In a recent interview with TIME, Selena Gomez opened up about her five-year period of being single before finding love with her current boyfriend, Benny Blanco. The 31-year-old singer and actress reflected on this transformative time, emphasizing how it helped her grow and become comfortable with herself.

“A lot of people are afraid of being alone,” Gomez shared. “I was alone for five years, and I got really used to it. I probably tortured myself in my head for like two years being alone, and then I kind of accepted it.” During this period, she focused on self-reflection and personal growth. She revealed that she had even made a plan to adopt by the age of 35 if she hadn’t met anyone by then.

Her time alone allowed Gomez to develop a deeper understanding of herself and what she wanted in life. This period of introspection proved beneficial when she eventually started dating Benny Blanco, whom she had known for years as a friend and collaborator. The “Only Murders in the Building” star mentioned that she once even asked Blanco to help her find a match before they realized their own romantic potential.

Selena’s relationship with Benny, who is 36, blossomed unexpectedly. She noted, “It just happens when you least expect it.” Their transition from friends to lovers was a natural progression, and Gomez expressed her happiness and contentment with her current relationship. “I just cherish every moment with him,” she told TIME. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that he’s not going anywhere any time soon.”

Benny Blanco also shared his feelings about their relationship in an interview with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show. He expressed his desire to start a family, saying, “I wanna have kids, that’s my next goal. I have a lot of godkids; I got a ton of nephews. I love being around kids.” Blanco agreed with Stern that marriage is likely in their future, though he admitted he doesn’t have a proposal date set yet, jokingly saying, “I gotta get my act together.”

Selena and Benny went public with their romance in December 2023 after dating since mid-year. Their relationship became known to fans when Gomez addressed her relationship status online, sharing sweet photos of them together.