That's a পপ সংস্কৃতি rule that has been proven through the decades, with actors and singers and প্রতীকী of all shapes and sizes. But Lovato and Gomez, who were in Canada yesterday promoting their new made-for-TV movie Princess Protection Program, have some interesting takes on why that is.
"It's easier to look up to somebody when they're older than you," ব্যক্ত Lovato, summing it up with impressive ease.
"Whereas if they're older, sometimes they have issues, even as a person, just talking to their বন্ধু and saying, 'Yeah, I look up to someone who's younger than me.' It's kind of an ego thing with everybody.
"I think it's weirder when I get অনুরাগী who are older than me, waiting for me outside my hotel, but they're 22. It's not weird, actually, it's just interesting to me, because আপনি typically look up to people. When the older college students, the cool kids, think that I'm cool, it's really encouraging."
Gomez, meanwhile, is seeking something solid from teens her own age.
"I প্রণয় kids and I know I have a younger crowd, I get that," Gomez said. "I just want to be respected দ্বারা people my age -- I don't necessarily want to have অনুরাগী who are my age. I would just প্রণয় to be respected."
Princess Protection Program debuts a week from tonight (June 26) across Canada on the Family Channel. Lovato and Gomez were in Toronto yesterday to promote the movie with a red-carpet event.
Lovato and Gomez have been বন্ধু since the age of 7, when they worked together on the kids' প্রদর্শনী Barney & Friends. Since then, their profiles have risen with various projects for the U.S.-based ডিজনি Channel.
Lovato is best known for her starring role alongside the Jonas Brothers in Camp Rock, as well as for her গান গাওয়া career, while Gomez is best known for her role in the TV series Wizards of Waverly Place.
Despite the stereotype of aggressive parents pushing their children into প্রদর্শনী business, Lovato and Gomez both insist they're doing exactly what they want to do, and always have been.
"The hardest part for me is the fame part," Gomez said. "I প্রণয় that kids look up to me. But people start getting curious about my personal life, which makes me kind of sad, because then it's not about the career any more, it's about who I'm বন্ধু with. That's a bit of a bummer. But that's okay, I know that comes with it."
Lovato ব্যক্ত she was গান গাওয়া and performing at a very young age, and on days off from school, her mom (who previously was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader) would give her a choice: She could stay inside and learn a song, অথবা go out and play with her বন্ধু and not perform that weekend.
"My choice always was performing," Lovato said. "I was a heavy thinker, even back then. I was even sarcastic as a 4-year-old. My aunt laughs, because I'd get in trouble for something, and I'd say, 'What? I can get away with this -- I'm 4!'
"Which is my same নীতিবাণী now, when it comes to boys. I'm like, 'Yeah, we can break up -- I'm 16.' "
