Selena Gomez has been a star ever since she was a little girl, but the 21-year-old singer believed that she has more confidence than ever before thanks to a strong support system that includes pop stars Demi Lovato and Katy Perry.

"This year is when I really started feeling powerful," said Gomez in Seventeen Magazine's March issue. "I had always been the underdog secretly. I was on Disney when it was Miley [Cyrus], the Jonas Brothers, and Demi [Lovato]. I questioned the way I looked, acted, sang, and wrote."

In addition, Gomez talked about her longtime friendship with fellow actress and singer Lovato since they met when they both auditioned for Barney and Friends in the 90s.

"I've known her since we were 7, and we did fall apart for a while," said Gomez to Seventeen referring to Lovato, who required treatment for self-injury problems plus an eating disorder. "She was going through things and I was so young and it was confusing. I processed it saying, 'OK, I don't understand what she's going through so I'm just going to do this.' I don't think it was fair, and I'm so happy that I have her back in my life now."

Lovato echoed Gomez's feelings in an MTV Interview.

"She has a great soul, she's talented, she's beautiful, and she will always be really, really close to my heart," said Lovato.

Gomez revealed why she can trust Lovato as a friend.

"Demi's very, very strong. She's the only person that I would tell the deepest, darkest secrets to. The only person," continued in Gomez in her interview.

The "Come & Get It" singer also revealed her public breakup with Justin Bieber aided her to find her power.

"Then I turned 20, went through a really bad breakup, and realized I needed to have 'Come & Get It' be amazing. I wanted it all to be me," said Gomez. "I'm glad it's taken me this long to get where I am because now I am ready for it."

Selena also looked to fellow pop star Katy Perry for advice on dating, especially when it comes to finding men who are strong enough to be okay with dating a powerful, busy, influential woman.

"I actually talked to Katy Perry about guys who are intimidated by strong girls. I haven't found someone yet who could understand my lifestyle, support it, love me through it, and not be threatened by it. It's hard," said Gomez. "I do think I might scare some guys, because I'm like, 'I want to change the world! I have dreams! What do you want to do?' But I only know how to be me."