Selena clears up status with Justin

CEBU, Philippines - It’s been a rough road for both Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber since the two started dating in 2011. And not just romantically — their on-again, off-again thing was exactly as drama-filled as you’d expect a relationship between two teenaged millionaires to be — but professionally, their respective careers took a backseat to their drama. This is especially highlighted by the fact that both have since released buzzy songs clearly inspired by the failed romance

On the cover of October’s Elle, Gomez, 23, says that she and Bieber are now finally friends.

“I’ll forever support him and love him in a way that… We grew up together,” she says of her current status with Bieber, which she calls genuine. “Nobody was married. There was no… I respect him. And I think he respects me, in a healthy manner.”

So how is Gomez taking her narrative back? Well, she credits her 2014 American Music Awards performance of “The Heart Wants What It Wants” with giving her the motivation to do so.

“Everybody was talking about the same thing: my relationship,” Gomez says. “I was so exhausted. I said, ‘I want this [performance] to be the last time I have to talk about this. And acknowledge this feeling.’ That’s why, from this point on, I know I can prove myself, you know. I haven’t scratched the surface yet.”

Gomez also talks about firing her manager (her mother) and her record label.

“I wanted to be a little uncomfortable,” she says. “That’s why I made all of these decisions within a year. I wanted to be my own person. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to see if I could really do it.”

And it sure seems she can. Gomez’s new album Revival is due out next month; the two songs she’s released from it thus far have been met with rapturous acclaim.

Gomez also confirms she had a “thing” with Zedd, but is currently single and says she’s not looking for more of that “Same Old Love.”

“Finding somebody is not my main focus. I’ve dated people. I’ve been on a few dates, which is really exciting,” Gomez says. “But I’ve never wanted to get into anything serious, because I kind of did that. I have my guard up. I like to meet people in organic settings. Hanging out with a group of people and meeting through mutual people.” (FREEMAN)