Because it looks like he just put a ring on her finger…

There’d been a lot of speculation last year about the pair taking the next step in their relationship, particularly during that trying period in Justin‘s life when he had a paternity claim hanging over his head. But they’ve denied these allegations time and time again. This time, we have photographic proof…Selena posted an Instagram of their joined hands, and a blinged-out band with the letter “J”…

“I’m finally home :)”

Selena captioned the photo with a smile.

So it this it?

Especially coming on the heels of her bursting into tears during her concert tour in Argentina recently, right in the middle of her “Hit The Lights” song about “the boy you never told I like you…”

Add that to her enigmatically mysterious caption, and you have a possible engagement on your hands.

Unless it’s a Valentine’s Day gift from Justin. Or a promise ring.

What do you think?

Photos Via Selena Gomez‘s Instagram / Justin Bieber‘s Instagram

Aaww.

We don’t really blame them. If you’re reigning prince and princess of teen pop music, why let a paltry matter like a major awards show get in between your pre-Valentine’s Day date.

And we’re sure both Justin and Selena have work commitments on V-Day day, so they got to work on making beautiful music together earlier in the week. After all, Valentine’s Day is still a big deal with teens all over the western world. Even for the reigning prince and princess of teen pop music.

The young couple skipped music’s biggest night and decided to grab dinner at Chanpen Thai Cuisine in New York City instead. And in the middle of dinner, tweeted their congratulations to the winners of this year’s Grammy Awards, just to stay in the loop.

“@officialAdele, well done,”

Justin sent a shoutout to the English singer who swept six awards that night.

“congrats to all the winner’s tonight. Glad to see friends of mine doing there (sic) thing. Next year we are coming with #BELIEVE.”

Justin and Selena weren’t the only A-list couple to skip the Grammy’s this year. New parents, Beyonce and Jay-Z left their baby daughter Blue Ivy at home and were spotted snacking on slices at Lucali, their favorite pizzeria in Brooklyn. Which meant Jay-Z wasn’t around to accept the award he shared with Kanye West for Best Rap Performance for “Otis” from their album “Watch the Throne.” For that matter, Kanye was a no-show, as well.

We think Justin and Selena (and Beyonce and Jay-Z) had a rollicking pre-Valentine’s date night last Sunday. Don’t you?

Photo Via Justin Bieber’s Instagram

Selena, 19, unexpectedly began crying in the middle of the first verse of her song, “Hit The Lights,” which made a huge departure from her usual professional demeanor. Was the former Disney star feeling the stress of going on tour, or was she just missing her boyfriend, Justin Bieber?

As soon as she sang the words, “it’s the boy you never told I like you,” the waterworks suddenly turned on.

Hmmm…looks like the pressure of touring in South America has gotten to her…either that, or there’s trouble in Selena and Bieber-land. They’ve been dating for almost a year, after all. Maybe their relationship has reached a plateau, like all other teenage romances do?

Despite looking sexily mature in a sequined blue show costume with an open, floor-length skirt, high-waisted bikini pants and a plunging halter top, plus a slightly more punk hairdo streaked with blue, purple and blonde extensions, Selena‘s bursting into tears onstage didn’t exactly look womanly. Unless you count the fact that J. Lo did it, too, not so long ago.

What do you think is going on with Selena Gomez these days?

Photo Via Video Screen Grab

Apparently, Miley bowed out of the animated film, and is no longer voicing the part of Dracula’s (Adam Sandler‘s) daughter in “Hotel Transylvania.” Maybe Miley felt an animated flick would bring back her Disney image, something which she’s been assiduously avoiding by doing all manner of crazy/racy stuff…

Selena Gomez, who’s gradually graduated from child star to a more mature entertainer, is taking Miley‘s part instead. Looks like Selena‘s not afraid to take anyone’s leavings, or be a producer’s second choice for a role. Even if it’s for an animated film.

The movie follows Dracula (Sandler), who operates a high-end resort away from the human world and goes into panic mode when a boy discovers the place and falls for the Count’s teen-aged daughter, who’ll be played by Gomez.

And if you think about it, doesn’t Selena appear more the vamp than Miley does?

Photos By PR Photos

Does that mean the “Wizards of Waverly Place” actress hasn’t ever been normal with anyone else she’s been with? And while were at it, what counts as normal for the 19-year-old former Disney star, other than acting like any other kid who’s crazy in love with her boyfriend, that is?

“I’m just like every 19-year-old girl,”

Selena tells Cosmopolitan Magazine.

