Selena Kayleigh Gomez was born on July 22, 1992 in New York City, New York. When she was still young she moved with her family to Grand Prairie, Texas.

She got her professional acting start on Barney & Friends (as Gianna)

Her singing was included on the Barney & Friends albums while she was with the show.

She won a talent search contest in 2004 by Disney and appeared in 2006 on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and in 2007 on Hannah Montana

She got her big break in October of 2007 when co-starred (and continues to do so) in Disney Channel's smash series the Wizards of Waverly Place and plays a teenage witch in training named Alex Russo. [Fast fact: Selena sings the opening song to the show which is entitled "Not What It Seems"

In 2008 she stars in a music video singing her version of "Cruella De Vil" from Disney's 101 Dalmatians.

Gomez is also an entrepreneur. She launched her own company in late 2008 called, July Moon Productions, which will be producing a number of films. In 2010 she will be launching her own fasion line ("Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez").

Her debut album, Kiss And Tell (released with her band The Scene) was released in September 2009 and was certified gold in March 2010.

In May 2010, Selena Gomez received her High School diploma through home schooling.

Although she has spent a lot of time filming "Wizards of Waverly Place," she still has had time in taking roles in other projects, such as lending her voice to Horton Hears a Who (2008), Another Cinderella Story (2008), Princess Protection Program (2009), Ramona and Beezus (2010) and appearing on episodes of TV shows such as "Hannah Montana," "Sonny With A Chance," and "The Suite Life On Deck." She is also co-starring in the movie Monte Carlo.

When her busy career allows, Selena is very much into philanthropy and giving to others and has done a great deal of work with UNICEF