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Who Are Selena Gomez’s Parents? A Look at Her Roots
Selena Gomez is one of the most recognizable names in the entertainment world today, but her journey began with two key figures—her parents, Mandy Teefey and Ricardo “Rick” Gomez. Both have significantly shaped her life and career in their unique ways. Let’s take a closer look at who they are and the paths they’ve taken.
Mandy Teefey: Selena’s Mother
Mandy Teefey gave birth to Selena at just 16. Growing up in Grand Prairie, Texas, Mandy encountered the hurdles of being a young mom. She juggled multiple jobs to support Selena, driven by the determination to provide her daughter with a better upbringing than her own. Mandy has mentioned that becoming a teen mom motivated her to work hard and stay focused.
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Acting was a passion for Mandy too. She tried her hand at acting, getting roles in commercials and local productions. One day, she took young Selena to one of her rehearsals. That moment lit a spark in Selena’s interest in acting. By the time she was 7, Selena was already giving her mom advice on how to make her scenes funnier! Mandy soon realized her daughter had caught the acting bug.
Apart from being Selena’s biggest supporter, Mandy is also her creative partner. Together, they co-produced projects like 13 Reasons Why and co-founded the mental health platform Wondermind, showing that their relationship goes beyond just family ties.
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As Selena’s career took off, Mandy stepped in as her manager, helping her navigate the early years of fame. Along with Mandy’s husband, Brian Teefey, they managed Selena until 2014, when Selena chose to explore a new path on her own.
Brian Teefey: Selena’s Stepfather
Mandy married Brian Teefey in 2006, when Selena was a teenager. Brian also became a key part of Selena’s early career, helping to manage her rise to fame. Although Selena eventually parted ways with their management, the family bond remained strong.
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Brian has been a steady presence in Selena’s life, often showing up to support her at events and cheering her on from behind the scenes. Beyond Selena, he’s also dedicated to his management company, LH7, and his role as a father to Gracie, Selena’s younger sister.
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Brian and Mandy welcomed Gracie, in 2013. Selena often shares how close she is to her little sister, taking her along to red carpet events and other functions.
Rick Gomez: Selena’s Dad
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Selena’s father, Rick Gomez, was also a young parent. He and Mandy split up when Selena was five, but Rick has remained supportive of her, even from afar. Selena has shared some sweet childhood memories of spending time with him. For instance, she fondly recalls watching basketball games with him at Hooters, where her presence as a little girl never failed to capture the waitresses’ attention.
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Even though he’s not heavily involved in Selena’s everyday life, Rick sometimes shares about her and their time together on social media. He’s remarried and has two kids with his wife, Sara, but he continues to take pride in Selena and all she’s achieved. While he keeps a lower profile than Mandy, he occasionally shares posts about Selena and his family life on social media.
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Selena and Her Mexican Heritage
Selena has often talked about her Mexican heritage, which she gets from her dad. Her full name, Selena Marie Gomez, was inspired by the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, a pioneer in Latin music.
In recent years, Selena has embraced her cultural background more openly. In 2021, she released her first Spanish-language EP, Revelación. She worked with vocal coaches and translators to make sure her Spanish was authentic and captured the nuances of the language. This effort sparked discussions about what it means to be “Latina enough,” especially for those like Selena, who grew up in the U.S.
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