez's first perfume was released.
2012: Premiere of Hotel Transylvania
In 2012, Selena Gomez voiced Mavis Dracula in the animated film *Hotel Transylvania*, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was released in theaters the same month. The movie was a commercial success, earning US$358 million worldwide, despite mixed reviews.
April 2013: Release of Come & Get It
In April 2013, Selena Gomez released "Come & Get It", which served as the lead single from her solo debut album. "Come & Get It" became Gomez's first top-ten entry on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching number six, and also reached the top-ten in Canada and the U.K.
August 2013: Embarking on Stars Dance Tour
In August 2013, Selena Gomez embarked on her Stars Dance Tour, performing in North America and Europe.
December 2013: Cancellation of Stars Dance Tour
In December 2013, Selena Gomez canceled the Australian and Asian legs of her Stars Dance Tour, citing the need to take a hiatus to spend time with her family.
2013: Appearances in Girl Rising and The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
In 2013, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Girl Rising' and 'The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex'.
2013: Charity Concerts for UNICEF
In 2013, Selena Gomez conducted the last of three charity concerts to help UNICEF provide children around the world with life-saving therapeutic foods, medicines, clean water, education, and immunization.
2013: Release of Vivamore and Nail Polish Collection
In 2013, Selena Gomez released her second fragrance, Vivamore by Selena Gomez. She also created her own collection of nail polish colors for Nicole by OPI.
2013: Starring in Getaway and executive producer for The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
In 2013, Selena Gomez starred in the action thriller film *Getaway* alongside Ethan Hawke, where she played a young hacker. *Getaway* was a critical and commercial failure. Selena Gomez also served as executive producer and starred in the television special *The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex* on the Disney Channel in 2013.
2013: Influence on Stars Dance album
In 2013, Selena Gomez's debut solo album Stars Dance was prominently influenced by Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and EDM producer Skrillex.
April 2014: Firing of Management and Signing with New Companies
In April 2014, Selena Gomez fired her mother and stepfather as her managers, who had served in those roles since her career at Disney. Gomez later signed with the WMA and Brillstein companies to manage her career.
November 2014: Release of The Heart Wants What It Wants and For You
In November 2014, Selena Gomez surprise-released her new single "The Heart Wants What It Wants". That same month, Selena Gomez released her first greatest hits album, For You. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" became her second top-ten hit in the U.S., and reached the top-ten in Canada.
December 2014: Signing with Interscope Records
In December 2014, Selena Gomez officially parted ways with Hollywood Records and later signed with Interscope Records.
February 2015: Collaboration with Zedd on I Want You to Know
In February 2015, Selena Gomez collaborated with German DJ Zedd on "I Want You to Know", which debuted at number-seventeen in the U.S.
October 2015: Release of Revival Album
In October 2015, Selena Gomez released her second studio album, Revival, which was reviewed positively by critics. The album debuted at number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 117,000 album units, and was certified platinum by the RIAA.
2015: Cameo appearance in The Big Short
In 2015, Selena Gomez made a cameo appearance in Adam McKay's film The Big Short.
2015: Endorsement Deal with Pantene
In 2015, Selena Gomez signed a $3 million endorsement deal with Pantene.
2015: Billboard Chart-Topper Award
In 2015, Selena Gomez was honored with the Chart-Topper Award at the Billboard Women in Music event.
January 2016: Premiere of The Fundamentals of Caring and Saturday Night Live appearance
In January 2016, Selena Gomez starred in *The Fundamentals of Caring* which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Also in January 2016, Gomez performed as the musical guest on an episode of Saturday Night Live.
May 2016: Embarking on Revival Tour
In May 2016, Selena Gomez embarked on her worldwide Revival Tour, focusing on her as an artist and featuring less choreography and fewer effects than her previous tour.
June 2016: Support for LGBTQ Community
In June 2016, Selena Gomez joined numerous celebrities to write a love letter during pride month, as a part of Billboard's 30 Days of Pride. She also collaborated with 23 other artists for the charity single "Hands", a tribute for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, to raise funds for Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.
August 2016: Cancellation of European and South America Legs of Revival Tour
In August 2016, Selena Gomez canceled the European and South America legs of her Revival Tour due to anxiety, panic attacks and depression caused by her lupus.
2016: Appearances in The Fundamentals of Caring and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
In 2016, Selena Gomez appeared in 'The Fundamentals of Caring' and 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'.
