At age 30, Selena Gomez is one of the biggest stars in the world. But, not so long ago, she was just a regular kid from Texas, whose mom had to work three jobs to make ends meet. Let’s look at Selena’s life then and now! Selena and her family struggled financially during her childhood in Grand Prairie, Texas, but now she owns multiple properties, including a lavish mansion in LA. She got her start on “Barney & Friends,” and has worked to be an in-demand actress, singer, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Her style has evolved from tom-boyish to chic. She remains close with her family and old friends, and also hangs out with celebs like Taylor Swift and Cara DeLevigne. She loved surfing as a teen, but her most recent passion is cooking. She’s also developed a passion for philanthropy and mental health issues. Her childhood crush was Cole Sprouse, but her adults boyfriends have included Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. From humble beginnings to a humble superstar. What do you think of Selena’s transformation? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to like, share and subscribe to The Things Celebrity for more on your favorite celebs!
Selena Gomez has quickly evolved from a child on Barney to a teen on the Disney Channel to one of the world’s biggest stars—and she’s only 24. We’ve watched her personal struggles and efforts to shed her child-star image, and we‘ve also heard her speak candidly about mental health and become a highly sought- after brand spokeswoman. Every twist and turn of her romantic life makes headlines, and every personal moment she shares racks up millions of “likes” from her diehard fans, who call themselves Selenators. Take a look back at the many eras of Selena Gomez right here.
From Rex/Shutterstock, Getty Images.
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By E. Charbonneau/WireImage.
At the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (May 2007)
Gomez got her start on Barney & Friends when she was 10 years old. She was thrust into the spotlight, however, with her role as Alex Russo on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, which premiered when she was 15. She dressed her age on the red carpet; here, she’s wearing Chuck Taylors.
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By Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
At the premiere of Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 3D (January 2008)
Gomez appeared in other Disney productions—including Hannah Montana with Miley Cyrus and Sonny with a Chance with Demi Lovato—throughout her teen years. Her red-carpet style continued to evolve, and she started to experiment with her hair.
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By Marion Curtis/StarPix/Rex/Shutterstock.
With Vanessa Hudgens at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party (September 2008)
With others in her Disney cohort, Gomez’s star quickly began to rise. She appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue in 2009 and made appearances at parties and red carpets. Her style also began to mature at this point, as evidenced by this black cocktail dress with a sheer, polka-dot overlay.
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By Michael Caulfield/Getty Images.
At CNN Heroes (May 2008)
Gomez’s signature long, dark hair later helped her land a seven-figure contract with Pantene in 2015.
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By Joshua Gates Weisberg/EPA/Rex/Shutterstock.
At the Emmys (September 2009)
In 2009, Wizards of Waverly Place won its first Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program (it would go on to win a total of three over the course of its run). Gomez wore a flowing Marchesa gown to the event.
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By Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
At the UNICEF Snowflake Ball (December 2009)
At the age of 17, Gomez became UNICEF’s youngest ambassador, beginning years of charity work to help underprivileged children. She attended the charity’s annual snowflake ball in a striking magenta gown.
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Performing at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (December 2009)
As with most Disney stars, Gomez embarked on a singing career, creating the band Selena Gomez & the Scene in 2009. Her performance wear looked like what a teenage girl would wear to a school dance—lots of sparkle, sequins, and ruffles.
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By Chris Pizzello/AP/Rex/Shutterstock.
At the Univision Premios Juventud Awards (July 2010)
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At the Grammys (February 2011)
In 2011, Gomez attended her first Grammys looking more mature in a shimmering J. Mendel gown.
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By Michael Buckner/WireImage.
At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (February 2011)
Gomez made headlines in 2011 when she made her red-carpet debut with her then-boyfriend Justin Bieber. The pair color coordinated in looks by Dolce & Gabbana.
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By Chris Pizzello/AP/Rex/Shutterstock.
At the American Music Awards (November 2011)
By 2011, Gomez had upped her red-carpet style with sexier, more sophisticated gowns on the red carpet, like her champagne-colored silk Giorgio Armani look at the American Music Awards.
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By Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
At the Venice Film Festival (September 2012)
Gomez starred in Harmony Korine’s R-rated crime drama Spring Breakers alongside James Franco and former High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, showing the world she’d moved on from her days at Disney. She attended the Venice Film festival in an elaborate gown Versace Atelier gown.
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By Theo Wargo/WireImage.
At the Glamour Women of the Year Awards (November 2012)
Her transition to adulthood continued with photo shoots for magazines like Glamour and Cosmopolitan. She attended a Glamour party in a very on-trend peplum in 2012.
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By Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
At the Met Gala (May 2015)
In 2015, Gomez attended her first Met Gala wearing a custom gown by Vera Wang.
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By Karwai Tang/WireImage.
At the Louis Vuitton Series 3 V.I.P. launch (September 2015)
Gomez would officially assert her place in the fashion world by forming a relationship with Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière. In 2016, she was announced as the new face of the brand and appeared on the cover of Vogue Brazil with Ghesquière.
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By Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Performing at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (November 2015)
While promoting her latest album, Revival, which earned her her first top 40 single with “Good for You,” Gomez performed at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and on Saturday Night Live. Her performance wear took a dramatic high-fashion turn, incorporating custom looks by designers like Monse and Karl Lagerfeld.
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By Marc Piasecki/GC Images.
Walking in Paris (March 2016)
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By Rick Kern/Getty Images.
Performing during her Revival tour (June 2016)
In May 2016, Gomez embarked on her worldwide Revival Tour. She ultimately canceled before her Europe and Latin America dates due to depression and anxiety caused by lupus. She continued to update and change her performance wear, incorporating designers from the cities she was visiting.
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By Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.
At the American Music Awards (November 2016)
Gomez made her public debut after her mental-health break in a head-turning red Prada gown at the American Music Awards. Later in the night, she won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and delivered a speech addressing her personal struggles.
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By JB Lacroix/GC Images.
Walking in Los Angeles (January 2017)
Gomez was announced as the new face of Coach in late 2016, helping with design as well as starring in the brand’s campaigns. She was seen in Los Angeles in early January 2017 sporting a new haircut and wearing a Coach sweater.
