Selena Gomez told Allure magazine that her fiancé, record producer Benny Blanco, "would not have liked" her five years ago, crediting personal growth and maturity for making their relationship possible.
"I don't think I would have been remotely mature enough," Gomez, 33, said in the interview, reflecting on her state of mind following her 2018 breakup from Justin Bieber. "You wouldn't have liked me back then. I was all over the place." The Rare Beauty founder and actress said the lessons she has learned since have helped her become "the best partner I could be for Benny."
Gomez described Blanco as a grounding presence who makes her feel "very normal," praising his "heart, his kindness, his quirks." The couple began dating in 2023 and announced their engagement in December 2024. Media reports say they are expected to marry this month in Montecito.
Gomez placed her recent relationship in the broader context of her public life and past relationships. After her split from Bieber in March 2018 — a breakup that preceded his marriage to model Hailey Bieber months later — Gomez said she spent years regrouping. In the Allure interview she noted the difference in where both she and Blanco were emotionally when they met in earnest.
She also discussed the practicalities of wedding preparation, confirming that longtime makeup artist Hung Vanngo will be part of the forthcoming ceremony. Gomez said she often combines images she finds on Pinterest with Vanngo's suggestions when choosing a look.
On the Jake Shane podcast, Gomez described the origins of her relationship with Blanco. The two had worked together on music in the past and did not initially expect to date; after reconnecting during work on the track "Single Soon," the pair reportedly spent two hours talking and began seeing each other through mutual social gatherings Blanco hosted. "It's all about timing to meet that person even if I did think, 'Oh I need to take this a step forward then it wouldn't have worked,'" she told the podcast, adding that being "there mentally" is necessary for a healthy relationship.
Gomez has been candid in public about how her personal life and mental-health struggles have shaped her decisions. Her comments to Allure revisit a recurring theme in interviews: that time, therapy and self-reflection have influenced how she approaches friendships, work and romance.
Blanco, a successful songwriter and producer, has been credited in media coverage with helping Gomez keep a lower-key, private life amid intense public scrutiny. Both Gomez and Blanco have kept details of their wedding largely private, and representatives for the couple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Allure interview and Gomez's podcast remarks provide the most detailed recent account of the couple's perspective on their relationship as they head into marriage, underscoring how Gomez connects personal growth to present-day stability with Blanco.