When she was just a teenager — seventeen to be exact — Gomez took the title of the youngest UNICEF ambassador in its history! And before you correct us — we know that Millie Bobby Brown later went on to snatch the title!
Anywho, Gomez is passionate about changing lives and is a supporter of providing kids with the things they need to grow and have a good, meaningful life.
She Loves the Crust!
…OF A PIZZA! Yes, this gal is one after our own hearts, relishing in perhaps the best part of the pizza — the crust.
While we’re not totally sure of her ranking of favorite pizza toppings, we definitely need to ask her which type of crust is her favorite — thin, thick, puffy, cheese-filled — what is it!?
She Runs Her Own Social Media!
Believe it or not, Gomez is definitely a fan of her…fans! For someone who grew up on and around social media, it makes sense that she likes to stay updated.
She is particularly hands-on when it comes to communicating with the fans who helped her rise to fame, starting right from her Disney channel days. She says it’s “authentic.”
She Was Diagnosed With Lupus
Sometimes we just believe social media and think that celebs like Selena are getting glammed up 24/7. But there is definitely a darker side to fame, as well as sneaky health conditions that can run celebs down.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that leaves you feeling fatigued, sore, and kinda down. The pop star has been very open about her situation and is not letting it stop her. You go, girl!
She Is a Fan of Friends
I mean, who isn’t a fan of one of the longest-running sitcoms period? Gomez admitted in an interview or two that watching “Friends” is one of her guilty pleasures. (Though we see no shame here.)
You know, it’s like a comforting hug from an old friend on a day when you just don’t want to get out of bed. Selena, we can relate!
She Drinks Olive Oil
Ah, so that’s the secret to those er…well-oiled…pipes. Sorry, we had to. Apparently, though, this is legit — the singer does, in fact, drink Olive Oil to help her vocal cords and voice stay protected and hydrated.
Anything to make sure you can keep singing, right?
She Didn’t Grow Up Rich
We kinda love that Selena Gomez didn’t have the cushy upbringing some celebs certainly had. It makes her all the more relatable.
While she was a teen, trying to “make it” as an actress, she shared with the media that she grew up in a “scary” neighborhood and that she appreciates what her mom did for her during those tough times.
She Eats Which Citrus Whole?
Hint: not oranges. Selena Gomez really enjoys the sourness of lemons, and in fact, eats them whole. Does that include the skin? Guess Selena really does like to munch on lemons!
Maybe getting used to eating such sour food helps everything else taste sweeter?
She Had Her First Kiss With…
None other than Dylan Sprouse on the Disney channel’s “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” — and she was just a teeny tiny, twelve-year-old! At that age, it’s kinda hard to rate how good the kiss was. After all, they’re just kids!
We’re sure she’s had some more memorable kisses in her life since then.
She Appeared on Barney
One of her first appearances was on the kids' TV show, “Barney and Friends.” Yes, the big purple dinosaur was one of her first buddies, along with fellow Disney star, Demi Lovato.
On her appearance, she was cast to throw a bit of a tantrum and dance around with a feather boa. Not a bad gig for a seven-year-old!
She Wore a Purity Ring
Ah yes, the famous (or infamous) purity ring. The ring had on it inscribed “true love waits.” People who wear it do it as a promise to themselves to wait for the right person before being intimate with someone.
Maybe it was part of her Disney contract! Just kidding! But apparently, the ring shortly disappeared once she started dating Canadian pop star, Justin Bieber.
She’s More of an Introvert
Okay, if we didn’t already love Selena, we are definitely infatuated now. Despite the fashionable parties and events that she’s invited to, she much prefers being at home! She once said in an interview “I love being at home…gosh, I’m so boring!”
Not at all, girl! Our ideal night out is…one spent in.
She Met Justin Bieber at...
The tender age of sixteen. That’s also when they started dating, and it set the world ablaze! The two were an item with their on-and-off relationship from 2010 till 2018! During their off-periods, they went out with other people, which drew even greater attention from the paparazzi (and the fans', of course).
