Selena Gomez praised her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, stating that she's always seen the talent in him.

"While people were writing that I was stupid for being in [the relationship], this is what I always saw in him," the 23-year-old Disney alum told the The New York Times. "I'm like, duh!"

"It's all part of my story," the "Love Me Life A Love Song" songstress continued of her past relationship while referring to her new "Revival" album. "I'm growing and changing. I was in a relationship, and I was being managed by my parents, and I was still under Hollywood and Disney, and I was being held to this expectation of being the good girl."

Selena also opened up about switching record labels and management in preparation of her upcoming album. "I knew deep down that this wasn't what I wanted to do - being exhausted of forcing something that wasn't right, even in my personal life. I had to have moments where I was crying and I was like, 'Why am I not in love with what I do?' I was forced to get very uncomfortable for a while in order to make the decisions I made."

"I definitely remind myself that I'm in control," the "Monte Carlo" actress concluded. "I feel like ultimately if I sit down and I think about a decision I need to make, it's really within myself. I make the decision. Everything goes through me."

Selena and Justin dated on-and-off again from 2011, US weekly informed. They ended things for good in 2014.

Recently, the "Good For You" singer admitted to Elle Magazine that she wants to separate herself from her past, yet she said she will forever cherish the "What Do You Mean?" singer as a friend.

"I'll forever support him and love him," Selena confessed. "We grew up together. I think people want it to be different...[but] I respect him. And I think he respects me, in a healthy manner."