Feelin' the love Selena Gomez

Girls' Life, Feb-March, 2008 by Kelly White

You all know her as rival popstar Mikayla on Hannah Montana, and now she's charming us as the wickedly magical Alex on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place. Next up for Selena? A starring role in the sequel to A Cinderella Story alongside Drew Seeley, the cutie who was Troy in High School Musical's live tour (sigh).

With Valentine's Day around the bend, GL couldn't help t wonder: What does Selena love most? So when she called us up, we went straight to the, um, heart of the matter. Here are her many loves....

SELENA LOVES BASKETBALL

SG: I'm a huge basketball fan. My favorite is the San Antonio Spurs. I used to be on a team for school, and then I got homeschooled so not anymore.

GL: Do you ever just go out and do a pickup game?

Every now and then, yeah, for fun.

Is there a basketball court nearby?

We actually have one on set. It's fun.

So do you take the guys on?

I only take on [my TV brother], so when I beat him it's not a good feeling. He's only 12, and half the time he beats me.

SELENA LOVES BOYS

I guess I'm a guys' girl. Back in Texas, where I'm from, I just hung out with my guy friends because they're all like older brothers. I got into a lot of drama with girls. They're very, "Oh my gosh. She said this about you." I was like, "Whoa, OK. Too much drama." Guys are like, "Whatever," and that's how I am.

So do you get together with the guys and watch basketball games and have nachos and chili and stuff?

Yes. Actually, we have popcorn and pickles. Back home, all my guy friends were Dallas Mavericks fans so it was kind of a competition between us, but usually my team would win.

Pickles?

Yes, I love pickles. I have no idea why. I just love pickles. I guess I'm a sour girl.

Dill pickles?

Mmm-hmm.

SELENA LOVES DALLAS

You're living in L.A. now, correct?

Yes. I'm still pretty new here, but I go home--at least, I try to--once a month. I'm a Texas girl at heart. I am from Grand Prairie, about two or three minutes from Dallas. We live in the nice suburb areas, and everybody knows everybody in that little neighborhood. We could all walk outside and hang out. I've had the same friends since kindergarten, so everyone is still really close. And I'm really close to all my family--my cousins, my aunts, my grandmother and grandpa. It was definitely hard to leave my friends and family.

What is there to do in Grand Prairie?

We used to walk around the blocks a lot, me and my friends. We would walk around all of the neighborhoods, but other than that it's pretty normal. You can go to skate parks, or you can go to the mall or movies with your friends.

What do you miss most about it?

Of course, my family and friends, but I also miss walking. I used to walk barefoot around my neighborhood without worrying about anything. It's nice and peaceful. We could walk in the middle of the street, and there would be no cars coming at all. In L.A., you can't do that.

SELENA LOVES HER BFFs

My best girl friend would be Demi Lovato, and she's from Texas as well. I actually met her when I did Barney Friends when I was about 7. We both did that show together, and now we're 15 and we're still best friends. Now she's off working for Disney Channel [The Jonas Brothers' Camp Rock]. It's almost weird. My best guy bud is Randy Hill, and he's still back in Texas, working at a skate shop. I can always go to him when I need someone to talk to.

That's pretty cool that you have a BGF.

Yeah, I knew him ever since I was 5. He's really cool, and he's nice. People think, "Oh, yeah, she has a guy best friend." Yeah, because I've known him my whole life. I know everything about him, and he's sweet. Yes, I have a guy and girl best friend.

Does Randy give you guy insight?

Sometimes, but really it's the other way around. He always asks me about stuff. He's like, "Well, I'm going on a date with this girl. Hey, can I wear this?" I laugh at him. I'm like, "Yeah, you can wear that. It should be fine." He'll ask me about what he should get a girl for a present and stuff like that.

SELENA LOVES A FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE

Do you have a boyfriend?

No, actually I do not. I don't. I'm traveling right now, and I'm only 15. I don't really think I necessarily need one now, and I'm not home. I'm not in California. I'm in Canada, so I'll be here for a while. So maybe around next year I'll have one then, but not right now. I'm focusing on work and school.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Oh, aren't you filming the sequel to A Cinderella Story with Drew Seeley?

Yes.

Do you have kissing scenes with him?

Yes, I do. We haven't shot that yet, but I've been dancing with Drew for like three weeks. So I've known him really long. We've been rehearsing. It's so comfortable with him, so I don't think it's going to be too weird.

Will this be your first on-screen kiss?

No, my first was with Dylan Sprouse on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. That was fun. He was shorter than me, so I had to bend down a little bit, but it was a cute episode. Drew is definitely taller, so I think this one will go a little smoother.

Do you have a crush?

I do. My celebrity crush is, oh, what is his name? He was in Alpha Dog and Into the Wild. Emile Hirsch.