Selena Marie Gomez was born to Mandy Teefey and Ricardo Gomez on July 22, 1992. At a young age, she moved from New York to Grand Prairie, Texas. Giving birth to Selena at 16, her mom Mandy recalls living "paycheck-to-paycheck". Selena started out on "Barney" (1992) as "Gianna" in 2001 where she really discovered her talent. Unfortunately, they dropped her from the series after just two years. In 2003, she had a very small role in the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and a bit part in 2005 when she played "Julie" in Chuck Norris: Walker, Texas Ranger (2005) (TV) with Mitchel Musso and in 2006 as "Emily Grace Garcia" in Brain Zapped (2006) (TV) when she recorded a song for the movie. She she guest starred as "Gwen" in "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (2005) and as Hannah's rival, the 'evil' "Mikayla", in "Hannah Montana" (2006). Selena's amazing talent landed her roles in two Disney series, both spin-offs. Unfortunately, neither Zeigen was picked up until 2007 when she got the role of "Alex Russo" in the magical series "Oi magoi tou Waverly Place" (2007) which she auditioned for three times. In March 2008, she made her first animated movie Horton (2008) and later starred in Another Aschenputtel Story (2008) (V) with Disney Channel star, sterne Drew Seeley for ABC Family. Her two Disney Channel Original Filme Princess Protection Program (2009) (TV), with real-life BFF Demi Lovato, and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009) (TV) will both air Summer 2009.