Now, the two are ancient history, with Gomez moving on and with Bieber getting married to the supermodel Hailey Baldwin (now Bieber).
She Has a Tough Time Dating
Being so famous has its trade-offs! The singer and actress struggled when it comes to dating, and she got real with the media one time, going as far as to say she “hates” dating.
It’s difficult for her, and she says she gets “weirded out” by the idea that someone had to Google her to find out about her before they met. Yikes.
She Has a Very Valuable Social Media Account
So valuable that one of her posts back in 2016 was worth over half a million. We can only imagine nowadays what one of her posts is worth — particularly the sponsored ones.
It’s safe to say that Gomez won’t ever have to live in the same rough neighborhoods of her childhood ever again!
She’s a Fan of McDonald’s
Well...this definitely wasn’t sponsored, but a sneaky photo of Gomez (which she posted to her social media) eating a McDonald’s French fry before the Victoria’s Secret show went viral!
Her caption got us good — “why do you think I covered my stomach during the show?” Dang, she gets us!
Do You Know Who She’s Named After?
None other than the late Latina singer, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who tragically passed away in the mid-1990s. While Gomez didn’t get to meet the star, her father made a point of taking her to the memorial for Selena in Texas.
We love that Gomez was raised listening to her music and having her as an idol.
Speaking of Fast Food
She really loves Cheeseburgers. But then again, who doesn’t? Sorry vegan and vegetarian fam, we’re not taking sides here, just stating facts.
Gomez is serious about her cheeseburgers — to the point where she had her assistant hold onto her burger while she posed on the red carpet once.
She’s a Mean Girls Fan
Wow, Selena sounds like she’d be so much fun at a girls’ night in, that’s for sure! Gomez said if she could star in the musical adaptation of the cult film, she’d be putting dibs on being Regina George from Mean Girls!
But hey, they should really consider her for the role..no?
She Turned Down a Role for What?
Yep, Gomez turned down a role in the Disney franchise, “High School Musical.” She was asked to play a role in the third one, however, she decided to turn it down, as she hoped to pursue different roles that were… “more serious.”
Honestly, making a clean break from the Disney image that’s been carefully constructed through her teen years is difficult enough without taking another Disney role.
She’s Pals With T-Swift
Forget being part of a sports club or college fraternity or sorority…the only club we want to be a part of is Taylor Swift’s girl gang!
The pair are incredibly close, and Gomez is in good company with the rest of Swift’s friendship group, which includes other singers, models, and actresses. Girl power!
She Has a Special Power
Imitating people! And like everyone else, she has her top impressions: singer Shakira and her bestie Taylor Swift.
Be sure to check the web for some of her impressions — we’re pretty sure it was during an interview with “iHeartRadio”. Our favorite was the Swift impression!
She Wants Which Superpower?
Honestly, we’re totally not surprised by this one, purely because we know that Selena is a foodie and probably gets hungry all the time.
If she could have a superpower… it would be for food to appear whenever she started getting hungry. I mean, same. Right?
She Was the Result of a Teen Pregnancy
Yep, that’s right. Selena Gomez was born when her mom was just sixteen. We can’t even imagine what it would’ve been like to have to look after a child at such a young age.
We’re sure her mother had no idea that the baby she gave birth to would become such a famous individual!
She’s Just Like You and I
In the sense that she too, gets starstruck! For someone who grew up in Texas watching TV, it’s no wonder that Gomez also gets a little star-struck from time to time!
There was a video online of her meeting Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf and totally fangirling over them. The video appeared on Ellen DeGeneres for the world to see.
She Has Some Amazing Friends
We’re not just talking about celebrities - we’re talking about true besties that have been with Gomez through thick and thin. So much so that one donated a kidney!
Gomez received a kidney transplant due to her battle with Lupus, and she’s got her bestie Francia Raisa to thank. Wow!
13 Reasons Why
Sure, this list is about more than thirteen reasons why to love Selena Gomez, but did you know that she’s the executive producer of the Netflix original, “13 Reasons Why”?
