We’re just going to come right out and say it: 2016 was definitely no walk in the park for superstar Selena Gomez. From constant media scrutiny about her body image, a private battle with a number of health issues, and a very public social media spat with her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, it seemed like the talented starlet was about to crumble under an intense amount of pressure at any given moment. While the idea of being famous definitely sounds alluring, living under a microscope is definitely not super simple. Of course, she has millions of fans she can always count on for support, and we’re totally in Selena’s corner. With a new year already in full swing, it seems like Selena is more than ready to put the past behind her and focus on the positive. These days, Selena has a lot to be thankful for. With multiple new projects in the works and even a new love interest by her side, there’s just no doubt about it: the future is looking super bright for Selena and we can’t wait to see what incredible things she brings to the table in the coming months. Check out these 15 reasons why 2017 is sure to be Selena’s best year ever.

15 She Has A New Man In Her Life

Let’s be honest, Selena doesn’t need a man to make her happy, but having a loving and supportive partner definitely has its perks. Selena hasn’t exactly made the best choices when it comes to her love life, and after several years of being stuck in a super unhealthy back and forth with Justin Bieber, it looks like she has finally broken away from past patterns. Selena has just been linked to famed rapper The Weeknd, and the twosome appeared to be positively smitten with one another in recent paparazzi shots. The happy couple was spotted out on several romantic dates holding hands and cuddling up to one another and we can’t help but feel overjoyed for Selena’s new-found romance. We’re not going to lie, it’s totally refreshing to see Selena give love another chance with someone who appears to be as equally invested in the relationship as she is. Selena has had her heart broken and has been let down in the past, and we’re glad that she’s no longer letting any of that stand in her way. After a super turbulent time in her life last year, seeing Selena smile alongside her new beau gives us tons of hope that her love life has taken a turn for the best.

14 She Knows Who Her True Friends Are

If there’s one good thing that came from Selena’s highly-publicized low points from last year, it's that now she knows who truly has her back. Selena always has a ton of people around her, but sometimes it’s not always easy to distinguish true friends from fake friends, especially when you’re famous.  Of course, Taylor Swift has been an unfaltering BFF to Selena from the beginning. Early 2017 has already weeded out a few of Selena’s faux friends, including model Bella Hadid, who has been reportedly smack-talking Selena ever since she began dating her ex, The Weeknd. The girls have crossed paths on a number of occasions and were even a part of the same girl-squad, but it’s safe to say that Selena and Bella won’t be hugging it out any time soon. Selena recently shared her feelings about life lessons and importance of loyalty on Instagram Live, stating, “The biggest lesson that I've been learning since 2016 would definitely be awareness.” she continued I think it's really important to be aware of like, the people that you're surrounding yourself with, the people that are purposefully the ones you are spending time with.” Needless to say, Selena makes an excellent point, and over 125,000 people watched and liked her live stream session…including none other than Taylor Swift. Seriously, we’re envious of their friendship and we’re confident that Selena will continue to surround herself with positive people in 2017.

13 She Left Her Ex BF Baggage Behind

It feels like we have been following Selena and Justin's rollercoaster relationship for as long as we can remember, but it appears that Selena has finally dropped Bieber like a bad habit. Justin and Selena were arguably each other’s first loves, being romantically linked as far back as 2010. The twosome was in their early teens at the time and each of them were up and coming in the realms of music and television. Although ‘Jelena’ was considered to be one seriously cute couple back in the day, Justin had proven himself time and time again to be totally toxic for Selena. The couple would often break up only to make up, leaving fans and followers wondering why Selena couldn’t just kick him to the curb. Of course, leaving your first love behind is no easy task, but eventually, the "Good For You" singer came to the realization that Bieber just wasn’t good for her at all. Now that Selena has broken free from Justin’s spell, we’re pretty certain that a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. It’s obvious that Bieber was a constant source of disappointment unnecessary stress, and we know that in 2017, a Bieber-free Selena will only continue to flourish.

12 She’s Not Letting Body Shamers Get Her Down

Being in the spotlight comes with great advantages, but celebrities are also often faced with some super harsh critics. Last year, some online sleuths had a whole lot to say about Selena’s body (and so-called "weight gain") after she was seen sporting a less than flattering one-piece swimsuit while on vacation. Of course, having millions of people critique every aspect of your body can be super discouraging, but this year, Selena’s hitting back at her haters in a big way. The "Kill Em With Kindness" songstress knows that lashing out at her nay-sayers won’t solve anything, but her recent risqué snapshot that was shared to social media was the ultimate clap-back. The star seductively posed sitting in front of a mirror while wearing only a thong and a white towel draped over her chest. Gomez definitely knows how to generate a media frenzy, and this time she was certainly the talk of the town. We love seeing Selena embrace her curves and show off her positive body image. This bold move proves that she’s proud of what she’s got and she won’t let others make her feel insecure about her looks any longer. We love Selena’s edgy new image and we totally applaud her confidence.

