Selena Gomez's first performances were as one of the children in Barney & Friends.  As a child actor, Selena held minor roles in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the television movie, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.  She was scouted by Disney in 2004,

Selena Gomez

The day I got my first letter from a fan, I felt like I'd been touched by an angel. I opened the note and read every single word the fan, Taylor, had to say. She told me she'd been to all of the tapings Wizards--it was unbelievable! I almost cried. I wrote her back this really long letter with an autograph to show her how sweet I thought she was.

An Early Start

Selena Gomez's first performances were as one of the children in Barney & Friends.  As a child actor, Selena held minor roles in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the television movie, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.  She was scouted by Disney in 2004, and had a guest spot on The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, before accepting the role of Alex Russo in the Disney series, The Wizards of Waverly Place.  

In 2008, Gomez starred in a direct-to-dvd movie, entitled Another Cinderella Story, for which she recorded three of the songs for the soundtrack.  Also in 2008, she recorded a cover of Cruella DeVille for the compilation album, DisneyMania 6.  By the end of the year, Selena Gomez had secured a career in both television and music.

A Bright Young Career

Disney kept their young star busy in 2009 as well.  In June, Gomez played a role in the television movie, Princess Protection Program, for which she also recorded the single, One and the Same as a duet with young singer/actress, Lovato.  She went on to record four singles for the soundtrack for her own series, Wizards of Waverly Place.  Of these singles, the song, Magic, charted at #61 on the Billboard Top 100 and charted in Canada, Norway, and Chile as well.  

In late 2009, Selena Gomez cemented her band roster and released an album, under the name, Selena Gomez and the Scene.  The album, Kiss & Tell, debuted at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.  The single, Naturally, debuted at #65 on the Billboard Hot Digital Singles chart, due to the high demand of mp3 downloads of the song.  They embarked on a House of Blues 2010 tour to promote the album.  A UK tour is scheduled to follow.

Here and Now

Selena Gomez and the Scene have projected a release date of late 2010 for their next album, which they say will feature a reggae sound.  In addition, she has been cast as one of the three lead roles in the upcoming movie, Monte Carlo.  She is also “the new face of Sears,” promoting their teen and junior lines of clothes.  She is working on her own product line called “Dream Out Loud with Selena Gomez.”

Gomez has been very active in social causes as well.  She was actively involved in the “UR Vote Counts” campaign in 2008, and is an ambassador for DoSomething.org.  She is also the youngest ambassador for UNICEF.

Did you know . . .

1. Selena Gomez has known her best friend, Lovato, with whom she stars in Princess Protection Program, since they performed together on Barney and Friends.

2. Gomez has had roles in twenty films and television shows since 2002.

3. Gomez is cast to play one of two starring roles in Ramona and Beezus, based on the series of children's books by Beverly Cleary.

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