The star of the show praised Gomez extremely highly, staying on set with the cast, taking them out to dinner, and just being an awesome person all around! Love!
She’s Met Miley
Cyrus of course! And of course, being a Disney channel alum, it’s honestly not surprising that she had a stint on “Hannah Montana.” She was featured as Mikayla, Hannah’s musical nemesis, and subsequently had a recurring spot on the show.
And as they say sometimes, life imitates art, and the rivalry extended to real life after the pair had a falling out following Selena dating Miley's ex. Ouch!
Which Ex?
Well, Selena dated Nick Jonas — must be a Disney channel thing! This was before her time with Biebs, and the hook-up with Miley’s ex was a bit of a mean girl thing to do.
She then went on to date Taylor Lautner, who went on to date another famous Taylor — Swift! Man, no wonder dating is hard in Hollywood…everyone gets everyone!
Businesswoman, Entrepreneur?
It’s no surprise that the star has put her fingers in different pies — and why wouldn’t you, when you’ve got plenty of capital backing? The singer has launched a cosmetics line, as well as a clothing line, a perfume, and a handbag line.
Oh, and we forgot to mention the fact that she’s also created a production company called “July Moon Productions.”
Horton Hears Who?
Just kidding, we remember Selena Gomez voicing the daughter of Steve Carrell’s daughter in the animated film “Horton Hears a Who” — but we bet you didn’t know this bit of fun trivia!
It was revealed that Gomez didn’t actually meet Carell until after the movie was post-production. Crazy!
Hit Me Baby
One More Time
Britney Spears' debut record was actually Selena's first CD. Boy, do we love a bit of Britney Spears! And clearly, Selena Gomez agreed with us, as it was not only her first CD but also the first concert that she went to.
Who would’ve thought she’d be up on a stage just like Britney’s one day too!
She Quit Social Media
Though the break was temporary due to the hate she received. It’s basically a golden rule in Hollywood that you shouldn’t a) Google yourself, or b) read online comments. Gomez clearly did the latter and quit due to the body shamers who had noted that she’d put on weight.
How rude! People are totally messed up sometimes! We still love you, Selena, no matter your size!
She’s Into Extreme Sports
Like skateboarding and surfing! She loves to skateboard and surf, and the star relishes the fact that she can get some downtime and be active.
We love all the glam and the parties and the eating, but you need an outlet too!
UNICEF Ambassador!
When she was just a teenager — seventeen to be exact — Gomez took the title of the youngest UNICEF ambassador in its history! And before you correct us — we know that Millie Bobby Brown later went on to snatch the title!
Anywho, Gomez is passionate about changing lives and is a supporter of providing kids with the things they need to grow and have a good, meaningful life.
She Wears Her Heart on Her Sleeve!
Another reason to love Selena, this one is extremely relatable. Like any other person, she’s been through heartbreak, but she isn’t afraid of showing the world how she feels!
After her relationship with Bieber ended, she was filming a music video and broke down during it. She also then broke down performing the song at the AMAs. She’s just human!
She Suffered From Anxiety
Despite being one of the world’s most famous musicians and singers, Gomez isn’t impervious to online hate and online trolls. In her interviews, Gomez has shared that she suffered anxiety, panic attacks, and bouts of depression over the years in the spotlight.
Due to the online comments and hateful attitudes of people, she started taking more frequent breaks. Anything for your mental health gal!
Name Origins?
Well, you may know that yes, she was named after the Latina songstress, Selena, but did you know that the name has its origins in the Greek language?
Meaning “moon” in Greek, the singer was born in July (yaaasss Cancer queen!). That explains the name of her production company — July Moon Productions!
She Became the First Person...
To garner one hundred million Instagram followers! That’s pretty crazy, eh? Gomez took the crown early on in the game, and now has well over that number!
Pretty amazing for a little gal who appeared on “Barney” in the nineties. What an incredible following!
