How I Got My Photo Taken With Teen Star Selena Gomez

The following story is a first-person description from Derisa Tuttle, a Patch fan in New Port Richey, who came down to St. Pete Beach to see Selena Gomez on Corey Avenue earlier this week.

First let me start out by saying I was not a big Selena Gomez fan. Until now. 

My March 13th started like any other. I woke up, had coffee and got five of my six kids off to school. Probably not in that order.

I got on my Facebook and saw a post that they were shutting down Corey and Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach at 4 p.m. to shoot a movie about spring break.

I thought it was cool, not because of the movie, but because Selena Gomez's boyfriend was in town!

Yup, that's me. A 34-year-old Justin Bieber fan. I have a room dedicated just to him. I am a huge Bieber fan. Perhaps I'm a true "Belie-Ber." Call it what you will!

I decided to drive the two hours to see if I could catch a glimpse! I went to the school and took out my 17-year-old Hannah, because it could be a chance of a lifetime. 

My mother, myself, Hannah and my adorable 4-year-old headed to St. Pete Beach. It was 11 a.m., and I was excited!

We waited on the street for about four hours, not seeing anything but a sign that read "No Parking After 4 p.m. or You Will Be Towed."

Finally, at around 4 p.m., there was action. Girls in bikinis, guys with tanned bodies and movie producers started walking around setting up to shoot a movie.

I looked for Bieber, but he wasn’t around, so I stayed and watched as they started running the same scene over and over.

Selena looked so cute, as did all the people in the movie, but there were no cameras allowed on the street, and they seemed focused on the movie, and not interacting with anyone.

Selena actually was blocking photographers and was not interacting with the fans.

I thought to myself, “I missed cooking dinner, and I have a long drive ahead of me. Let's go home!” 

As we walked toward the direction of Gulf Boulevard, we came to the intersection and my 4-year-old stopped and said, “Look Mommy, Selena Gomez is right there!”

I was shocked that she actually was. No security, just four girls on Mopeds waiting for action to be called!

My son waved at her, and she waved back. I thought it was so cute, but we continued walking, because our chances seemed small of meeting her.

That's when it happened: Selena Gomez broke away from filming and came over to us. She went immediately to my little one and said that he was so cute!

I told her, “I know. People say he looks like Justin.”

Selena was so sweet. My 17-year-old said she loved Selena, and Selena thanked her for the sentiment.

I jumped in the conversation and asked if we could get a quick photo.

She said it was OK, and we snapped the pic, just as she was being yelled at by one of the crew, telling her that she needed to focus on the movie.

I apologized, but she said that it was OK.

As she turned to leave, I said, “Hey, is it weird that I am a mom of six and have a room set aside just for your boyfriend?”

She replied with an “Aww, really? That's cool,” and laughed the cute little laugh that only Selena makes. I thought she was going to say that I was creepy, but she didn't!

All in all, my March 13th was the luckiest day. Contrary to all the reports of her being standoff-ish and not forthcoming, I found her polite, respectful and refreshing!

It is possible that there is still class in Hollywood, and it looks good on Selena Gomez!

I am now a true fan, and not because of "Wizards of Waverly Place" or because she is dating Justin Bieber.

I’m a fan because she made me, a mom of six, know that in all the business and statuses of Hollywood, there are people who take time out to notice cute kids from New Port Richey, Florida.

She’s someone who’ll take time to talk to 17-year-old girls who adore her. She’s someone who’ll get yelled at by her employers, just so she can take a picture with a mom who’s come from far away to see the glamour of Hollywood in St. Pete Beach.