That's a 팝 문화 rule that has been proven through the decades, with actors and singers and 아이콘 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," said Lovato, summing it up with impressive ease.
"Whereas if they're older, sometimes they have issues, even as a person, just talking to their 프렌즈 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 팬 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 당신 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 사랑 kids and I know I have a younger crowd, I get that," Gomez said. "I just want to be respected 의해 people my age -- I don't necessarily want to have 팬 who are my age. I would just 사랑 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 프렌즈 since the age of 7, when they worked together on the kids' show Barney & Friends. Since then, their profiles have risen with various projects for the U.S.-based 디즈니 Channel.
Lovato is best known for her starring role alongside the Jonas Brothers in Camp Rock, as well as for her 노래 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 show 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 사랑 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 프렌즈 with. That's a bit of a bummer. But that's okay, I know that comes with it."
Lovato said she was 노래 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, 또는 go out and play with her 프렌즈 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 모토 now, when it comes to boys. I'm like, 'Yeah, we can break up -- I'm 16.' "