She Loves Her iPhone
And she loves it so much so that it was used to film not just one, but two of her music videos! The music videos for her singles “Lose You to Love Me” and “Look at Her Now” were both filmed on iPhone 11 Pro!
Well, it’s not surprising with just how good technology is these days, right?
Lupus Has Taken a Big Toll
Not to mention the online hate and awful remarks from trolls. The autoimmune disease got so bad that Gomez had to cancel her European and South American leg of her Revival tour.
The disease led to additional complications which led to a stint in rehab to help her recover. Gah.
Not a Fan of the Wizarding World?
Seems a little (okay well, very) ironic, doesn’t it? That the star of the Disney channel show, “Wizards of Waverly Place” isn’t actually a fan of magic or the Harry Potter franchise.
Mon Dieu! We love you Selena but…please explain why, and in detail, we're listening.
She’s 5’5!
Some of you true Selena Gomez fans would know this one already, but we’re inclusive here and aren’t judging anyone’s knowledge of the star. She stands at 5’5 or 165cm, and we love every inch!
We actually thought she was a little shorter, so there you go!
She Dated The Weeknd
Looks like the Canadian rapper had something that Gomez was interested in even more than just his music. It was quite a headline when the two of them started to date, particularly after the on-again, the off-again relationship he had been in with supermodel Bella Hadid.
The pair dated for almost a year, and there was plenty of PDA to their romance!
She’s Buddies With...
Another celebrity, shock horror! Just kidding... We’re all about girl gangs and great friendships, particularly amongst musically minded ladies. She’s good friends with singer-songwriter Julia Michaels. The friend has is even featured as a co-writer in several of Selena's songs.
To commemorate their friendship, the pair even got matching tats!
Monte… Carlo
Like, Marco…Polo? Because Gomez had to learn polo intensively? For her role in the film “Monte Carlo”? Did we lose you?
Okay, anyways, the star had to learn how to play the game on horseback, as well as undergo language training to learn not one, but two British accents for the film!
She Can Sing How Many Octaves?
Not one, not two, but three octaves! Sure, she’s no opera singer, but she’s definitely got some pipes and a great range!
For you music nerds out there, she’s classified as a mezzo-soprano, though she probably uses more of her mezzo for her moodier tracks.
Hiding in Puth’s Closet!
The story goes that when Charlie Puth asked her to record her part for the song “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, Gomez went into Puth’s closet! The recording session was probably one of the shortest in her life.
In just fifteen minutes it was all done, and the song became a smash hit!
Mandy the Momager
For many child stars, their first managers aren’t paid agents, but rather, they’re family! Selena Gomez was no different. When she first started out, and for a little while after, Selena’s mother Mandy was her manager.
But after a few years (and after becoming a teenager we presume), Selena decided a professional was a better choice for her career.
She Was Homeschooled!
Not really surprised by this one since Selena was a Disney channel star at the prime of high school age.
Fame and being in school probably don’t mix too well so it probably wasn't the worst decision to get homeschooled. Essentially, she graduated from high school… at home!
She’s a Hillsonger!
Maybe it’s faith, or maybe it’s the effect of the Biebs. Despite being raised as a Catholic, Gomez decided to take her faith into her own hands and is a proud attendee of the Hillsong Church.
Hey, whatever floats your boat! Gomez is strong in her faith and places great value on it.
Pantene’s Favorite Brunette
Gomez is known for her long brunette locks, and who better to advertise that than Pantene? The deal was rumored to have been worth around $3 million US a few years ago!
Hey, you gotta work to have hair like that, right? Right?
Selena Had Faith... in Herself
Yep, even when no one else quite has the same vision as you, it’s important to stick by your opinions. In this case, it really worked for Selena.
Her hit track, “Good For You” wasn’t initially supposed to be the leading single for her album, “Revival.” It was a good thing that Selena made sure it was as it made it into 19th place in Billboard's list of the best songs of 2015.