2016: Featuring on We Don't Talk Anymore
In 2016, Selena Gomez featured on Charlie Puth's single, "We Don't Talk Anymore", which was an international success, and the music video became the most-viewed music video published in 2016 on YouTube. She had a supporting role in In Dubious Battle. Selena Gomez also guest starred in the Comedy Central variety sketch series Inside Amy Schumer.
2016: "We Don't Talk Anymore" Most-Viewed Music Video
In 2016, Selena Gomez's "We Don't Talk Anymore" was the most-viewed music video published on YouTube.
February 2017: Release of It Ain't Me with Kygo
In February 2017, Selena Gomez and the Norwegian DJ Kygo released a single together, "It Ain't Me". The collaboration reached top ten of most major music charts worldwide, including the U.S. and the U.K., and attained top five peaks in Australia, Canada, Germany and many European countries.
March 2017: Premiere of Thirteen Reasons Why
In March 2017, Selena Gomez served as executive producer for the series adaptation of the novel *Thirteen Reasons Why*. The show premiered on Netflix and drew backlash from various mental health charities and suicide prevention communities over "dangerous content".
May 2017: Song Sales in the US
As of May 2017, Selena Gomez had sold 24.3 million songs in the United States.
October 2017: Release of "Wolves"
In October 2017, Selena Gomez and Marshmello released the single "Wolves". The song was commercially successful, reaching the top ten in several countries.
2017: Billboard Woman of the Year
In 2017, Billboard named Selena Gomez the Woman of the Year.
2017: Collaborations with Coach and Puma
In 2017, Selena Gomez confirmed her collaboration with Coach, becoming the new face of the brand and releasing the "Selena Grace" line of handbags. She also signed a $30 million contract with Puma as brand ambassador, appearing in campaigns such as those for the Phenom Lux sneakers released in March. Her collection with Puma, called SG x PUMA Strong Girl collection, launched on December 12 of that year and contained products from sneakers to athleisure attire.
2017: Executive Production of 13 Reasons Why
In 2017, Selena Gomez executive produced the television series '13 Reasons Why'.
2017: Initial Involvement with "Living Undocumented"
In 2017, Selena Gomez was approached about the project 'Living Undocumented' and decided to become involved after watching footage that captured the experiences of undocumented families.
2017: Partnership with Coach and Step Up
In 2017, during her partnership with Coach, Selena Gomez participated in activities with Step Up, an organization that supports girls in under-resourced communities.
2017: Shakira's El Dorado
In March 2021, Selena Gomez's album marked the largest sales week for a Latin album by a woman since Shakira's El Dorado in 2017. It also debuted atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, becoming the first album by a woman to do so, also since 2017's El Dorado.
2018: Greatest of All Time Pop Songs Artists
In 2018, Billboard included Selena Gomez in its list of Greatest of All Time Pop Songs Artists at number 31.
2018: Attendance at We Day California
In 2018, Selena Gomez attended the We Day California youth empowerment event in Los Angeles and introduced Nellie Mainor, a young fan with a rare kidney disease.
January 2019: Featured on "Anxiety"
In January 2019, Selena Gomez was featured on Julia Michaels's song "Anxiety", marking another collaboration in her musical career.
October 1, 2019: Op-ed for Time
On October 1, 2019, Selena Gomez wrote an op-ed for Time, discussing her involvement as an executive producer for the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented and her connection to the project due to her own family's experiences.
October 2019: Release of Living Undocumented
In October 2019, Selena Gomez served as an executive producer for the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented, which follows eight undocumented families in America. The docuseries was a critical success.
October 23, 2019: Release of "Lose You to Love Me"
On October 23, 2019, Selena Gomez released "Lose You to Love Me" as the lead single from her third studio album, marking a significant moment in her music career.
2019: Successful Artist of the 2010s
In 2019, Billboard named Selena Gomez one of the 100 most successful artists of the 2010s, ranking her at number 38.
2019: Appearances in The Dead Don't Die, A Rainy Day in New York, and executive production of Living Undocumented
In 2019, Selena Gomez appeared in 'The Dead Don't Die' and 'A Rainy Day in New York', also executive produced 'Living Undocumented'.
January 10, 2020: Release of Rare
On January 10, 2020, Selena Gomez released her album 'Rare,' which debuted atop the US Billboard 200, marking her third consecutive number-one album in the US.
