These are pictures of Selena Gomez before and after her appearance last week on David Letterman’s show. My 12-year-old daughter is still somewhat fascinated with the Disney Channel, so I am very familiar with Selena’s multi-year turn on “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Selena played a wise-cracking middle child in a family full of magical talents. The show lasted four seasons and was pretty good (by Disney standards) for half the run. Then producers started introducing vampires and werewolves, and all bets were off.
In the aftermath of her Disney run, Selena tried her hand at “mature” roles with Spring Breakers, but she still played the wholesome girl of the bunch. Unlike fellow Disney alum Miley Cyrus, Selena has yet to fully disrobe beyond a bikini. Selena might not be the most talented singer out there, but she does possess charisma and a good stage presence. She lipsynchs in concert, but so does everyone else. Selena talks here with a few sources about how she feels pressured to “be sexy” as a pop star:
On her wholesome image: “Everyday I get told I’m not sexy enough or I’m not cool enough or if I did this or if I did that, I would have people who love me.”
Would she take it off like Miley Cyrus? “Hey, I don’t judge people. But to each their own. I think everybody has a journey and you feel you have to love at the end of the day.”
On leaving the child-star label: “There is not really a formula. I don’t really know if I have fully made the transition yet. I feel like half the time I feel like I’m 15 and then I feel like I’m 21 then I feel like I’m 30 when I’m sitting at home by myself on a Friday night watching the same episode of Friends.”
[From The Ben Davis and Kelly K radio show & Daily Mail]
It must be a ridiculous feeling to feel constantly compared with the likes of Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. Gaga has been flashing booty on Twitter for her latest single, and Miley has been straddling a wrecking ball, and media outlets expect Selena to do the same. Thankfully, she is resisting. Girl may have had the bad judgment to date Justin Bieber, but she does still possess common sense. Of course the lack of interest in this Selena post will only reflect that Miley and Gaga are the “savvier” pop stars. Sad.
Photos courtesy of WENN
This is amazIng! Good for Selena!
Yeah, I really like her. Even if I never heard her sing or act. She just comes across as a classy young woman, something that seems rare nowadays. She has such a baby face, she should do ensemble tv/movies as a character actor so she develops her skills and has steady income. There’s nothing wrong with that. I should be a manager lol
I like her too! Now I have heard her sing live on TV and she was definitely not lip-syncing then because she was slightly off key…I’m sure she does lip-sync, but not 100% of the time. Either way, she puts on a solid/entertaining show with some cool dance moves that isn’t trashy.
She is a very charismatic woman! She made me laugh out loud on David Letterman, and she has the kind of presence on stage that can’t be taught. I will admit though, that I abhor that “when your ready, come and get it” song. What kind of crappy message is that?
love her just wish my 15 year old daughter still did. unfortunatley she is team miley now 🙁
Selena has a lot of poise and a lot of class. As someone almost ten years older then her, I admire that about her. I think she holds herself in a very cool and mature way, and you believe she is in control, even if she’s not. She doesn’t need to shake her ass to get attention. She’s got the girl next door thing going for her and she should stick with it. Hilary Duff doesn’t have a single thing to regret and people look fondly on her. I’d rather be remembered like Hilary than like Lindsay or Paris, which is the territory Miley will find herself in if she doesn’t tread lightly.
Totally agree. Also it’s sexy to be classy and poised! What Miley and Gaga are doing isn’t sexy, it’s trashy. There’s a difference. Like you said, Selena at this point can look back without regrets, other than having dating the Biebs for far too long.
I hope Selena goes on to have a long and healthy career. Young girls need to know they are more than just sexual objects. Do we really want the standards for our daughters to be set by people like Terry Richardson?
She can’t sing, can’t act and doesn’t write her songs. She hasn’t got much going for her, other than beauty, which is apparently enough. I don’t listen to Gaga, I don’t like her, but if I’m correct, she writes her songs, so I respect her more than Selena.
I hate crop tops.
THIS!
+ 1000
She was good in Spring Breakers, which was otherwise terrible.
Testify!!
