Selena Gomez reckons she has turned her break up with Justin Bieber into a positive.

The singer had been dating the 'Believe' man for a number of years before splitting up last year, despite having what seems to be a few reconciliations since.

Speaking to Seventeen magazine, Gomez said that the "really bad" break up actually allowed her to step up to plate and become more independent.

She said: "This year is when I really started feeling powerful. 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."

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

Gomez meanwhile has been busy promoting her new film Rudderless, which has been directed by William H. Macy.