Selena Gomez life and biography

Selena Marie Gomez, born July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas, United States is an American actress and singer-songwriter best known for her portrayal of Alex Russo on the Emmy Award winning Disney Channel Original Series, Wizards of Waverly Place. She has starred in the television movies, Another Cinderella Story and Princess Protection Program.

Before Disney, she had one of the kid roles on Barney & Friends. In 2008, she signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and contributed to the Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place soundtracks. Her band, Selena Gomez & the Scene, released their debut studio album Kiss & Tell on September 29, 2009, which was certified Gold by RIAA on March 5, 2010.

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.

In 2008, Selena Gomez made her first animated movie, Horton Hears a Who!, and later starred in the ABC Family movie Another Cinderella Story with Disney Channel star Andrew Seeley. Selena filmed two movies for the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise as well. The first was Princess Protection Program, which was released in 2009 and also starred Demi Lovato. She also starred in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie later in 2009.

Gomez also has a growing music career. She started in 2008 when she recorded a cover of "Cruella de Vil" for DisneyMania 6. She also recorded three songs for the soundtrack to her movie Another Cinderella Story, and a song for the animated movie, Tinker Bell. Gomez recorded the single "One and the Same" for her movie Princess Protection Program as a duet with her friend and co-star Demi Lovato. She also recorded four songs for the soundtrack to her other feature film, The Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. In 2008, Selena singed a record contract with Hollywood Records. She is currently working on her debut album, Kiss and Tell, which will be released in the fall of 2009. Gomez had a cameo in the Jonas Brothers' video for the single, "Burnin Up."

Gomez is a spokesperson for Borden Milk, appearing in their advertising campaign and print ads. She also worked on a teen-voting campaign, which helped encourage teenagers to learn more about the 2008 presidential candidates.

Philanthropy

Gomez was involved in the UR Votes Count campaign which helped encourage teenagers to learn more about 2008 Presidential candidates (Barack Obama and John McCain). In October 2008, Gomez participated in St. Jude's Children's Hospital "Runway For Life" benefit. Gomez is a spokesperson for Borden Milk; she is featured in the campaign's print and television ads. She is the ambassador of DoSomething.org after being involved with the charity Island Dog, which help dogs in Puerto Rico. She got involved while filming Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in Puerto Rico. Gomez is a spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, and is featured in their TV commercials; which air on the Disney Channel, to raise awareness of being a safe driver. Gomez is also involved with the charity RAISE Hope For Congo, the charity helps raise awareness about the violence against Congolese women, in the Congo.

Gomez is involved in Disney's Friends for Change, an organization which promotes "environmently-friendly behavior", and appears in its public service announcements to raise awareness for the cause on the Disney Channel. Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers recorded "Send It On", a charity single which serves as the theme song for Disney's Friends for Change in 2009. The song debuted on the Hot 100 at number twenty. Disney's Friends For Change will direct all of its proceeds from "Send it On" to environmental charities to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. On October 6, 2009, Gomez made a surprise visit to a Los Angeles elementary school as part of the "A Day Made Better" program that was sponsored by OfficeMax. During her visit, Gomez gave the school an award, and gave them $1,000 worth of school supplies. Gomez spent the day with the students and talked about the importance of giving back to the community.

UNICEF

In October 2008, Gomez was named UNICEF's spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which encouraged children to raise money on Halloween to help children around the world. She said that she was "extremely excited" to "encourage other kids to make a difference in the world."

In August 2009, a 17-year-old Gomez became the youngest UNICEF ambassador ever, passing fellow songstress Hayley Westenra, who had been 18. In her first official field mission, Gomez traveled to Ghana on September 4, 2009 for a week to witness first-hand the stark conditions of vulnerable children that lack vital necessities including clean water, nourishment, education and healthcare. Gomez explained during a interview with Associated Press that she wanted to use her star power to bring awareness to Ghana: “That’s why I feel very honored to have a voice that kids listen to and take into consideration [...] I had people on my tour asking me where IS Ghana, and they Googled it […] and because I went there, they now know where Ghana is. So it’s pretty incredible.” Gomez said of her role as ambassador that: "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."

Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF's 2009 Trick-or-Treat campaign, for the second year in a row. Gomez, who raised over $700,000 for the charity in 2008, stated that she hopes to be able to raise 1 million dollars in 2009. Gomez participated in a celebrity auction and hosted a live web cast series on Facebook in support of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Gomez will return as the UNICEF spokesperson for the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in 2010.

FILMOGRAPHY

2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2008 Horton Hears a Who!
2009 Arthur and the Vengeance of Maltazard
2010 Ramona and Beezus
2011 Monte Carlo
2005 Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
2006 Brain Zapped
2009 Princess Protection Program
2009 Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
2008 Another Cinderella Story
2002–2003 Barney & Friends
2007–present Wizards of Waverly Place
2006 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
2007–2008 Hannah Montana
2009 Sonny With a Chance
2009 The Suite Life on Deck

Singles

2008 "Tell Me Something I Don't Know"
2009 "Magic"
2009
"Whoa Oh!" (with Forever The Sickest Kids)
"One and the Same" (with Demi Lovato)
"Send It On" (with Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, and Miley Cyrus)

Soundtracks

2006 "Brain Zapped"
2008
"Cruella de Vil"
"Tell Me Something I Don't Know"
"New Classic" (featuring Drew Seeley)
"Bang a Drum"
"New Classic" (Live) (featuring Drew Seeley)
"Fly to Your Heart"
2009
"One and the Same" (with Demi Lovato)
"Everything Is Not What It Seems"
"Disappear"
"Magical"
"Magic"
2010
"Trust in Me" (From Disney's The Jungle Book)
"Live Like There's No Tomorrow"

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