Look at Her Now! A Journey Through Selena Gomez's Stunning Evolution

Selena Gomez has created such a huge name for herself as a singer, big-screen actress, and style star that it's easy to forget that she got her start on the Disney Channel, playing the lead role of Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place from 2008 to 2012. While Selena's journey has included its fair share of ups and downs, it's worth noting that the 27-year-old actress and singer just experienced a lot of the same things that many women in their 20s go through; friends coming and going, relationships falling apart (and rekindling), doing a little partying, and even getting tattoos. We're taking a look back at Selena's evolution from cute Disney kid to smokin' hot Hollywood star — scroll through to see the memorable moments.

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May 2007
Getty | Lester Cohen

May 2007

A fresh-faced Selena attended the LA premiere of Shrek the Third.

May 2007
Getty | Steve Granitz

May 2007

She walked the red carpet at the Anaheim, CA, premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

August 2007
Getty | Jason Merritt

August 2007

Selena posed with Minnie Mouse at the Disneyland premiere of High School Musical 2 in Anaheim, CA.

February 2008
Getty | Dimitrios Kambouris

February 2008

A young Selena and Demi Lovato posed together at a Chevy event in LA.

June 2008
Getty | Mark Sullivan

June 2008

Selena posed with a pair of young fans at an AIDS benefit event in LA.

July 2008
Getty | Jean Baptiste Lacroix

July 2008

She struck a pose at the VH1 Rock Honors event in LA.

August 2008
Getty | K Mazur/TCA 2008

August 2008

At the Teen Choice Awards in LA, Selena met up with her pals Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus.

August 2008
Getty | Alberto E. Rodriguez

August 2008

Selena got glammed up for a night out with Jessica Alba at the ALMA Awards in LA.

September 2008
Getty | Michael Tran

September 2008

Selena was all smiles during an autograph signing for Wizards of Waverly Place fans in NYC.

September 2008
Getty | John Shearer

September 2008

Selena stayed close to Taylor Swift at the LA premiere of Another Cinderella Story.

October 2008
Getty | Frazer Harrison

October 2008

She hit the catwalk for Runway For Life in LA.

October 2008
Getty | Brian Ach

October 2008

Selena launched the first ever Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in NYC.

November 2008
Getty | John Shearer

November 2008

Selena showed off her new bangs at the CNN Heroes event in LA.

June 2009
Getty | Michael Tran

June 2009

She posed with her mom, Mandy Teefey, at an LA charity carnival.

August 2009
Getty | John Shearer/TCA 2009

August 2009

Selena accepted the Teen Choice Award for choice Summer TV star at the ceremony in LA.

September 2009
Getty | Jason LaVeris

September 2009

Selena and her Wizards of Waverly Place costars celebrated their outstanding children's program win at the Creative Emmy Awards.

October 2009
Getty | Michael Bezjian

October 2009

Selena turned heads in a black dress at the Hollywood Style Awards in LA.

November 2009
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November 2009

She linked up with Shakira at the American Music Awards in LA.

December 2009
Getty | Kevin Winter/DCNYRE2010

December 2009

A young Selena and Justin Bieber hugged while attending New Year's Rockin' Eve in Las Vegas.

July 2010
Getty | Vallery Jean

July 2010

Selena and her Ramona and Beezus costar Joey King promoted the film together at a Miami meet-and-greet event.

July 2010
Getty | John Parra

July 2010

Selena sat front row with Kim Kardashian for the Beach Bunny Swimwear fashion show in Miami.

September 2010
Getty | Gregg DeGuire

September 2010

Selena seemed to be breaking out of her shell in a sexy silver dress at the MTV VMAs in LA.

December 2010
Getty | Kevin Mazur

December 2010

She sang her heart out at the Jingle Ball in NYC.

January 2011
Getty | Christopher Polk

January 2011

Selena and Taylor Swift celebrated their respective People's Choice Award wins — favorite breakout artist and favorite country artist — backstage at the ceremony in LA.

February 2011
Getty | Jason Merritt

February 2011

A mature-looking Selena waved to her fans at the LA premiere of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.

February 2011
Getty | Gregg DeGuire

February 2011

Selena and Justin Bieber had a very adult-looking date night at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in LA.

March 2011
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March 2011

She and Justin Bieber showed major PDA while on vacation together in Maui.

April 2011
Getty | Jason Merritt

April 2011

She shared a sweet hug with Cory Monteith on the Kids' Choice Awards red carpet in LA.

May 2011
Getty | Kevin Mazur

May 2011

Selena and Justin Bieber cuddled up in their seats at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

May 2011
Getty | Gregg DeGuire

May 2011

She showed some cleavage during a performance at KIIS FM's Wango Tango show in LA.

June 2011
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June 2011

Selena blew a kiss to the camera at the MTV Movie Awards in LA.

August 2011
Getty | Jason Merritt

August 2011

Selena buddied up with Demi Lovato at the Teen Choice Awards in LA.

November 2011
Getty | Kevin Mazur

November 2011

For the MTV Europe Awards, Selena wore a flirty dress and heels.

November 2011
Getty | Steve Granitz

November 2011

She kept the glamour going at the American Music Awards, where she and boyfriend Justin Bieber showed PDA on the red carpet.

February 2012
Getty | Christopher Polk/VF12

February 2012

Selena brought her mom, Mandy Teefey, as her lovely date to the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in LA.

March 2012
Getty | Steve Granitz

March 2012

Selena showed some skin at the Kids' Choice Awards in LA.

March 2012
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March 2012

Selena hit the beach while filming Spring Breakers in Florida.