January 2020: Voice Acting in Dolittle
In January 2020, Selena Gomez voiced a giraffe in the adventure film Dolittle. However, the film was a box office disappointment and received negative reviews.
February 2020: Release of Feel Me
In February 2020, Selena Gomez released the song "Feel Me", due to high demand from fans. This song was on the setlist of her Revival Tour.
April 2020: Investment in Serendipity Ice Cream
In April 2020, Selena Gomez became an owner and investor of the ice cream brand Serendipity.
April 2020: Release of "Boyfriend" Deluxe Edition
In April 2020, Selena Gomez released the deluxe edition of her album Rare, featuring the single "Boyfriend".
June 2020: Featured in "Past Life" Remix
In June 2020, Selena Gomez was featured in a remix of Trevor Daniel's song, "Past Life", adding another collaboration to her musical ventures.
June 2020: End of Thirteen Reasons Why
The series *Thirteen Reasons Why*, where Selena Gomez served as executive producer, ended after four seasons in June 2020.
September 2020: Release of The Broken Hearts Gallery
In September 2020, Selena Gomez executive produced the romantic comedy film The Broken Hearts Gallery, which was released to positive reviews.
September 2020: Launch of Rare Beauty
In September 2020, Selena Gomez launched her own makeup and cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, promoting inclusivity and mental health initiatives with cruelty-free and vegan products.
2020: Creation of Rare Impact Fund
In 2020, Selena Gomez created the Rare Impact Fund by Rare Beauty to help young people gain access to mental health resources, with a commitment to raise US$100 million over ten years. One percent of all sales of Rare Beauty products go towards the fund.
March 2021: Release of Revelación
In March 2021, Selena Gomez released her first Spanish-language project, an EP titled Revelación, which blended reggaeton, latin pop, and R&B genres. It debuted atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
June 2021: Signed UNICEF open letter
In June 2021, Selena Gomez signed a UNICEF open letter urging the G7 "to donate more coronavirus vaccines to the international COVAX initiative."
July 2021: Release of Swimwear Line with La'Mariette
In July 2021, Selena Gomez released a swimwear line with La'Mariette.
August 2021: Premiere of Only Murders in the Building
In August 2021, Selena Gomez starred in and executive produced the mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building, which premiered on Hulu and became the most-watched comedy premiere in the platform's history.
2021: Appearance in Only Murders in the Building
In 2021, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Only Murders in the Building'.
2021: Selena + Chef Show Donation Amount Raised
In 2021, over the first two seasons of Selena Gomez's show, Selena + Chef, $360,000 was raised for nonprofit organizations.
May 2022: Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House
In May 2022, MTV partnered with Selena Gomez and the Rare Impact Fund by Rare Beauty to host the Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration.
May 2022: Collaboration with Our Place on a Cookware Line
In May 2022, Selena Gomez collaborated with Our Place on a cookware line, the Summer Collection.
May 2022: Serendipity Brands Donation to Rare Impact Fund
In May 2022, Serendipity Brands, of which Gomez is a co-owner and investor, donated $1 from every ice cream pint and product sold to the Rare Impact Fund.
September 2022: Selena + Chef Concludes
In September 2022, Selena + Chef concluded after running for four seasons, having received critical acclaim and a nomination for Outstanding Culinary Series at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards.
November 2022: Premiere of Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me Documentary
In November 2022, the Alek Keshishian-directed documentary film "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me" premiered at the AFI Fest. The film received positive reviews for its mental health transparency.
December 2022: Donation to ASCAP Foundation
In December 2022, Selena Gomez donated exclusive items to the 2nd Annual ASCAP Foundation, which supports music education and talent development programs across the US.
2022: Most-Streamed Artist
As of 2022, Selena Gomez has amassed 45 billion streams globally, making her one of the most-streamed artists of all time.
2022: Power 100 List
From 2022 to 2024 consecutively, Selena Gomez was included in The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 list.
2022: Rare Beauty Liquid Blush Sales
In 2022 alone, Rare Beauty has sold US$70 million worth of liquid blush (over 3.1 million units).
2022: Appearance in Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
In 2022, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me'.
2022: Positive Influencer
In 2022, Selena Gomez was named the number one positive influencer on social media.
