Nowadays, Selena Gomez is one of the biggest names in the world. That said, the Texas native’s rise to fame wasn’t always easy. After getting her start on Barney & Friends in 2002, Selena worked her way to the top as both an actress and singer.
To date, the Grammy-nominated artist has over 100 acting credits under her belt, as well as three studio albums. Moreover, in September 2020, Selena launched Rare Beauty. Her decision to branch out to cosmetics was about more than just makeup.
“Beauty doesn’t have to be defined by a like or a comment, or your body,” Selena told Allure magazine a month prior to the brand’s launch. “The whole time we were creating [Rare Beauty], we were always under the notion that this was going to be also about mental health and creating a safe place for people to connect.”
Over the years, the “Lose You to Love Me” singer has used her platform to advocate for mental health and body image. In October 2018, Selena entered a New York City rehab facility. “She has dealt with anxiety and depression since she was a teenager,” a source told Life & Style at the time. “She recognizes her demons and is getting help before it’s too late.”
After a month in treatment, Selena returned to Los Angeles, where she continues to acknowledge just how far she’s come. “I feel like I was supposed to go through everything I’ve gone through. I had low self-esteem — and that’s something I work on continuously — but I feel so empowered because I’ve gained so much knowledge about what was going on mentally,” she expressed to WSJ Magazine in January 2020.
“My highs were really high, and my lows would take me out for weeks at a time,” the Wizards of Waverly Place alum recalled. “I found out I do suffer from mental health issues and honestly, that was such a relief.”
After over six years of therapy and various treatment centers, Selena is thriving. “I realized that there was a way to get help and to find people that you trust,” the former Disney Channel star said. “I got on the right medication, and my life has been completely changed.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Selena Gomez’s transformation over the years.
2002-2004
From ages 10 to 12, Selena did her very first stint on TV. The future songstress appeared on the childhood classic Barney & Friends for 13 episodes, and thus, a star was truly born.
2006
A few years later in 2006, 14-year-old Selena got in front of the camera again on an episode of Dylan and Cole Sprouse‘s Disney Channel fave, Suite Life of Zach and Cody.
2007
But she had finally officially made it onto the scene in 2007. When the brunette attended the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End World premiere, it was clear she wasn’t the little girl from Barney anymore.
2008
The following year, Selena attended the world premiere of WALL.E and looked even more grown up still. She was clearly in the infancy of finding her style tendencies and her career, in general, was still in the early stages — but with her Wizards of Waverly Place role giving her a newfound stardom.
2009
At a press junket for Disney and ABC in 2009, she celebrated expanding her role in the house of mouse with her role in Sonny With a Chance while growing up just a tad too fast.
2010
At the 2010 VMAs, Selena was really starting to look grown, y’all. It could have been her choice of outfit, considering she’d been more casual and covered up at past events, but either way, she showed up a woman.
2011
In 2011, she started showing a little more skin and coming into her maturity at the Billboard Music Awards.
2012
When Selena went to the Toronto International Film Festival for her controversial film Spring Breakers, she proved she wasn’t a Disney kid anymore with some serious cleavage.
2013
At the 2013 ESPY Awards, the 21-year-old seriously looked her age — not a bad thing, just totally hitting our nostalgia heartstrings.
2014
The actress attended a screening of her movie Rudderless while rocking the cutest ponytail hairdo, which she favored a lot this year.
2015
The 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show saw a slim and sexy Selena walk the carpet as she celebrated several movies that year, including appearing in pal Taylor Swift‘s concert film.
2016
At her tour kick-off after party in Las Vegas in May 2016, the starlet looked slim and sophisticated. Who doesn’t love that long curly mane?
2017
At the 2017 American Music Awards, she debuted the cutest short blonde bob, and honestly, it seemed like a whole new era of Selena as a boss babe.
2018
But by 2018, she was back to brunette, as shown here at the world premiere of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
2019
At The Dead Don’t Die New York premiere, Selena showed off her healthy figure and glowing skin — a clear sign she’s doing well and staying on top.
2020
Selena looked incredible in this pink frock while attending the Hollywood Beauty Awards in February.
2021
In March 2021, Selena graced the cover of Vogue magazine. What a transformation!
2021
In April 2021, Selena debuted her new blonde hair!
2022
Stunning! Selena appeared at the SAG Awards in February wearing a show-stopping black column gown by Oscar de la Renta
2022
Selena released her AppleTV+ documentary, titled My Mind & Me.
2023
The Rare Beauty founder kicked off 2023 by working on the third season of her Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building.
