Mexican-American superstar Selena Gomez is not only one of the most influential figures in music, film, and television but also deeply connected to her Latino roots through her father. Ricardo "Rick" Joel Gómez is a Mexican-American whose family immigrated to the United States.
Though born in Texas, Selena has always embraced her paternal heritage. Her name itself honors the iconic singer Selena Quintanilla, a symbol of pride for the Mexican-American community.
Rick's parents, Mary and Ricardo Gómez, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico before he was born in search of a better life and Rick was eventually born in Texas.
At 17, he met Mandy Teefey, and as young lovers, they started a relationship that led to Selena's birth in 1992.
They initially tried to build a family in Texas, but when Selena was five, her parents separated.
She remained with her mother while her father became involved with Sara Gómez, with whom he had two more children, Marcus and Victoria. Despite her parents' split, Selena has maintained a close relationship with her younger siblings, as seen in photos shared by her father on social media.
Although her father was not always present at home, Selena grew up with a deep appreciation for her Mexican roots.
"My father did an amazing job keeping me connected to my heritage. From traditions and food to culture, it was always part of my life. And Mexico was just a car ride away for us," she said in an interview with Gente.
She also recalled conversations with her grandmother, who taught her about family unity, tradition, and perseverance. In an interview with Vogue, Selena admitted that she spoke Spanish fluently as a child but lost some of her proficiency after starting school.
This cultural connection has shaped her identity and fueled her advocacy for Latino communities, particularly undocumented immigrants facing deportation in the U.S.
Supporting Latino immigrants
Selena has long championed the Latino community. In an essay for Time, she shared the story of her grandparents, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1973, crossing the border in the back of a truck and becoming citizens 18 years later.
As an executive producer, she backed the Netflix documentary 'Living Undocumented,' which was released during Donald Trump's presidency and shed light on the struggles of undocumented Latino immigrants in the U.S.
Her music also reflects her heritage. In 2021, she released 'Revelación,' her first fully Spanish-language project, which included collaborations with artists like Rauw Alejandro on 'Baila Conmigo.'
"I love singing in Spanish. It's a beautiful language. I feel different when I sing in Spanish—it takes me to another world in my mind. There's something incredibly special about it," she told 'People en Español.'
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