American singer, songwriter, actress, producer and entrepreneur. She began her career as a child actress, starring in the children's television series Barney and Friends. Gomez rose to fame and became a teen idol for her starring role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. She signed with Hollywood Records in 2008, and as lead vocalist, she formed the pop rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene, and released three studio albums between 2009 and 2011; each of the band's releases received gold or higher certification from the RIAA