July 22: Actress and Singer Selena Gomez is 21-years-old today.

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Born in Grand Prairie, Texas in 1992, Selena Marie Gomez is best known for her portrayal of Alex Russo on the Emmy Award winning Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place.

She is also the lead singer for the pop rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene. She is named after Tejano singer Selena.

In 2008, Gomez recorded a cover of "Cruella de Vil" -which included a music video for – for the compilation album DisneyMania 6. Gomez recorded three songs for the Another Cinderella Story soundtrack, which Gomez appears in. Gomez also recorded "Fly to Your Heart" for the 2008 animated film Tinker Bell.

In July 2008, before her sixteenth birthday, she signed a recording deal with Hollywood Records, a music label owned by Disney. In 2009, Gomez recorded "One and the Same" for Princess Protection Program as a duet with Demi Lovato. (Both appear in the film.)

Gomez recorded four songs, one of which was a cover, for the Wizards of Waverly Place soundtrack, but only one single from the album was released ("Magic.")  In May of the same year, Gomez was featured – with Forever the Sickest Kids, on a duet version of the non-album song "Whoa Oh!"

Formed in 2009, Selena & The Scene is a teen pop band which consists of Selena Gomez on vocals, Ethan Roberts on guitar, Joey Clement on bass, Greg Garman on drums and Dane Forrest on keyboards. Kiss & Tell is the band's debut studio album and was released on September 29, 2009 by Hollywood Records.

On March 5, 2010, the album was certified Gold by RIAA. The album's single, "Naturally," was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 15, 2010.

The band's second album A Year Without Rain was released on September 17, 2010. The record debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 4, selling 66,000 copies.

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Selena has starred in the television movies Another Cinderella Story, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, and Princess Protection Program. In 2010, Gomez made her theatrical film debut as Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby in Ramona and Beezus. Before Disney, she had one of the child roles on Barney & Friends. In 2008, she signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and contributed to the Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place soundtracks.

Gomez began her acting career at age seven, playing Gianna on Barney & Friends. She later had minor roles in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire.

Gomez appeared as a guest star on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and had a guest appearance – that later turned into a recurring role – on Hannah Montana from season's two to three. In early 2007 Gomez was cast in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place as one of the three main characters, Alex Russo.

In 2008, Gomez appeared in Another Cinderella Story, the direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2004 Hilary Duff film, opposite Drew Seeley. She also had a minor voice over role as one the Mayor's ninety-six daughters in Horton Hears a Who! which released in March of that year.

In April 2010, Lacey Rose, of Forbes ranked Gomez as being fifth on their "Eight Hot Kid Stars To Watch."

Selena has been dating Canadian pop star Justin Bieber. His hit song "Latin Girl" is believed to be a love song to Selena.



In June 2011, Selena Gomez & the scene released their third studio album, When the Sun Goes Down, previously titled "Otherside." The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, then rose to number 3 on the Billboard chart, becoming the band's highest charting album to date. The album's lead single, "Who Says" has become the band's highest charting song and the second single, "Love You Like a Love Song,”became the act's first to sell over two-million copies.

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For more about Selena, visit her Website at -

http://www.selenagomez.com/

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