I’m still mad about the money I spent to take my niece see this piece of wood. I just don’t buy the “wholesome good girl trying to transition into an adult” act. She was wasted and slurring her speech at the GG this year, where was that story? Did they even try to cover that here??
I haven’t heard about that, Sunlily. What happened?
Does she still wear her purity ring?
I agree for the most part. I don’t think Selena is very talented. She can’t sing, she can’t dance, she is an ok actress, but she has ZERO stage presence.
I think she should aim for tv. It can be very rewarding financially, it is in her skill set, and it make the most of what she’s got: a sunny personality and a cute look. I see her as kind of a Rachel Bilson/Sarah Michelle Gellar. Considering how the quality of tv has gone up in recent years, I think this would be a great career path for her.
+ 10000
@Spooks:http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/74740861.html
She may not be Brandi Glanville messy, but she’s definitely buzzed and there’s a slur to her speech. Tipsy is a better word.
PS. Bonus Vanessa Hudgens in the background itching her nose. *side eye*
+1 I watched the video where she falls off the stage and was completely gobsmacked at how little charisma/stage presence she had. Girl, you’re not even singing live for crying out loud, can’t you muster up some stinking energy and command your stage? Ridic.
I like that she has common sense. She always comes across as very grounded and a good person in interviews. Aside from her connection to Beiber, I really like her – and this is coming from a 25 year old.
I saw her in concert with my little sister and she takes time to talk to the audience and says some very motivational things before launching into “Who Says”
Ugh, she described my thirty year old life perfectly. Sitting at home on a Friday, watching a Friends rerun. Though usually it’s Parks and Recreation.
Anyway, I feel bad that she has that pressure. I hope she doesn’t succumb to it. I don’t actually dislike Miley but I watch what she’s doing and shake my head at the idea that she feels she has to do this for attention.
I’m sure her management team displayed perfect judgement when they hooked her up with Biebs, ‘cos I hadn’t really heard of her until then!
Sad that she’s basically saying that the only way to “grow up” for Disney teens is stripping off. I can think of only Robyn as an example of a popstar who became famous at 16, then managed to have later success without showing the world her cervix, and she did it by taking a 7-8 year break.
I love this girl. She is so flipping cute.
+1000
I’m taking my tween to see her concert on Friday. I don’t love her new music but do think she is making the transition better than most.
The soft braid she is wearing in the last pictures is SO much better than that hideous one she’s got going on outside Letterman. Who’s terrible idea was that?!
I thought that too. She’s such a pretty girl.
And the bare midriff makes her look thick or bloated. Or she’s on her P.
She just doesn’t have IT. And Britney lip synchs better! At least she actually moves her lips
But what’s funny is, even though she isn’t the more successful or prolific pop star, I would definitely assume that more straight guys or gay gals would think Selena was way sexier Miley. I don’t think that what the Mileys or Gagas are doing is being “sexy”, it’s really just being in your face outrageous in order to get attention- good or bad, as long as someone is talking. When I look at pictures of Selena I think god she is gorgeous and stylish I’d love to set her up with my best friend! When I look at Miley it’s just oy, I’d like to give her a bath…not a sexy time one.
Oh and I love how she described how she feels as a 21 year old, kind of in between being a kid and being an adult- very much how I felt at that age.
Well said.
Yeah, I’m bi and have a MASSIVE crush on Selena. She’s gorgeous and her music is really fun. I’d take her over Miley any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
+1 Momo
I was wondering why she sometimes dresses so adult. Still… imagine being told that “every day!” and she is such a pretty and yes, sexy, gal. That’s horrible. And yet who else would be telling her that except her team – manager and/or agent?
Go Selena!! I don’t get the Bieber thing either but I like her attitude and think she should stick with what she’s doing and be herself.
p.s. Also if she was one of those ‘others’ she would have been trained not to be honest and authentic and that would be a true loss.
I don’t listen to music from Miley or Gaga, and also not Selena Gomez, but Selena gets a lot more respect from me. She is carving her own way, trying to keep her career up after the Disney years and it looks like she is being quite successful without having to build an all persona that it’s not her. I don’t think she will ever be an Oscar actress, but there’s space for her in the industry and I hope she stays around.