She Holds Several Guinness World Record
Any guesses what for? It’s social media-related, of course! Not a good hint? Okay fine…so Selena Gomez holds not one, nor two, nor three…but seven world records, including “most likes for an actor on Facebook”.
She also has a record for having the most followers at one time on IG! Pretty dope!
Zedd’s Accident
Accidents happen for a reason, right? Bathroom ones are even…better? Okay, give us a minute to explain. So Gomez met DJ Zedd accidentally a few years ago when the DJ just moved to a new house.
His house was completely empty at the time so his engineer suggested he used the bathroom of the studio across from theirs, which is where he met Gomez. A week later, the pair started collaborating. First musically, then romantically. They famously collaborated for Zedd’s song “I Want You to Know.” Cool!
Coach x Selena Gomez
Other than singing and acting, Selena had branched out into other occupations. Does anyone remember the Selena Grace collection for the fashion label Coach?
The star partnered with the brand and launched a limited-edition handbag collection which she helped design.
She’s Mexican-Italian!
So okay, with the surname Gomez, we had a feeling she had some Latina in her. But did you know that her mom, Mandy, has Italian heritage? What a fantastic cultural mix!
The combination of Mexican descent and Italian ancestry is certainly a great one. Just think of all the pasta and guacamole!
She’s a Battler!
Yep, that’s right. Gomez definitely has a vibrant, fighting spirit, and this was clearly shown before a performance at the AMAs one year. The singer, who was about to go out on stage to sing “Lose You to Love Me”, experienced a panic attack.
But instead of withdrawing (which would’ve been totally okay to do), she went on and decided to perform anyway. Wow!
She Launched a Fragrance
Called “Selena.” Sure, it was a few years ago, and probably a little sweet and strong for our taste, but still, pretty amazing for a young star.
Not every star releases their own perfume at such a young age! (Or at all, for that matter.)
She Wasn’t Always Going to Be a Star
Well, in saying that, maybe she was always going to be one, BUT! She, in fact, did not succeed straight away.
After two failed pilot TV shows (spin-offs from "Hannah Montana" and "Suite Life of Zack and Cody"), she finally landed her famed role as Alex Russo in "Wizards of Waverly Place." Third time's a charm, aye?
Selena Gomez and The Scene
Hey now, everyone’s gotta start somewhere, right? But also, not everyone goes this far with their first band. Talk about star power!
Gomez and her band “The Scene” had two gold albums, selling over half a million copies, and they even snagged themselves an award at the Teen Choice Awards! Pretty cool!
She’s an Only Child
Naw, Selena, don’t worry, siblings are fun but they can also be a huge pain! And hey, we’re sure that being on the Disney channel and throughout her career, she’s made a ton of friends and ones that she’ll keep for life too.
We’re sure she gets lonely sometimes, but in saying that, we all do, and that's what friends are for!
It's Not Like She's Never Been to a School
With normal kids, that is! Gomez did in fact go to elementary school. She attended Danny Jones Middle School in Texas (her home state).
Once she got to high school age, she went with the famous homeschool route which enabled her to get her education while getting into showbusiness.
She Has a Middle Name
It's Marie! For some of you die-hard fans, you were like “geez, we knew that, like twenty years ago.” But not all readers are dedicated followers like you, so breathe.
We’re just here to share some facts, and we’re almost certain that some of y’all did not know that her middle name was Marie. Gosh.
She Was Raised by Her Mom!
Mainly, Gomez remembers her mom being the one to raise her right. Mandy Dawn Teefey, who was a budding actress herself, perhaps inspired her daughter to take after her.
Apparently, Gomez decided one day that she wanted to become an actress after seeing her mom get all glammed up!
She Was Camera Shy
Well, as a little girl at least. Before her big role on Barney as a seven-year-old, Gomez told the media that she was “very shy” as just a tot.
She didn’t know “what ‘camera right’ was” and she learned the ropes on the kid’s show.
She Was Bullied
Wow, the more we learn about Selena, the more relatable she gets! And not always in a way that makes us happy, especially when we learn that she too was bullied.
