Selena Gomez sings and dances to the beat of her own drum in the award-winning musical thriller Emilia Pérez, where she plays Jessi Del Monte, a rebellious woman on a journey of radical transformation. Her raw and refreshing performance unlocked a new side of the 32-year-old star on the big screen. And that’s just one of her recent professional milestones. In an industry that often tries to pigeonhole people into categories, Gomez is a chameleon figure who constantly redefines what it means to be a global powerhouse today.
In the past 12 months, Gomez, who has carefully crafted her own model as a multifaceted artist, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez; won a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award for her work on the series Only Murders in the Building; her album I Said I Love You First, which she released in March with her fiancé Benny Blanco, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, becoming Gomez’s fourth leader on that list; and, through her Rare Impact Fund, Gomez continues to work to increase young people’s access to mental health resources.
Now, on April 24, she will be honored as Woman of the Year at the annual Billboard Women in Latin Music gala. “I think every time women support each other and show solidarity, it’s really something beautiful and important,” Gomez tells Billboard. “I have to say that being honored at Women in Latin Music is incredibly special to me. My Mexican heritage is something that has influenced me my whole life, and I never lose sight of how important representation is. Throughout the years I’ve been doing this, some of the most supportive women in the entertainment industry I’ve met have been other Latinas. I love the bond we all share.”
Named in honor of her fellow Texan, the legendary Selena Quintanilla, Gomez – whose paternal grandparents are Mexican – rose to fame as a child actress on Barney & Friends at the age of 10 and later starred in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place as Alex Russo, an ultra-cool and bold teenage wizard. But perhaps her career as a music artist is what solidified her status as a pop icon, with 42 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart across all genres and seven albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, including three No. 1s. Although she has mainly recorded in English, Gomez has always stayed close to her roots, and recording in Spanish seemed almost inevitable.
Her first major success in Latin music came in 2019, thanks to her collaboration on DJ Snake’s “Taki Taki” with hitmakers Ozuna and Cardi B. The song debuted at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs in 2018 and spent 13 weeks at the top. Since then, Gomez has continued to explore her Latin roots, releasing her first Spanish-language EP, Revelación, in March 2021. The EP debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, making Gomez the first female artist to achieve this feat since 2017.
In addition to her successful music career, Gomez has also made a name for herself as a philanthropist and advocate for mental health. In 2020, she launched the Rare Impact Fund, which aims to increase access to mental health resources for underserved communities. She has also been open about her own struggles with mental health and has used her platform to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Gomez’s impact goes beyond her professional achievements. She has also been a vocal advocate for social justice issues, using her platform to speak out against racism and police brutality. She has also been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has used her music and social media to promote inclusivity and acceptance.
As she continues to break barriers and redefine what it means to be a successful artist in today’s industry, Gomez remains grounded and grateful for her journey. “I’m just really grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had and the people that I’ve met along the way,” she says. “I think it’s important to always stay true to yourself and your roots, and to never forget where you came from.” With her talent, determination, and passion for making a positive impact, Selena Gomez is a true inspiration and a deserving recipient of the Billboard Women in Latin Music Woman of the Year award.