Spotlight Artist of the Week: Selena Gomez

This week we're taking some time to appreciate the ever graceful Disney star turned philanthropist Selena Gomez. 

Selena was born on July 22nd 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas, and began her career in show business at the tender age of 9 in 2001. Selena's first major role was for the TV show "Barney and Friends". Selena was axed from the show after 2 years, but went on to pick up small roles in TV shows and movies such as Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in 2003 and Brain Zapped in 2006, where she even recorded a song for the show.

Selena first appeared on the Disney Channel when she guest starred as Gwen in "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" in 2006. She then landed her first starring role when the channel cast her as Alex Russo in the show Wizards of Waverley Place in 2007. The hit series ran until 2012.

Selena continued to work on her music alongside her acting career, and regularly recorded for Disney Channel shows as well as feature films, including the single "One and the Same" which she sang as a duet with Demi Lovato for the movie Princess Protection Program.

In 2008, Gomez signed a record contract with Hollywood Records and began working on her debut album, Kiss and Tell, which was released in 2009. Gomez also had a cameo in the Jonas Brothers' music video for the single "Burnin' Up," released in 2008.

In 2012, Selena performed the voice of Mavis in the film Hotel Transylvania . She then starred alongside James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens, among others, in Harmony Korine's comedic crime thriller Spring Breakers (2013). That same year, Gomez co-starred with Ethan Hawke in the action thriller Getaway. She also continued to pursue her musical career, releasing Stars Dance in 2013 and a greatest hits collection, For You, in 2014.

On top of releasing numerous chart-topping tracks, and movie work, Selena has recently opened up about her struggles with the autoimmune condition, Lupus, that she has been diagnosed with. Selena went through a life-saving kidney transplant, which eased her struggles and was back to performing just months after the operation which saved her life. 

Selena has raised more than $500,000 for the charity Lupus Research Alliance, and was named woman of the year at the annual Billboard Women in Music event in 2017. She also became an ambassador for UNICEF at the age of 17, the youngest ambassador ever for the organisation, and works to help the world's children through her C.A.N. (Charity, Action, Now) initiative.

We love you, Selena!