That's a pop-culture rule that has been proven through the decades, with actors and singers and ícones 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 friends 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 fãs 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 you 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 amor kids and I know I have a younger crowd, I get that," Gomez said. "I just want to be respected por people my age -- I don't necessarily want to have fãs who are my age. I would just amor 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 friends 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 disney Channel.
Lovato is best known for her starring role alongside the Jonas Brothers in Camp Rock, as well as for her cantar 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 amor 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 friends with. That's a bit of a bummer. But that's okay, I know that comes with it."
Lovato said she was cantar 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, or go out and play with her friends 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 lema now, when it comes to boys. I'm like, 'Yeah, we can break up -- I'm 16.' "