May 2023: New Projects with Food Network
In May 2023, Food Network ordered two projects to be hosted by Selena Gomez: Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays and Selena + Restaurant.
June 2023: Second Edition of Cookware Range with Our Place
In June 2023, Selena Gomez released a second edition of the cookware range with Our Place.
August 2023: Album Sales in the US
As of August 2023, Selena Gomez had sold 3.6 million albums in the US and shifted more than 11.5 million album-equivalent units.
October 2023: Response to Gaza War and Artist4Ceasefire Letter
In October 2023, Selena Gomez and Rare Beauty issued a statement about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and donated funds to Magen David Adom in Israel and Palestinian Red Crescent Society, and UNICEF. Gomez also signed an Artist4Ceasefire letter calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
December 2023: Attendance at Ramy Youssef's Fundraiser for Gaza
In December 2023, Selena Gomez attended Ramy Youssef's fundraiser for Gaza.
2023: Rare Beauty's Media Impact Value and Revenue
In 2023, Rare Beauty emerged as the top index brand on TikTok and Instagram, with a combined media impact value of US$313,198,657 on the two platforms alone. The estimated revenue for the line reached US$300 million, up approximately 50 percent from 2022.
2023: Success of "Calm Down" Remix
In 2023, Selena Gomez was featured on the remix of Rema's song, "Calm Down", which became an international success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Global 200.
January 2024: Statements on Music Career and Release of "Love On"
In January 2024, Selena Gomez stated that she prefers acting over music and feels she only has "one more album in me", later retracting this statement. In February, she released the standalone single "Love On", which debuted within the top 60 in the US, and the top 70 on the Global 200 chart.
May 1, 2024: Rare Beauty Summit
On May 1, 2024, Selena Gomez held a special event dedicated to mental health awareness called the Rare Beauty Summit, offering resources to solve mental health problems. The U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy joined her at this event.
May 2024: Rare Beauty Brand Valuation
As of May 2024, the Rare Beauty brand is valued at $2 billion and is one of the best-selling brands at Sephora and the fastest-growing celebrity beauty brand on social media.
May 2024: Premiere of Selena + Restaurant
In May 2024, Selena + Restaurant, an interactive cooking series co-hosted by Selena Gomez and Raquelle Stevens, premiered.
August 2024: Most-Watched Comedy on Hulu
As of August 2024, Only Murders in the Building is the most-watched original comedy series on Hulu, solidifying its success and impact.
September 2024: Most-Followed Woman on Social Media
As of September 2024, Selena Gomez is the most-followed woman globally on social media, boasting over 690 million followers across various platforms.
September 2024: Rare Impact Fund Update
As of September 2024, the Rare Impact Fund has raised over $16 million since 2020, and distributed grants to support 26 mental health-focused organizations across five continents.
September 2024: Gomez Becomes a Billionaire
In September 2024, it was reported that Selena Gomez had become a billionaire, with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion; Bloomberg News estimated that roughly 81% of it originated from Rare Beauty.
October 29, 2024: Premiere of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
On October 29, 2024, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the spin-off and sequel to Wizards of Waverly Place, premiered on Disney Channel and Disney+. Selena Gomez guest-starred and reprised her role as Alex Russo in the pilot and season one-finale of the series, which she also executive produced.
2024: Power 100 List
From 2022 to 2024 consecutively, Selena Gomez was included in The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 list.
2024: Appearances in Emilia Pérez and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
In 2024, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place'.
January 2025: Southern California Wildfires Relief Efforts
In January 2025, Selena Gomez volunteered to help distribute basic necessities during the 2025 Southern California wildfires and, with her brand Rare Beauty, donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and World Central Kitchen. All proceeds from sales of Rare products during the pop-up of the fifth anniversary of her album, Rare, were also donated to fight the wildfires.
February 2025: Preview of "Talk" in Apple Advertisement
In February 2025, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's collaboration "Talk" was previewed as the soundtrack to an Apple advertisement for the IPhone 16e.
March 21, 2025: Release of I Said I Love You First
On March 21, 2025, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco released their collaborative album and her fourth studio album, "I Said I Love You First". The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, marking Gomez's largest sales week to date. Gomez was also named Billboard Latin Women of the Year.
2025: Appearance in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
In 2025, Selena Gomez appeared in 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place'.
2025: Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century
In 2025, Selena Gomez was ranked at number 30 on Billboard's "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.
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