In elementary and then middle school, Gomez shared that she was bullied quite a lot. It’s definitely something she’s never forgotten, but notes that it “makes you a stronger person.” Well said!
She Loves Pickles
And man, so do we! We may not go as far as drinking pickle juice, but hey, we might try some pickle-flavored chewing gum if we're offered any!
In saying that, our team is split on eating the pickle last in a cheeseburger. (Still not sure if we want to start with the good stuff or save the best for last.)
She Fangirls Over Actresses Too
Specifically, over none other than gorgeous Hollywood A-Lister, Rachel McAdams. If we had a girl crush on any actress too, it would definitely be Rachel McAdams!
We’re big fans — we totally ship these two as friends as well! But anyway, we know Gomez has good taste in actresses.
Her Parents Divorced
It happened when she was just five years old. She learned early in life that not all is a garden of roses! Her mother and father split at an early stage in their relationship, but of course for their own reasons.
The pair has since moved on to their respective relationships and brought Selena three half-siblings.
She Spray Painted Horses
Well, not herself! But she did have horses spray-painted pink for her music video, “Love Like You Like a Love Song”. PETA did not have good things to say about it!
Other celebrities, such as singer P!nk, weren't too happy about it either. Gomez, however, stated that she is a big animal lover and that it was all done safely using non-toxic paint.
She Loves This Fruit
Which fruit? Mango of course! The singer is reportedly quite obsessed with the golden-hued fruit. She loves the fact that they’re an island fruit.
Also, they’re mangoes. We don’t think we’ve met anyone who doesn’t like them…because really, what’s not to like?
Subway Ambassador?
Maybe Subway needs a new ambassador! Apparently, the singer and actress is a big fan of Subway for a quick, easy, and healthy bite to eat.
We guess it’s good to be obsessed with a chain restaurant if you travel a lot. You are never too far away from your favorite food!
She’s a Dog Mom!
“In Texas, where we’re from, there are lots of dogs that need homes…it just never made sense to any of us not to get a shelter dog” - and we love that Selena said that. It's why she became a dog mom!
Apparently, she owns eight dogs, who have all been adopted from shelters. Bless!
Meet the Gomez Furbabies
Her list of canine friends includes Wallace, Fina, Chip, Willie, Chazz, Bayor, Winnie, and Daisy. The dogs are a range of mixed-breeds, including boxer-shepherds, Rhodesian ridgeback mix, a corgi mix, and a husky.
Selena’s definitely a lover of animals, and we are one hundred percent supportive of her adopting these beautiful animals.
She’s Friends With Shiloh
Shiloh Fernandez, in case you were wondering. Shiloh starred in her video for the music clip “The Heart Wants What it Wants” and the pair have been friends since!
Not to mention the fact that the pair teamed up again to co-star in a short film “Searching.”
She Loves Her Junk Food
Specifically, hot Cheetos! There were a number of selfies taken with bags of the delicious crunchy snack, and it’s almost always packed for Gomez when she’s on tour.
Stock up that tour-bus mini bar with hot Cheetos!
The Fundamentals of Caring
So if you haven’t seen this film, we highly recommend that you do. It’s poignant and quite funny, but it also hits home on some difficult themes at the same time.
It’s a road trip comedy-drama and Gomez is in it! Why wouldn’t it be great? Go on, stream it stat!
She Doesn’t Have Which App?
Instagram! On her personal phone! This definitely makes sense for Selena, who takes breaks from social media often to deal with her anxiety when it comes to apps. She doesn’t like having the app on her phone, so she instead opts to have it on another person’s phone, where she shares directly whatever she’s feeling when she's in the right mindset for it.
It’s also a great block for her mentally, so she doesn’t have to see any of the comments! Genius!
She’s Proud of Her Heritage
She’s a proud Latina that’s for sure! There was a conversation the singer had with Latin star, Bad Bunny, and she spoke about her pride in her heritage, feeling that she represents Latinx’s everywhere!
She also told fans she hopes to release more music in Spanish!