Selena Gomez recently opened up about her emotional growth and journey toward love after her high-profile relationship with Justin Bieber. In a candid conversation on the Table Manners podcast with hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware, Gomez appeared alongside her fiancé, music producer Benny Blanco, and reflected on what it took for her to truly open her heart again.
Following the end of her nearly decade-long, on-and-off relationship with Bieber in 2018, Gomez said she remained single for nearly five years. During that period, she dated here and there, but nothing ever seemed to connect on a deeper level.
Selena Gomez Found Solace In New Relationship
It wasn’t until Blanco came into her life that something genuinely clicked. She admitted to him during the podcast that it had been years since she had truly liked someone, adding that while some experiences were lighthearted, the feelings she developed for him were real and caught her off guard.
Although Gomez has typically kept her private life under wraps, she has occasionally touched on her past. In her 2022 documentary My Mind & Me, she described the breakup with Bieber as a turning point that brought her relief and clarity. At the time, she shared that the end of the relationship helped her move past a long-held sense of fear, calling the separation one of the best things that could have happened to her.
Her relationship with Bieber, which spanned much of her early adult life and played out under intense public scrutiny, has long been a fixation for fans. The former couple’s dynamic — often referred to as “Jelena” — remained in the spotlight even years after they parted ways.
Now, Gomez appears to be in a much more stable and fulfilling chapter of her life. She and Blanco, who were friends long before becoming romantically involved, started dating in 2023 and got engaged in late 2024. Announcing their engagement with a heartfelt “Forever begins now” post on Instagram, Gomez seemed to embrace her new beginning fully. The couple made a glamorous appearance at the 2025 Oscars, radiating joy and affection on the red carpet.
Surrounded by a strong support system and fans who have watched her evolve over the years, Gomez seems to have found not just love, but a sense of peace and emotional security that had long eluded her.
