Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco were friends for years. Then one day, everything changed.

After one year of dating, Selena Gomez is engaged to her producer boyfriend, Benny Blanco.

The couple's engagement announcement has everyone talking, but not for obvious reasons. The musical duo shared their happy news on December 11, with Selena posting photos that showed off not just her stunning marquise diamond ring, but a rather unique proposal scene.

She was pictured sitting on a picnic rug, with perfectly positioned Taco Bell, which makes perfect sense given Selena's well-documented love for the fast-food chain.

Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed something suss about the 'outdoor setting', as the trees looked decidedly artificial and there appeared to be a cityscape backdrop. In a second photo, fans could see what appeared to be a soundstage as the grass had a suspicious endpoint where the studio lighting began.

Fans speculated that Benny might have been recreating their Central Park picnic dates from May, on a soundstage in LA, so they could enjoy a private park proposal.

Selena Gomez enjoys her proposal picnic. Image: Instagram.

Selena's second post showed she was in a soundstage or studio. Image: Instagram.

The proposal follows a trend of the couple doing things in their own unique way.

Back in 2023, Gomez confirmed the relationship in the comments section of pop culture Instagram account Pop Factions on December 7, simply writing "facts" on a post speculating about her new relationship.

Blanco, FYI, is a 35-year-old producer who has worked on songs with Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Justin Bieber (...yep!), as well as with Gomez herself.

Watch: the horoscopes in relationships. Post continues below video.

Gomez, 31, also liked the Pop Faction account's post titled "Selena Gomez Is Rumoured To Be Dating Producer Benny Blanco", and later shared a photo to her own Instagram Story featuring a man who very much looked like him.

Then she started defending Blanco against haters in the comments, who criticised not only him but questioned her self-esteem.

Among her responses, she wrote that Benny "treated me better than any human being on this planet," she told one user. "He’s still better than anyone I've ever been with. Facts," she wrote to another.

How did Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco meet?

Before becoming a couple, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco were actually music industry pals.

Their professional relationship kicked off back in 2015 when Blanco produced some tracks on Gomez's Revival album, including 'Kill Em with Kindness' and 'Same Old Love'.

They kept collaborating over the years, working together on 'I Can't Get Enough' in 2019 and 'Single Soon' in 2023. Things took a romantic turn around Gomez's birthday in July 2023, though their first date was quite amusing: Blanco didn't even realise it was a date until Gomez mentioned she would've dressed differently for a date.

When did Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco start dating?

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's romance blossomed quietly around mid-2023. The pair kept their relationship under wraps for six months before going public in December 2023.

"The first time we were hanging out, where it was leaning towards that way [romantically], we were both talking about our love lives," Blanco told Sirius XM.

"And then just before we knew it, it just kind of happened."

Their love story actually began when Gomez attended a birthday party to meet Blanco's friend, which unexpectedly led to romantic feelings.

After months of secret dating, Gomez finally confirmed their relationship through Instagram in December 2023, declaring him "her absolute everything".

What have Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco said about their relationship?

During an interview with Vanity Fair in September, Gomez boasted about her relationship with Blanco, saying "I've never been loved this way."

"He's just been a light. A complete light in my life," Gomez said. "He's my best friend. I love telling him everything."

During the interview, Gomez noted she wasn't rushing into marriage with Blanco. "We always make sure we're protecting what we have, but there's no rules," she said.

"I want him to always be himself. I always want to be myself."

How did Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco get engaged and when is their wedding?

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have officially announced their engagement, with Gomez sharing the news on Instagram alongside the caption "forever begins now".

The couple celebrated with a romantic picnic, where Blanco proposed with a stunning 6-carat marquise diamond ring.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)

Their famous friends, including Taylor Swift and Lily Collins, have shared their excitement in the comments. At this early stage, the couple haven't spoken about any wedding plans, but Selena has said she wouldn't be taking Benny's surname.

"I'm not changing my name no matter what. I am Selena Gomez. That's it," she told Vanity Fair.

Feature image: Getty.

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