+1
I’ve always liked Selena, no joke. She’s not the strongest singer but she’s gorgeous and really classy.
Great. She can’t sing, but let her be a singer because she’s pretty. What a great world we live in.
Um, that’s not what i said at all? I’m merely pointing out that she’s not the strongest singer. I’m not asking for Grammys to be thrown her way or anything like that. Why are you so offended by my comment? Chill out.
Call me shallow, but I like to look at pretty people. They fascinate me. It’s like living art.
You know everyone does not have the same musical taste. I love Selena’s voice. And if you can see she does chart on Billboard and her albums sell. So apparently I am not the only one who does. She is better at being down to earth than her counterparts and people need that kind of person around.
I like Selena too.
When so many untalented lip synching popstars are miming sex acts and posing in a raunchy race to the bottom, I find it refreshing to see an admittedly weak singer succeeding on her own merits and eschewing the vulgar conformity of her peers.
Selena was very good in ‘Spring Breakers’ and may have an acting future ahead of her. Time will tell, but as others have posted, she’ll have no regrets (other than Bieber).
Unfortunately Selena has a baby face, which she will appreciate when she gets older, but right now it just makes her cute. I like Selena and hopefully she tells her management to shove it because you can’t force sexy. To me, the sexiest thing is being comfortable in your own skin. (which I didn’t learn until well into my late 20’s)
To me, most baby faces end up looking rather weird when they mature, like Leonardo DiCaprio or Molly Ringwald.
Agree, baby faces don’t age well.
Hey, I happen to have a baby face myself and even though I’m 35 I’m told all the time I look 28, we don’t all end up looking weird, it just takes longer for our faces to thin out.
She is just so much naturally prettier than GaGa and Miley. (Although, bad taste aside, Miley is cute, but not as classically pretty as Selena).
I saw her a few years ago perform on some Billboard awards or something (‘Like a Love Song’?). She was so dull that it was possible to lose sight of her as she was crossing the stage.
As a poster above said, she doesn’t have IT. I’m sure she’s a nice person but there’s nothing interesting about her at all, no matter what couture she wears.
She’s such a pretty girl. That casual outfit is adorable on her.
haha, her idea of what it’s like to be 30 is sitting at home watching re-runs of Friends?
girl, you clearly do not know what it’s like to be 30.
30 isn’t dead, idiot.
17 year olds do that.
50 year olds do that.
30 year olds do that.
each aged person also does more than that too. lol
Oh, please. She plays sexy as much as the others, she’s just not full on trashy ala Miley or Rihanna. She can’t sing, she can’t act, she’ll be gone as soon as the beauty starts fading. When has it become acceptable not to sing at your OWN concerts? I mean, I could understand if she wrote the songs but doesn’t have the best voice, but she doesn’t even do that. Plus, one of her songs was clearly anti-feminist.
THIS! I’m sick of people getting by on looks rather than talent.
Which song was anti-feminist?
Ugh I can’t stand that song!! It makes me think she’s sitting around waiting for Bieber.
She needs to ditch the people telling her that (record label? Manager?) and focus on talent more than sexy. She may not be whatever everyone is talking about, like Miley right now, but that sort of thing is short lived and usually ends badly.
If she’s standing her ground, then good for her. She’s pretty and maybe she can find a spot that works for her. The hot ticket of the moment will eventually flame out anyway.
That’s sad that people (her management team?!) are pressuring her to play sexy. For every Miley and Gaga there are Kelly Clarksons and Taylor Swifts who are doing just fine with their clothes on.
Well, she’s cute as a bug’s ear, which doesn’t really translate well to sexy. She’s probably going to have a baby face forever – hard to do ‘sultry’ with that.
