Selena Gomez was born in New York City, and raised in Mansfield, Texas. Her first role was on Barney & Friends as Gianna. She was discovered by Disney in a nation wide Disney talent search when she was 12 years old. Selena filmed a pilot as the leading character Stevie in Stevie Sanchez, a spin off of Lizzie McGuire, that was also going to include Miranda Sanchez (Lalaine) from Lizzie McGuire which was not picked up. Disney wanted Selena to stay, so they cast her in another pilot Arwin!, a spinoff of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but it was also not picked up. In 2006, she guest starred in the second-season of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody as Gwen (Episode: "A Midsummer's Nightmare") Also in 2007, she appeared in a second-season episode of Hannah Montana as Mikayla, a pop star who is a rival of Hannah Montana. She was in a second episode of Hannah Montana called "That's What Friends Are For?'" which aired on October 19, 2007. She currently stars as Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place which premiered on October 2007 on Disney Channel.

--Wikipedia