It is no secret that Selena Gomez started building her career with Disney when she was just a kid. Through her shows, she gained a fanbase that still follows her today. And it was during her acting days that she also began to focus on music, even recording a cover for ‘DisneyMania 6’ back in 2008. While she has come a long way since then- and now even has Oscar buzz for her role in Emilia Pérez- the actress recently took a moment to reflect on those early years.

Selena Gomez shared what it was really like for her to be young and famous, and how she responded to it. 

Selena Gomez recently sat down with WIRED to answer the Web’s Most Searched Questions alongside her Emilia Pérez costar, Zoe Saldaña. During the segment, Gomez was asked how she began her music career, to which she mentioned the children’s television series Barney & Friends, where she first started her acting career and occasionally tried her hand at singing as well. But soon, the singer pivoted into recalling how her song ‘Naturally’ hit number one on the dance (or club) charts when she was “not even old enough to get in the club.” 

Although Gomez was grateful for the recognition, it caught her off guard. This instance also reflected the early fame she experienced and the baggage that came with it. Gomez has opened up about her struggles with fame and public scrutiny in her 2022 documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, and she touched on these challenges once again in a recent interview with Elle while promoting her Netflix movie.

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Gomez shared how growing up in the spotlight “stunted” her development as she moved into her 20s.

Selena Gomez recently opened up about something she wishes she had known before stepping into the entertainment industry. The actress-turned-singer shared that if she could go back, she might not have entered the industry at such a young age. She explained that there were “a lot of things” she felt held her back, especially the intense "pressure" that comes with the profession she was in. 

Gomez went on to say that this constant “pressure” made it hard for her to “develop a sense of self” while she was transitioning into adulthood. “It was a very difficult time. I live with it every day," said the 39-year-old. Nonetheless, the 'Who Says' singer also concluded that she still tries to stay positive as much as she can and focus on the things she loves. 

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What do you think about Selena Gomez opening up about her early fame? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!