April 2012
Getty | Noel Vasquez

April 2012

She and on-again boyfriend Justin Bieber were on the Kiss Cam during an LA Lakers game.

July 2012
Getty | Kevin Winter

July 2012

Selena celebrated her 20th birthday on stage at the Teen Choice Awards in LA.

September 2012
Getty | Venturelli

September 2012

Selena stunned on the red carpet at her first Venice Film Festival, where she premiered Spring Breakers with Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, James Franco, and director Harmony Korine.

November 2012
Getty | Theo Wargo

November 2012

Selena was the recipient of a Glamour woman of the year award at the annual ceremony in NYC.

November 2012
Getty | Steve Granitz

November 2012

She announced a global partnership with the Adidas NEO label at a big event in LA.

January 2013
Getty | Gregg DeGuire

January 2013

Selena went short and glitzy for the InStyle Golden Globes afterparty in LA.

February 2013
Getty | Luca Teuchmann

February 2013

Selena slipped into a sexy pantsuit and posed with her Spring Breakers costars Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens at the film's premiere in Germany.

March 2013
Getty | Michael Buckner

March 2013

Selena showed off her figure at the SXSW screening of Spring Breakers in Austin.

March 2013
Getty | Christopher Polk/KCA2013

March 2013

She palled around with Katy Perry and Kristen Stewart at the Kids' Choice Awards in LA.

April 2013
Getty | Kevork Djansezian

April 2013

Selena caught some flak around the time her single "Come & Get It" was released in 2013; many groups found her wearing of bindis — as well as her Indian-inspired performance at the MTV Movie Awards — offensive.

May 2013
Getty | Kevin Mazur

May 2013

Despite the backlash over her performance, Selena hit the stage in similar Indian-inspired garb at the Billboard Music Awards.

August 2013
Getty | Kevin Mazur

August 2013

Taylor Swift and Selena matched their dresses for the MTV VMAs in NYC.

August 2013
Getty | Jon Kopaloff

August 2013

Selena walked the red carpet with Ethan Hawke at the LA premiere of their action flick, Getaway.

October 2013
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October 2013

Selena relaxed in a bikini with friends during a break from her Stars Dance tour in Miami.

November 2013
Getty | Paul Archuleta

November 2013

To launch her supersexy cover for Flaunt magazine, Selena wore an equally sultry look at a party in her honor in Beverly Hills, CA.

December 2013
Getty | Kevin Mazur

December 2013

She vamped things up during a performance at Z100's Jingle Ball in NYC.

January 2014
Getty | Stefanie Keenan

January 2014

Selena partied with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon at the Stand Up to Cancer benefit event in LA.

March 2014
Getty | Jon Kopaloff

March 2014

Selena stepped out solo for Vanity Fair's post-Oscars bash in LA.

March 2014
Getty | Kevin Mazur/KCA2014

March 2014

Selena took home the Kids' Choice Award for favorite female singer at the annual ceremony in LA.

April 2014
Getty | JB Lacroix

April 2014

Selena wore a little black dress for the Alliance For Children's Rights dinner in LA.

July 2014
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July 2014

After going braless in NYC and sporting a bustier look, rumors swirled that Selena had gone under the knife.

July 2014
Getty | Venturelli

July 2014

Selena showed off her new tattoo while attending the Ischia Global Film and Music Festival in Italy.

November 2014
Getty | Lester Cohen

November 2014

Selena delivered a heart wrenching performance of her single "The Heart Wants What It Wants" at the American Music Awards.

May 2015
Getty | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

May 2015

Selena stole the show at the Met Gala in a backless white Vera Wang gown. It's official, folks: she's all grown up.

November 2015
Getty | Dimitrios Kambouris

November 2015

The singer outshone the models at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show when she took the stage and delivered an amazing performance of her hit songs, "Can't Keep my Hands to Myself" and "My Girls."

May 2016
Getty | Denise Truscello

May 2016

After kicking off her Revival Tour, the star celebrated with a sexy night out in Sin City.

November 2016
Getty | Allen Berezovsky

November 2016

Selena stunned in a fiery red dress at the American Music Awards in LA.

March 2017
Getty | David Livingston

March 2017

Selena sported a shimmery orange ensemble at the LA premiere of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why.

May 2017
Getty | Karwai Tang

May 2017

Attending the Comme des Garçons-inspired Met Gala, Selena rocked a breezy gown with floral details.

December 2017
Getty | Jeff Spicer

December 2017

By the end of 2017, Selena had a new blonde 'do, which she showed off during a visit to Kiss FM Studio in London.

February 2018
Getty | Jamie McCarthy

February 2018

Selena sported her classic wispy bangs while attending the Coach 1941 show during New York Fashion Week.

June 2018
Getty | Jon Kopaloff

June 2018

Selena looked bright and radiant at the premiere of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation in LA.

May 2019
Getty | George Pimentel

May 2019

Selena emanated pure elegance at the Cannes Film Festival screening of The Dead Don't Die.

June 2019
Getty | Michael Loccisano

June 2019

Selena modeled a fun feathery number at the NYC premiere of The Dead Don't Die.

October 2019
Getty | Noam Galai

October 2019

Selena kept it casual-cool while visiting SiriusXM Studios in NYC.

November 2019
Getty | David Crotty

November 2019

Selena looked like a million bucks on the AMA Awards red carpet in NYC.

February 2020
Getty | Tibrina Hobson

February 2020

Selena was a walking fantasy as she rocked a blush cape dress at the Hollywood Beauty Awards.