I’m 30 with a 12 year old tween of a niece and I absolutely love her as Alex on Wizards and I always thought her acting came across as very natural. As for her music ….meh but I do think she’s charming and adorable, and because she’s still somewhat maintained her wholesomeness( I said somewhat) I don’t really fuss at about my niece still loving her
Why does she care if someone tells her she isn’t sexy enough? And if she is complaining about it she might want to remember that she dated a toddler for a couple of years and that just isn’t sexy. Yes, I know that relationship was created in a publicists office but she played the role. Also she is tiny like a child. She is very pretty though and I have to say I like that song she had out awhile ago. Can’t even remember any words to it though. Would never buy anything she is selling though but then again I would never buy any thing most of those crappy kids are selling anyway.
does anyone what sunglasses she is wearing?
I don’t think she has a lot of career choices and should go back to TV. Miley may be trashy but she can sing, Gaga writes her own songs. As far as movies go she’s wayyy behind the long list of it girls who are also really talented (JLaw, Mia, Saoirse etc).
I have hair envy with her and that soft braid. She has great hair.
Dont feel bad. Definitely fake!
I love Selena, and I think she’s beautiful!
Me2
She’s GORGEOUS and so young still- you can tell she’ll be gorgeous as she ages: like Salma Hayek. I just saw her on Barney (watching with my toddler) and clearly she’s always been cute.
I don’t know her music, but it is depressing that she is being pressured to take on some persona that is not her own.
She seems like she has her shit together.
I like Selena as an actress and person but as a singer..not so much, ugh. Well, anyway, I hope she doesn’t fall in the common pop-naked-fame level as Miley and the others. Spring Breaks was already bad enough..
that shade red lipstick is not her friend.
she looks 1000000x better in the last pictures, in all the ways she and her managers want/should want: mature and sexy without trying too hard. the top shots, ugh, trying way too hard -unflattering.
I have always liked Selena.She was never the most talented of the Disney kids- not the best singer or best actress – but when my son was watching those shows, she always seemed the most likeable to me. I want her to do well. Would love to see her focus more on acting and really learn her craft. I think she can do it and am rooting for her. She’s certainly a gorgeous girl, and yes, smart is sexy too!
I think she’s gonna be alright and may make it out of all this relatively unscathed.
I read in an interview with her around the time of spring breakers. The journalist said she was smart and appeared wise beyond her years, that she often appeared as if she was the most mature person in the room. They said at the time she was not with bieber but the word was that justins manager tried to get her to see bieber because he felt selena grounds bieber. It made it sound as if she is mommying Bieber to an extent.
I really hope she doesn’t eventually cave in to the pressure. Besides, the way things are going right now, keeping her clothes on might turn out to be one of the few things that differentiates her from all the other female starlets. Oh, and I hope she never goes back to Bieber again.
+1.
I was just scrolling down to write the same thing. I hope she doesn’t cave into the pressure which I’m sure is intense. It would be nice to see a strong willed young woman stand up to the powers that be for once.
Poor kid… this interview makes me sad. She seems kind of lost and I always see sadness in her eyes. Hopefully she doesn’t give in to the pressure to become a sexpot.
good for her, and I give her a lot of credit she handles these stupid questions about Miley and Gaga with a lot of tact so she either has a lot of class or a great publicist that she is smart enough to listen to.
Selena actually has a real edge over Miley and Gaga. The fact that most people want her to succeed. Maybe not exactly ‘want her to succeed’ but don’t mind if she tries. This is a huge help, I wish someone could tell her that and help her use it. I feel everyone is up in arms over Miley because nobody wanted her on the scene in the first place and she just rudely inserted herself. Too pushy. People respond better to Selena’s kind of approach. Yes, she’s shaking off the Disney image and she’s taken her clothes off but she is not trying to bully us into accepting her as a regular pop culture fixture like Miley and Gaga are doing.
I like her. “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” and “Love You Like a Love Song” are both in heavy rotation on my playlist. I think she’s sexy in a toned down, playful kind of way, rather than being in-your-face. I’d be happy if she did well – she seems cool and she deserves good things.
I love that she has her assistant holding that enormous bag of hers in the first photo, lol. I personally love Selena and honestly I’ve never been disappointed by any of her hit radio songs. The videos are sexy, too, and I think she executes having sex appeal while still being relatively modest by today’s standards exceptionally well!
