Selena Gomez: 'I'm baring all thanks to Taylor Swift'

Selena Gomez was convinced by best pal Taylor Swift to make music about the "messed up" moments in her life.

In recent years The Hands to Myself singer's personal troubles have included the breakdown of her relationship with fellow pop idol Justin Bieber and contracting lupus, a skin disease that required her to undergo chemotherapy.

Selena says that her close friend Taylor and her family have not only helped her through personal strife, but that Bad Blood star helped convince her to address it in her music.

"I mean I've known her for 10 years she's been one of my best friends through thick and thin, walked by my side," she tells U.K. chat show Lorraine. "Her whole family has been so supportive of me and yeah, she's been there during crucial points in my life and in my career.

"She's known for embracing her personal story and creating a beautiful thing out of it and I was a little hesitant with that and she was always the person to encourage me to tell my story and be proud of who I am."

The star's second studio album Revival, released in October last year (15), marked a move away from her beginnings as a Disney star, and she says the decision to address darker themes in her music reflects her outlook in life.

"I think the beginning of my career, it was very tailored, it was very precise. Sharing the vulnerable, raw, messy side wasn't necessarily encouraged. I think the definition of strength is being vulnerable and being honest," she confessed.

"That doesn't mean you have to be like, 'I'm strong I'm amazing, look at me', you can have those moments but you won't have those moments unless you're like 'I've been broken, I've felt things and messed up a lot and I'm okay saying that'"

Rumors have recently linked Selena and Justin with a romantic reunion, and she was spotted at her pop star ex's concert in Los Angeles on Wednesday (23Mar16).

Any rekindling of their relationship may be made difficult by the pair's work commitments however, as Justin is currently at the beginning of his Purpose world tour, which runs until November (16). Selena will also be on the road soon, as her own North American tour begins in Las Vegas in May (16).