11 She Made A Return To Social Media

After taking a well-deserved time-out from her busy career, Selena gradually resurfaced on her social media platforms towards the end of 2016. Following three months of total silence, she finally made a highly-anticipated return to Instagram last November. The gracious star shared an inspirational message with her fans: “I have a lot to be thankful for this year. My year has been the hardest yet most rewarding one yet. I’ve finally fought the fight of not ‘being enough. I have only wanted to reflect the love you guys have given me for years and show how important it is to take care of YOU. By grace through faith. Kindness always wins.” Since restoring her online presence, Selena has continued to be a force to be reckoned with. With social media being a driving force for her career, it’s super important that she decided to come back when the time was right for her. Now that she’s back, she’s undisputedly better than ever, and her fans continue to rally around her with their love and support. It’s clear to see that 2017 is Selena’s for the taking, just call her the comeback kid!

10 She Has New Music Coming Out

When Selena Gomez lends her vocals to a song, you’d better believe it’s going to be pure fire. Selena’s last albums have been huge successes, leaving fans wanting more from their favorite singing sensation. Well, if you’ve been impatiently waiting for Selena to release new music, you’re totally in luck. It has been confirmed that Gomez will be making a comeback to the music world in the very near future. The star has recorded a track with pop star Paulina Rubio for her upcoming album that’s slated to drop some time in 2017. This is epic news for dedicated Selena fans, as the star hasn’t released new music since early last year with the Charlie Puth hit collaboration, "We Don’t Talk Anymore." Selena also took to Insta to tease the possibility of new music to her millions of followers earlier this month after posting a video of herself singing along to an unknown track. If she continues to pump out new hits, Selena is surely guaranteed to have her biggest year to date.

9 She Has A New Show On Netflix

At just 24 years old, she definitely wears many hats.  She’s already been the star of her own show on the Disney channel, she’s been in more movies than we can count, and she’s sold millions of albums worldwide. She’s already so much more than a singer and an actress, and now she can add executive producer to her lengthy list of accomplishments. She recently offered fans a sneak peek on Twitter at her most recent “passion project” – a series on Netflix called 13 Reasons Why (based on the YA novel by Jay Asher). Although Selena doesn’t actually have an acting role on the show, she showcased her talents from behind the screen. She recently shared her feelings on the upcoming project, saying, “It’s something I’ve always loved to do, creating content that inspires people, that moves people. Why I love filmmaking, why I love making music is because it affects people. That’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of -- whether I’m in it or not, I want to make things great.” We love that Selena is trying her hand at new things this year and we can’t wait to see what else she surprises us with in 2017.

8 She’s The Queen Of Endorsements

Selena is by far one of the biggest celebrities in the world right now, and with fame inevitably comes power. You’ve probably heard the expression ‘strike while the iron is hot,” and Selena is definitely doing just that. She has become the reigning queen of big-brand endorsements, landing coveted contracts with Coca-Cola, Verizon, Louis Vuitton, Pantene and more recently Coach. Even after her turbulent year, Selena is still Hollywood’s “it” girl in many ways. She has lent her name and likeness to a handful of extremely prevalent ad campaigns, making it virtually impossible not to stumble across her any time you open a magazine or turn on your TV. Selena’s most recent deal with Coach has reportedly earned her a cool $10 million to be the face of their brand, and the money just keeps rolling in. Selena is living proof that despite whatever obstacles come your way, you can overcome them and come back better than you were before. There’s no way around it, Selena Gomez is sure to be unstoppable in 2017.

7 She Still Has More Followers Than Anyone Else

Even though Selena took a bit of a hiatus from all things social media, her absence certainly hasn’t affected her title as the most followed person on Instagram. Yup, Selena is the single most followed person on the entire platform. She even beat out Beyonce and every member of the Kardashians (by a lot, we might add)! To date, Selena has 108 million followers, and that number only continues to grow. How exactly did she manage to pull off that seemingly impossible task, you ask? Your guess is as good as ours, but one thing is for sure: people can’t seem to get enough of Selena Gomez. She’s been a fixture on the star circuit since she was 15 and starring on Disney’s Wizards Of Waverly Place, and her celeb status has only skyrocketed ever since. Gomez definitely has a likable personality and an image that everyone from young children to mature adults can somehow relate to. Selena has proven herself to be the total package in all aspects of her career, and you have to admit, that’s just too impressive to pass up.

6 She’s Working On A New Movie

Selena has been hard at work on project after project, and she’s been diligently putting the finishing touches on her newest movie release. She will reprise her lead role as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 3. While most of her voice-over work has already been completed, there is still plenty of work to be done. The film, which was originally scheduled to debut later this year, has been pushed back to hit theaters in September 2018. The animated movie is currently in post-production, with the voice actors and film crew adding all of the necessary final pieces to ensure the film’s success at the box office. Selena is starring alongside some of Hollywood’s top earners including Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, to name a few. In addition to lending her voice to the movie, Gomez is sure to be actively promoting it every chance she gets in the coming months. There’s no doubt that Selena’s work ethic is something we should all strive for, and it’s just another reason she’s sure to shine in 2017.