No way is she sexy and personally, I don’t think she ever could be. Her face is babyish and she has no oomph, when she talks in interviews, her mannish voice actually sounds bored. But it’s not a bad thing the no-sexy route, although I claim she is still trying to be with Come and Get it and the way she dresses at times, but think even she knows (likely from comments) that it’s just not working for her. But the problem with Selena is her voice/singing is not good enough without the sexy hook to distract. And she has a bland presence on stage. So sexy is likely the default and distraction for minimal singing talent she likely wants.
Selena sexy??? Of course not!! When did chipmunks become sexy??? Between her chippy face and Miley’s beaver one, they are both more suited to cartoons, than sexy!!
Hang in there, Selena… don’t sell out!
I must confess I don’t much care for her music, but she seems all right as a person, she carries herself well in a parallel universe where young ladies are required nudity and sex to be adored. It seems to me she knows her worth, and that, I can take as role model for my children.
Please Selena, don’t turn into another Miley.
Selena doesn’t have the best voice it’s average at best but I rather listen to her singing than Miley voice to me is just awful. I don’t get why people are praise Miley singing Or song writing she didn’t write any of new songs on her new cd at all she did’nt write any songs when she with disney on her own. She had help Selena Gomez is a class act I bet you won’t see Selena or Taylor swift taking pictures with that pervert uncle terry
Well, she’s right: she isn’t sexy. Because she still looks and sings like a child. Her being pressured to take on a “sexy” image seriously creeps me out.
I don’t get the hype over this girl. She’s pretty but isn’t overflowing with talent otherwise. Her vocal delivery is always flat and strangely emotionless.
Bah. I’m so sick of these teenyboppers. NEXT.
She has such a baby face and has no sexy in her at all. If I was her, i would concentrate on a TV career, with her limited vocals and dancing, best she leaves the music to more talented singers.
And I can’t take her seriously as she dates baby-Bieber. And she took him back and she just cried about him. All this for a wee little douche like him, and sorry, but that speaks volumes about her if she was into him!!
She is so far from looking and being sexy hard to believe her handlers are stupid enough to suggest that route. Selena looks 12, dated Bieber and giggles about boys with Taylor, she is an 11 year old girl in spirit and that ain’t sexy at all.
Yes Selena, believe it, you are NOT sexy.
Who’s telling her she’s not sexy enough? Her PR team? I know for while there it seemed like every promo for her was about her being so sexy, when in fact she looks really young and innocent. Let her be what she is and roll with it.
Selina Gomez might be “PG” rated and plays a conservative game but she is not having public meltdowns, saying unfounded things or things that don’t make sense, bragging about drug use, and have presumed untreated psychological issues. Also Selina is not trying to shame others who don’t subscribe to what others ought to ware like Rashida Jones does.
LOVE those army green colored leather pants!
My 15 year old son thinks Selena is SUPER HOT. I love that she is not hyper sexual and acting like a little jerk.
I love her in that Monte Carlo movie. I know, ridiculous, but she is so pretty!
GO SELENA!
I think STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL is way better than SEXY, anyhow.
the fact that Selena does not strip down and bare all for fame and attention makes her so much more sexier than either Miles or Gagga!
Give me Selena any day over the GaGas and Mileys and Perrys, she’s got so much more depth. Plus she does more charity work than the other 3 put together!
& can we just talk about the pics of her with the sunglasses on? from the waist up she looks stunning, I only wish my hair ever looked as casually perfect as that (albeit without obvious extensions). le sigh. she is one of those people with divine casual dress sense, her ‘done up’ can be very hit or miss.
I saw a video of her concert performance a few days ago…her dancing was simply awful…and no she didn’t look sexy! I agree with other posters in that tv is the way she should go…loved her on wizards
I’m not really fan of SG, although I don’t dislike her either, but I really, really, really hope she doesn’t go the way of Gaga or Miley. She doesn’t need to. And she is plenty sexy enough. You don’t need to take off all of your clothes to be sexy.
I still remember her playing Ciara on Barney and Friends (my niece was a serious fan back then). She was on the same episodes as Demi Lovato. She does have presence. Don’t let people tell you what to do Selina.
