Selena Gomez insists she's not looking for a boyfriend, even though she's a "big romantic".

In January of this year, it was reported that Gomez and on-off boyfriend Justin Bieber had broken up again after initially confirming their romance at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in February 2011.

Brunette beauty Gomez has revealed that she's putting her love life on hold for now.

In an interview with British newspaper The Sun she explained: “It makes you more wary sometimes about meeting people because you don’t know whether they want to get close to you because of what you do or because they really like your company and just want to hang out with you.

She added: “I’m a big romantic and I want to be very open and trusting but you need to protect yourself. I’d love to have a great boyfriend but I’m not really looking for one.”

Gomez is starring in R-rated crime drama Spring Breakers alongside former Disney starlet Vanessa Hudgens.

The 20-year-old beauty says unlike her character in the new movie, she'd rather shun parties and alcohol.

She confessed: “I’m not even a big party girl who wants to stay out until six in the morning. I have a natural instinct not to go overboard. That’s not because I’m worried about bad publicity but just because I think you can have a good time and not lose control, just because some other people might like to do that. People need to decide for themselves how far to test their limits and make up their minds.

“We all make mistakes and we have to learn from them, and that’s what growing up is all about. I think my fans trust me and know me to a certain extent and there’s also something to my not wanting to disappoint them.”