5 She’s Already Getting Award Noms

The new year has just gotten started, but Selena Gomez already has a lot of exciting events to look forward to. For starters, she has already been nominated for the highly sought-after “Female Artist of the Year” at the upcoming 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards. This award show is notorious for having some of the biggest names in music present, and needless to say, it’s kind of a big deal. Though our girl is a strong contender, she is nominated alongside some seriously steep competition such as Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Sia, and Adele. On top of that, Gomez is also one of the multiple acts scheduled to perform at the event. Another artist set to perform is Selena’s on-again/off-again old flame, Justin Bieber. We know that after a rocky year and ahead of a strong comeback, Selena Gomez has everything she needs to crush her performance and walk away with another award. Even if she doesn’t triumph against the other female artists in her category, her fans already know that Selena is already a winner.

4 She’s Taking Time For Herself

With a hectic schedule like Selena’s, it’s super important to set aside some time to unwind. Especially after an incredibly stressful year, taking time away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood is key to Selena’s health and overall happiness. This January, Gomez and her new boyfriend, The Weeknd, took off to Italy for a much-needed romantic getaway. The couple was spotted out in Florence enjoying the sights... and each other. The pair surely enjoyed their alone time and indulged in the country’s fine cuisine. An onlooker spoke to the press regarding the famous couple, stating, "They booked the entire restaurant so that no one could get in there” before adding that they were laughing and chatting up a storm during their date. We think it’s great that Selena is enjoying herself a little more than she used to. With the right balance of work and relaxation, she will definitely be at the top of her game going into 2017.

3 She’s Not Taking The Bait

We’re not entirely sure what would prompt someone to start a feud with someone as sweet as Selena Gomez, but it happens more often than you would think! Although she has millions of loyal fans, even Selena has her fair share of haters. Unfortunately for Gomez, her biggest proponents happen to be within her inner circle. Selena’s outspoken ex Justin Bieber recently spoke out against Selena’s new love interest in an attempt to insult The Weeknd’s musical talents. After being questioned by a TMZ cameraman about her feelings on the star’s music, Bieber bluntly stated “Hell no I can’t listen to a Weeknd song. That s—t is whack.” Can’t Bieber just stay out of Selena’s business for once? On top of that, The Weeknd’s ex, Bella Hadid, has allegedly accused Selena of using him for fame. Hadid reportedly reached out to the rapper to warn him of Selena's “pattern with men." Fortunately, The Weekend didn’t take the claims too seriously, and Selena hasn’t engaged in any Twitter wars with either of their bitter exes. We’re glad that Selena is taking the high road this year by refusing to engage in any star-powered feuds. She’s proving herself to be a better person and in a much happier place than before. Although…we might have to start taking bets on how long it takes before Bieber and Bella hook up just for spite.

2 She’s Got A Clear Mind

There’s no doubt that last year was a super stressful one for Selena, and we give her props for acknowledging when things got to be too much to handle and sought out the help of professionals. Selena reportedly suffered from bouts of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and complications linked to her Lupus diagnosis throughout most of last year, and the star even went to rehab twice to sort through her issues. Being an incredibly famous 20-something can be exhausting, and it doesn’t help when you’re dealing with negative press and constant ex-BF drama in the public eye. Some people may have easily cracked under pressure, but not Selena. She took a step away from the spotlight, even though it meant canceling the bulk of her 2016 world tour. The star went silent on social media and took some time to gather her thoughts to get back into a positive headspace. Now that it seems like Selena has made some seriously big steps in the right direction, there’s nothing stopping her from dominating 2017 and making it her most fierce year yet -- both personally and professionally.

1 She’s Having The Last Laugh

Selena Gomez has accomplished a lot in a short period of time, but she’s human just like the rest of us and she needs some time to collect herself. Last year was undoubtedly a slippery slope for the superstar, but don’t be quick to count her out just yet. Selena Gomez is set to make a huge comeback in 2017, and at this rate, she’s sure to have her most successful year ever. Selena overcame her struggles and is crushing her competition in every sense of the word. Whether it comes to singing, acting, or just being the bigger person and not engaging in drama, Selena Gomez is definitely having the last laugh this time around. Sure, she hit a couple of bumps along the road in 2016, but shed brushes herself off, learned from her mistakes, and came back a better person. Selena has a lot to look forward to in 2017, including new music, new television projects, and a new guy who’s totally more than just a friend. Make no mistake: Selena Gomez is set to take the world by storm in a major way!

Sources: Elle.com,  CBSNews.com, DailyMail.co.uk, People.com

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