Friends for Literal Life
![Unlikely Heroes' 3rd Annual Awards Dinner And Gala](https://ew.com/thmb/QUouLCPaHOFh1oHz8ovzxf-BSa0=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-458671476-43a2add9c1e743f1864315fef1926e93.jpg)
Francia Raisa isn't just Selena Gomez's hero: On Thursday, she became ours, too. The actress, who's best known for her roles on Dear White People and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, donated a kidney to her BFF. "There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa,” Gomez wrote on Instagram. “She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much, sis.” Here, we take a look at the lovely lady we're all thanking today.
![11382924_1496286510646356_142921305_n](https://ew.com/thmb/-2owNg208Hz6zNCEqDA27cV5e9o=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/11382924_1496286510646356_142921305_n-8bb65007116b4f58aa99fbb95d8ec193.jpg)
Gomez and Raisa have been friends for a long time, often showing up in each others' Instagram feeds with emoji-filled captions.
![Premiere Of Netflix's "13 Reasons Why" - Arrivals](https://ew.com/thmb/nt94qLTcGFpHQ_yo3PbmCog0PVs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-661225122-2000-5ca310c8f8c24d398088d353ef3b7310.jpg)
Raisa's support of her BFF has been evident throughout the years as she showed up to cheer on her friend at various big events, including the premiere for 13 Reasons Why, which Gomez produced.
![Unlikely Heroes' 3rd Annual Awards Dinner And Gala](https://ew.com/thmb/MX4Rgc_SG_x-qzf39E2DLWi5n6o=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-458670904-2000-f89d64081afc4cb58a4a22e7e9f2a790.jpg)
The pair also attends charity events together, like the Unlikely Heroes' 3rd Annual Awards Dinner and Gala in 2014.
!["Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" Los Angeles Premiere - Red Carpet](https://ew.com/thmb/nS3DaU46kHCvpSmDclIhmsjeyjo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-108926144-2000-574091e9043d4c919523d89f4fcd83eb.jpg)
Yep! Raisa was Gomez's date for the red carpet premiere of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in 2011, back when Gomez and Bieber were Hollywood's hottest young couple.
![ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" - Season Five](https://ew.com/thmb/wU8eMt7Ht6xcac8FqjpUujAI7zA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-150834421-2000-9306293d346e4dfdb66ae3b773f9dd7e.jpg)
Raisa's an actress in her own right, too. Here she is with Shailene Woodley and Megan Park on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which ran on ABC Family for five seasons from 2008-2013. And she'll soon be returning to Freeform (formerly ABC Family) in the Black-ish spin-off, Grown-ish.
![36th Annual Gracie Awards Gala - Inside](https://ew.com/thmb/QiAYaDQ32UUWdYFNr9IdKa2TDZI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-114639164-2000-34070c85a0884b6dad22437fe0ddaa7b.jpg)
Raisa earned a Gracie Award in 2011 for her role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
![raisa](https://ew.com/thmb/3YQnFtvJGbEndKIZiU9njtKoByw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/raisa-2000-9bf9a50a7b484bf2b248534105ff968b.jpg)
More recently, you can find Raisa on Netflix's hit, Dear White People.
![BRING IT ON: ALL OR NOTHING, Giovonnie Samuels, Solange Knowles, Francia Almendarez, 2006. © Univers](https://ew.com/thmb/bQntXRS5MZQiVUiEygHVBfGArFY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mcdbrit_ec003-2000-fdeb748036094818a953b6579f372dd2.jpg)
Raisa cheered alongside Solange Knowles in 2006's Bring It On: All or Nothing.
![ABC Family's "The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice"](https://ew.com/thmb/ZtpKPLLNAMeOC-3YRUADThO1W8c=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-96600187-2000-405fcbd533744a4f83f0e702ee419a9a.jpg)
Raisa appeared in not one but two sequels of The Cutting Edge! Here she is ready to skate away with Brendan Fehr in Fire and Ice.
![Christmas Bounty - 2013](https://ew.com/thmb/7L5aqd6XA6J7LebJhbUb6ZZCwzE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_editorial_5885307o_huge-2000-bae65f3af8444e89aae0ec5446cdc3c8.jpg)
Raisa was a former bounty hunter turned schoolteacher opposite Mike "The Miz" Mizanin in the ABC Family holiday movie, Christmas Bounty.