Selena Gomez: The 10 Biggest Moments of Her Career



Once Selena Gomez's career took off, it never slowed down. Starting acting at a young age, Selena Gomez appeared on Barney & Friends before eventually making her way to Disney Channel to guest star on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana and starring in an unaired pilot before landing the starring role as Alex Russo in the beloved popular sitcom, Wizards of Waverly Place. Selena Gomez's leading role on Disney Channel put her on the map and turned her into a household name. Between her Disney Channel success, which also included the Disney Channel Original Movie Princess Protection Program, Selena Gomez eventually transitioned out of Disney Channel and onto more mature content.






While Selena Gomez first broke out into music with Selena Gomez and The Scene, she eventually became a solo musician. Simultaneously, she tested the waters of more adult content, such as Spring Breakers and Behaving Badly. She also expanded to become involved behind the camera when she became an executive producer on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. Outside of acting and singing, Selena Gomez has also made massive steps toward philanthropy and discussing mental health through her company, Rare. Selena Gomez has had a massively successful career thus far, and it seems that there is no end in sight for the future.





10 Barney & Friends



Spy Kids 3D
Troublemaker Studios



Although this was not exactly a breakout role, this was one of the earliest beginnings of Selena Gomez's start as an actress. It is an early introduction to a series of small roles in different projects, including Spy Kids 3: Game Over and Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire, before her involvement with Disney Channel. Participating in Barney & Friends was the stepping stone of a long and flourishing career for Selena Gomez.



9 Wizards of Waverly Place



Wizards of Waverly Place Max, Alex, and Justin
Disney Channel



Selena Gomez's first leading role as Alex Russo was a massive success. It kick-started her career and rise to fame, as she gained millions of fans and acclaim from her portrayal of the sarcastic and witty middle Russo sibling. Selena Gomez brought life and charisma to Alex Russo, bringing out the character's meaner side with an effortless charm that allowed everyone to love her anyway. However, she also made sure to ground Alex with a genuine heart and soul, portraying the various layers of a character that, while very selfish, could also be very selfless and show care for her family and friends.



8 Selena Gomez and the Scene



Another Cinderella Story
Disney 



Selena Gomez dropped a few albums with The Scene before the band eventually separated. But, even if the addition of the band was not the most successful venture, it gave insight into Selena Gomez's future career as a musician. Selena Gomez's early singing career was heavily entwined with Disney and her connection to Hollywood Records. This was a stepping stone in watching Selena Gomez's music career unfold.




7 Spring Breakers



Ashley Benson, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, and Rachel Korine in Spring Breakers
A24



With Wizards of Waverly Place concluded and most of Selena Gomez's ties to Disney severed, she moved on to addressing the elephant in the room that many child actors have addressed. They may not be taken seriously following a career on a children's network. As a step toward portraying herself as a young woman rather than a teenage girl on Disney Channel, Selena Gomez starred in Spring Breakers, a movie that was made for an older demographic than the younger Wizards of Waverly Place audience. Movies such as Behaving Badly and Getaway also portray a more adult performance and character than her previous works, including Ramona and Beezus and Monte Carlo.



6 A Solo Music Career



Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building
Hulu



Following the end of Selena Gomez's affiliation with The Scene, she went on to work toward a solo career, and a new record label. Taking on opportunities to explore different genres of music and experience a more adult environment than continuing an involvement with those who may have perceived her as a child acknowledges the ability to broaden an audience and the music she had the ability to make.



5 Executive Producer Role



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Mad Chance 
Starboard Entertainment



Selena Gomez had already proven she could act, but in a new challenge, she took on an executive producer role, having a voice in the events occurring behind the scenes. She was a notable name behind 13 Reasons Why, playing a role as an executive producer during the show's controversial four seasons. Taking on a role as an executive producer allowed her to be involved in the business and creative parts of the series, having a say in the show's story without having to step foot in front of the camera.



4 Rare



Selena Gomez as Zoe in The Dead Don't Die
Focus Features



Rare Beauty is more than a business venture for Selena Gomez. Believing in the importance of mental health, Selena Gomez uses her business to try and help people and make a positive impact in their lives by striving to make the importance of mental health known. Selena Gomez's involvement in making it known that she not only believes in the importance of mental health but also actively tries to come up with ways to make the world more attuned to its significance and help others, is a very impressive goal.




3 Only Murders in the Building



only-murders-in-the-building
Hulu



As the first television series Selena Gomez has starred in since Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena Gomez makes a fantastic splash in the Hulu series as Mabel Mora. Only Murders in the Building has been met with critical acclaim and much praise for Selena Gomez's performance. Selena Gomez's return to television was met with excitement and thrill, especially as she can bring her quick comical wit to the forefront of the series.





only murders in the building season 3 meryl streep selena gomez paul rudd steve martin martin short
Image via Steve Martin



Selena Gomez's social media following is an impressive feat. She has surpassed 400 million followers on Instagram, and is the most followed woman on the social media platform. Selena Gomez's social media following is an acknowledgment of her strong and dedicated fan base. Whether it be through acting, singing, or business, Selena Gomez has wormed her way into the hearts of millions, and that is a hard goal to achieve.



1 My Mind and Me Documentary



Selena Gomez
Apple TV+



Selena Gomez got close and personal with the camera and her fans in a raw and open documentary on Apple TV+ focusing on her career and struggles with mental health and anxiety. In an openly honest documentary, Selena Gomez allows the camera to follow her into her lowest moments, as she exhibits the struggles of trying to find happiness in herself and work and the hiccups of trying to handle daily life in the entertainment business and in the public eye. The documentary also discusses her past, and touches on some high points as well.

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