The only time I was disappointed was when she hooked up with Diaper Baby.
I think she’s a darling. Smart, humble, funny and very beautiful.
I’d take her over that white trash, latex diaper wearing, teddy bear humping, miley Cyrus any day. For real Miley, put some clothes on and scrape your tongue and then MAYBE we’ll talk..
I’m 24 and on Friday nights when I’m not working at the hospital I’m typically in my pajamas watching American Horror Story or some movie versus going out. I respect her mother than I do Miley or Gaga combined. She is able to pull off sexy- though it weirds me out to call her that given her younger age to my older LOL
I know her from Wizards. I still watch the show, I like it and think it is pretty good. Reminds me of Even Stevens when Disney was good. Now the whole lot on Disney and Nickelodeon don’t even try to make their lines believable but rather just loud speaking with no tone. Horrible. I do hope she does drop the singing career and goes after television work. I remember hearing the theme to Wizards and I was like ‘no’. Not bad but she’d have more success in television.
I think she has the same jawline as Bethanny Frankel…bulimia jawline. It just looks better and less noticeable on Salena cause she is so much younger with 100 times better skin and a fuller face over all than that wrinkled up thing called Bethanny IMO
It’s a shame that she’s being pressured to be sexier than she wants to be. On the one hand she said that after years of wholesomeness, it felt liberating for her to take on a wilder role, but on the other hand it’s clear that she doesn’t want to be pushed into an image that would be inauthentic and forced. Everyone has their own personal preferences and comfort zones.
Even though the girl is talentless, there’s something likeable about her personality. And even though it’s clear that she doesn’t want a Miley Cyrus/Lady Gaga image makeover, she’s also not willing to play the scarlet-lettering virgin/whore game to paint herself as superior. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for artists like Taylor Swift and Charlotte Church, who definitely have played that game.
I don’t want all female artists in the music industry to be the same, or feel that they have to all have to conform to one image in order to be accepted by society. I want there to be room for Adele, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keyes, Norah Jones, Janelle M., as well as Pink and Christina Aguilera, and Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony, and yes, even Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. Diversity.
I like the list of women you have going on here. However with Keys affair with Swizz Beatz I just can’t put her in any type of list that is positive for women. But I do agree.
And she will continue to not be seen as “sexy enough” if she continues to obsess over & date a boy that looks like a 12 year old girl.
She gorgeous and has a great personality. I couldn’t care less about “savvy” pop stars.
The thing is, when an artist has no talent, people want her to be sexy at least; which sucks, because men don’t have half of this pressure.
It’s true, She looks like a little girl playing dress up. The clothes were her. She should enjoy being young. That’s what being in Hollywood is doing to her, messing with her head.
Bravo Selena! I for one am so thankful that there are still some stars out there that keep their kit on.
That being said, isn’t it kind of odd that we have praise those that actually keep their clothes on because naked popstars have become the norm??
shish. If she is not sexy or cool enough, where does that leave the rest of us? I think she is gorgeous and is doing just fine. Who tells her that she is not enough?
Her vocals are…cringe-inducing live, though I do like her personality. Taylor’s much better in concert.
She looks gorgeous, sophisticated and classy, Miley and Co look needy, dumb and cheap.
She should train her voice though, singing bad or lip syncing is just awful. But since Beyonce even dared to lip sync at the presidential inauguration, it seems anything is acceptable.
The last 2 pics, she looks amazing. Having sex appeal or being “sexy” doesn’t necessarily equate baring your a$$ for all to see. Wish these young artists could get that. She sounds very well put together & that youthful face may do her favors & find her well employed for far more years than some of the other starlets that are out there; especially looking at the rate of plastic surgeries been done out there.
I’m not sure I would listen to anyone telling me that Miley and Gaga are sexy…neither one are. Selena might manage to hang on to her dignity if she just ignores such bs and remains true to herself.
I admit, I’m still hoping against hope that Selena will do the alternative thing and just stay on the right path post-Disney, post-Bieber. Now this would honestly be more shocking and newsworthy than going down the same tired, beaten track as Miley and others.