Selena Gomez’s 10 Most Memorable Award Show Moments Over the Years

Early Days at the Teen Choice Awards

Though Selena Gomez’s career onscreen kicked off in the early 2000s with her role on Barney & Friends, the young star snagged her big break in 2007 on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place.

Dressed a lot like her character Alex Russo, Gomez made one of her first award show appearances that year at the Teen Choice Awards.

Returning to the Teen Choice Awards for a Surfboard

She was back at the awards two years later to claim three surfboards as she won choice summer TV star, choice red carpet fashion icon and choice celebrity dancer.

Other big winners that night were Robert Pattinson, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears.

Receiving an Orange Blimp from Tyra Banks

With Wizards airing for four seasons and yielding several crossover episodes with other popular Disney shows of the time like Hannah Montana and Suite Life on Deck as well a TV movie, it’s no surprise that Gomez was a mainstay at the award shows aimed at young audiences including the Kids’ Choice Awards.

In 2010 she received the orange blimp for favorite TV actress from Tyra Banks.

Twinning with Taylor Swift

Since meeting in 2008 through Joe and Nick Jonas (at the time, Swift was dating Joe and Gomez, Nick) Gomez and Taylor Swift have been dear friends.

In 2011, they had the shared experience of taking home People’s Choice Awards: a newly-minted pop star, Gomez won favorite breakout artist and Swift took home favorite country artist.

Winning at the American Music Awards

The American Music Awards have been an important ceremony for Gomez over the years. Though her first appearance at the starry celebration came years earlier, she won her first AMA in 2016 for favorite pop/rock female artist. She was also nominated that year for artist of the year.

For the big night she wore striking scarlet Prada with a simple ponytail and delicate diamonds.

Returning to the Stage

The AMAs were also the first place Gomez performed following her kidney transplant in 2017. She returned to the stage, debuting a new blonde look , to perform her song “Wolves.”

“My first performance in over a year.. the AMAs have been a place where I’ve shared some of my most intimate moments,” Gomez wrote on Instagram alongside a video of her preparing for the performance. “Heart wants what it wants, after treatment and now Wolves. This Sunday.”

“Look at Her Now” Two Years Later

In 2019, she was back on the American Music Awards stage to open the show for her first live performance in two years. For the big performance she began with an emotional rendition of her song “Lose You to Love Me” before transitioning into “Look At Her Now” — complete with a costume change!

First Time Golden Globe Nominee

When Gomez hit the red carpet in 2023 as a first time Golden Globe nominee for her performance in Only Murders in the Building, she did so with her adorable little sister by her side.

Girl Talk Gone Viral

Gomez was back at the Globes in 2024, where she was nominated again for her role in Only Murders, and this time she was sure to catch up with Swift and Keleigh Teller during the ceremony.

In a moment that later went viral, Gomez appeared to be spilling some hot tea to her pals and though the internet speculated about what she might have been saying — and about whom — a source told PEOPLE at the time “she was absolutely not referencing anything about Timothée [Chalamet] or Kylie [Jenner].” (She was talking about “two of [her] friends who hooked up,” she clarified in an Instagram comment. “Not that it’s anyone’s business.”)

Award Show Debut with Benny Blanco

Though the couple had been giving glimpses into their romance on social media, the 2024 Emmy Awards marked Gomez’s official award show debut with Benny Blanco.

12 months later, in December 2024, the couple announced their engagement. “Forever begins now..” Gomez wrote alongside close-up photos of her new diamond bling.