Описание
I was born in Grand Prairie, Texas to Ricardo Gomez and former stage actress Mandy Teefey. My father is Mexican American and my mother is of Italian descent. My birth parents divorced when I was five years old, and I was raised as an only child by her working mother. In 2006, mom remarried Brian Teefey. I am named after Tejano singer Selena. In a 2009 interview with People, I mentioned that she developed an early interest in acting from watching my mother prepare for and act in theater productions. I earned a high school diploma through homeschooling in May 2010.
I began my acting career at age seven, playing Gianna on Barney & Friends. I said that I learned "everything" about how to act while on the show. Season 7 of Barney & Friends, when I was on the show, was held up for some time. Because of this, the episodes featuring I did not air until I was in 5th grade. This resulted in some mild controversy as to whether I was on Barney in the 5th grade or the 1st grade. I later had minor roles in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire. In 2004, I was discovered by the Disney Channel in a nation wide scouting. I 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 I was cast in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place as one of the three main characters, Alex Russo.
In 2008, I appeared in Another Cinderella Story, the direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2004 Hilary Duff film, opposite Drew Seeley. I also had a minor voiceover role as one the Mayor's ninety-six daughters in Horton Hears a Who! which released in March of that year. In April, Lacey Rose, of Forbes ranked I as being fifth on their "Eight Hot Kid Stars To Watch" list; and Rose described I as having been "a multitalented teen". In June, 2009, I appeared in the made-for-television Disney Channel movie, Princess Protection Program with my then best friend Demi Lovato. On August 28, one month after appearing in Princess Protection Program, I appeared in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a made-for-television film based on the show.
In 2009, I did a guest appearance as myself in one episode, of Lovato's Disney Channel television show Sonny With a Chance, entitled "Battle of The Network Stars". I, along with two cast members of Wizards of Waverly Place appeared in a television three-way cross-over episode with Hannah Montana and The Suite Life on Deck, entitled Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana. In February 2009, I signed on to star as one of the two female leads in Ramona and Beezus, a film adaption of the children's novel series by Beverly Cleary. In March, 2010, Variety reported that I was set to star as one of the three lead roles in Monte Carlo.
