In a 2013 interview with ShowBizCafe about her role as The Kid in the American action thriller film Getaway, Selena Gomez admitted that she couldn’t speak Spanish despite her Hispanic heritage.
“Actually, it’s a shame because I should know [Spanish] better than I do,” the young star told the Spanish-language website devoted to movies for US Hispanics.
Selena Gomez, participating in a Bright Minds live-stream talk show with Miley Cyrus on April 8, 2020, is not able to speak Spanish (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / Avalon)
“I don’t know it very well because my dad’s side of the family, which is the Mexican side, they are in Texas and I’m always traveling and I’m working so it’s very hard for me to stay communicated … but I do wish I could buckle down and I want to actually learn it and be completely fluent, that’s probably on my bucket list.”
Third-generation American-Mexican singer Selena Gomez radiates in Prada at ACLU SoCal’s Annual Bill Of Rights Dinner 2019 held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on November 17, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / Avalon)
Gomez’s Spanish Skills and Cultural Connection
“I can understand it, I can understand a whole conversation it would just be hard for me to piece the response back,” Gomez said about her Spanish skills. She has described herself as “a proud third-generation American-Mexican.”
In 2016, she surprised fans by speaking entirely in Spanish for a 38-second commercial for Pantene.
According to experts on Quora, her Spanish is “terrible,” and “her pronunciation is similar to that of any other English-speaking American.”
Venturing into Spanish-Language Music
Just over a year after the release of her highly acclaimed 2020 album, “Rare,” Selena Gomez, a versatile artist, surprises her fans with a captivating new single.
Titled “De Una Vez,” this track marks the first time the former Disney Channel star has ventured into the realm of Spanish-language music.
Selena expressed immense pride in her Latin background: “I am incredibly proud of my Latin background.” She further explained that singing in Spanish again was an empowering experience for her, and she considers “De Una Vez” a beautiful love anthem.
Although Selena Gomez, who has Mexican heritage, isn’t fluent in Spanish, she shared her desire to improve her language skills in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2018, indicating her commitment to embracing her cultural heritage and expanding her artistic horizons.
“I look at myself in the mirror every day and think, ‘Man, I wish I knew more Spanish,'” she told the magazine. Gomez made clear she’s proud to be able to represent the Latinx community in Hollywood.
Posing with Alek Keshishian at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 15, 2022, Selena Gomez Selena Gomez can speak some Spanish, but she is not fluent (Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock)
The Challenge and Reward of Singing in Spanish
“You know what’s funny,” she added in an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, “is I actually think I sing better in Spanish. That was something I discovered. It was a lot of work, and look, you cannot mispronounce anything. It is something that needed to be precise, and needed to be respected by the audience I’m going to release this for. Of course I want everyone to enjoy the music, but I am targeting my fan base. I’m targeting my heritage, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Selena Gomez elaborated on her experience of singing in Spanish, revealing that it came to her with surprising ease.
While there were undoubtedly moments that presented specific timing challenges and quick cues to learn, Selena was grateful to be able to enunciate, speak, and effortlessly roll her Rs.
She acknowledged that these linguistic skills were already ingrained within her, allowing her to embrace the language with confidence and gratitude.
Glamorous Appearances and Fashion Choices
In February 2015, Selena Gomez joined Lady Gaga, Ashley Greene, Christina Aguilera, Emma Stone, Miley Cyrus, Irina Shayk, Diane Kruger, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the Vanity Fair party following the 2015 Academy Awards at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.
Her luscious, brown hair cascaded in long, loose waves, while Selena Gomez’s makeup featured a trendy and dramatic combination of smoky eyes and a glossy nude lip (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / Avalon)
The then-22-year-old singer and actress donned a black long-sleeved Louis Vuitton floor-length gown featuring metallic print and diagonal stripes.
Selena Gomez can’t speak Spanish despite her Hispanic heritage (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / Avalon)
She carried a Lee Savage clutch and added a dramatic touch with a glossy nude lip and smokey eyes.
Selena Gomez opted for a stunning black Louis Vuitton gown adorned with metallic prints and diagonal stripes at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 2015 Oscars in Beverly Hills on February 22, 2015 (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / Avalon)
While admittedly stunning, we prefer seeing Selena in more colorful ensembles. Do you agree that her outfit needed a pop of color?