Selena Gomez was a pro, rolling with the camera’s punches and completing multiple takes for MTV’s benefit on Wednesday, as the mega-pop star hosted We Day 2014 in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.
Gomez MC’d the show and introduced several speakers and performers – like fellow pop star Nick Jonas and Me to We veteran Robin Wiszowaty – and was joined at the B.C. do-gooder concert by other stars like Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Shawn Mendes, actor and friend Orlando Bloom, Canadian Olympian Silken Laumann, and Free the Children co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger.
Also surprising the 20,000 young volunteers and social change activists was Jennifer Lopez, who took the stage after 2 p.m.
“You are not defined by an Instagram photo, by a like, by a comment,” Gomez told the incredibly loud, constantly cheering crowd, all of whom were invited to We Day because of good deeds they’d done throughout the year.
“That does not define you,” said Gomez, although the 22-year-old starlet did post photos of her time in Vancouver to her popular Instagram account, which is followed by almost 16.5 million people.
Because the show was televised and will be aired at a later date on MTV and CTV, and today’s footage will be combined with an already-held show in Toronto from October 2, Gomez was forced to film multiple takes and encouraged the crowd to play along with her and cheer as loud as they could – and they certainly held up their end of the bargain.
When Gomez took a seat in the crowd next to one young fan, the girl was so overcome with the joy of sitting next to one of her idols, she cried – a happy cry, of course – and smiled for the camera as Selena introduced the next act.
The actress and former Disney star beamed next to the girl and then gave her a big hug when she had to leave the seat and return to the stage.
We Day is held every year in Vancouver and several other locations around the world – like Toronto and other Canadian cities, but also in American locations like California, Illinois, and Seattle, and the United Kingdom – and it’s meant to encourage young people to get active about volunteering and finding ways to improve the world around them.
It was started by the Kielburger brothers and has become an awaited super-event for thousands of Canadian students.
“We have to make good use of the time we have. That simple,” said actor Orlando Bloom, who took the main stage after lunch. “We have to wake up every day, knowing that it’s not just an ordinary day. We have to take the moment, seize each day.”
.@JLo had everyone dancing at #weday #vancouver today! pic.twitter.com/TJZQ04zzCm
— We Day (@weday) October 22, 2014
Vancouver you were awesome! Thanks weday for having me! #WeDay http://t.co/Avfpxpbmdy
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) October 23, 2014
Your @WeDay Vancouver host has arrived, HI @selenagomez! Watch live at http://t.co/OVwzfSe2c4 #WeDay pic.twitter.com/RoFXXLMFrK
— MTV Canada (@mtvcanada) October 22, 2014
Just said hi to @selenagomez @weday! So happy she’s here with us in Vancouver! #WeDay pic.twitter.com/4ns343mpcm
— Hannah Alper (@ThatHannahAlper) October 22, 2014
Come on @JLo…you know you want to tell me all about that rumoured #lasvegas residency! #wedayvancouver #WeDay pic.twitter.com/iQ83JcCpyn
— Erin Cebula (@celebula) October 22, 2014
#WeDay at Rogers Arena. Great event underway 20k Youth coming together to effect Global change.
— Dianne Watts (@MayorWatts) October 22, 2014
#WeDay #Vancouver press conference w/ Orlando Bloom + @freethechildren co-founder @craigkielburger pic.twitter.com/tHUamEV3wg
— Rebecca Bollwitt (@Miss604) October 22, 2014