“If you’re in love, you’re in love to the fullest, and you just want to go to the movies, hang out, and be as normal as possible. I’m fortunate that I’ve found someone who has that philosophy.”

If normal means frolicking with Justin Bieber at sundry exotic locations like Hawaiian beaches or Los Cabos in Mexico.

“I was in a relationship previously where I had to hide everything and it wasn’t my choice,”

Selena continues, referring to anyone of the male celebrities she’s been linked to at one time or another: Taylor Lautner, Nick Jonas, Allstar Weekend’s Cameron Quiseng…take your pick.

“I had to go through different exits and take separate cars and do the craziest things, and it just really wasn’t worth it. It was like a year of my life completely wasted.”

And as Selena has been very public about her relationship with Justin (after Ellen de Generes caught her out on her show earlier last year), it seems she’s in a much happier place.

“[Love] is the most powerful thing,”

she declares.

“When it comes to my family, friends, a relationship … it centers me. You only live once, and I want to be proud of everything that I do and just have fun. I want to be able to say that I had a really fulfilled, fun life.”

And somewhere in his gym, still pumping iron, Justin Bieber puffs out his newly-muscled chest while flicking his figurative middle finger at Reese Witherspoon…

Photo Via Justin Bieber’s Instagram

We know Selena isn’t the type to go full-charge into adulthood, racy exhibitionist-type wardrobes, and even more risqué behavior (yoo-hoo, Miley Cyrus!), but her Cosmopolitan cover geared at a young and hip crowd may have gone a tad overboard, especially for her younger fans…

Selena’s cover includes such headlines as “50 Sex Tips” and “Your Orgasm Guaranteed,” with the subhead: “The New Tricks Experts Swear By.” And with these glaring type right next to Selena‘s face, what would young, impressionable people who admire the former Disney star think?

While this isn’t exactly Selena‘s first Cosmo cover (she appeared on the Russian edition of the magazine last October), this one is the raciest so far. Some parent groups say many young teens read the magazine, and are introduced to causal sex via articles glamorizing promiscuity. Moreover, using celebrities on covers with a large teen following like Selena Gomez, encourages 12- to 14-year-olds to pick up the magazine and read these articles.

We understand Selena‘s an adult, but do you think she should start picking which publications she chooses to lend her image to?

Photo Via Cosmopolitan Magazine, March Issue

This Disney baby sure grew up…but so gradually, we hardly noticed until she pulls off outfits like this one.

Selena‘s costume had a very low-cut top and a high-cut flowing skirt that opened up to bikini shorts. Does this signify that this is the year she’ll finally show us she’s ready to turn up the heat on her act starting with adding purple extensions to her hair a week ago?

Selena is currently touring South America, Central America and the Caribbean, including Panama City, Mexico City, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires in a 10-stop trip that’s an extension of her “We Own the Night Tour” which began last year with her band The Seldom Scene.

“Puerto Rico– 4 hours til show time, so excited to be back such a fun place to kick off my South American Tour it’s like my second home. Love you all,”

Selena wrote on her Facebook wall.

Slowly but surely, she’s been leaving behind her squeaky clean Disney image for a more adult act. And while Selena hasn’t gone off on a 360 degree abrupt change like fellow Disney alum, Miley Cyrus, she does show more leg and cleavage than ever  yet still manages to balance her sex appeal without compromising her image.

Way to go, Selena…

Photo Via Video Screen Grab

For Justin, it isn’t so much a new ‘do as a resurrection of an old one…something we haven’t seen in quite a while: that sideswept bowl cut which made every young girl swoon the moment he went “baby, baby, baby…oooohhhhh” way back in 2008. And Selena…well, Selena went go-for-broke with some eye-popping color…

“Change is good”

Selena wrote on her Twitter page, posting an accompanying photo featuring her brightly-colored electric blue and lavender locks.

Justin, on the other hand, made no such new hairstyle announcement of his own, but simply showed up at the 2012 International Consumer Electronic Show with his new hair, and fiddled with a robot that appeared to have a speaker attached to its groin.

Does sporting these new ‘dos mean both Justin and Selena are displaying new outlooks for 2012, as well? It seems they both went in different directions altogether, with Justin opting for a “blast from the past,” and Selena exploring heretofore unchartered punk territory.

You like?

Photos By PR Photos / Selena Gomez‘s Twitter

Sinead O’Connor calls of calling off her marriage, is batshit insane

Beyonce had a daughter Ivy Blue Carter - Blue Ivy Carter!

Afternoon Insights: Lady Gaga is all boobs & weirdness

Katy Perry Twitter rant: ‘No one speaks for me’ including family, Photos, video

Sexy bikini shots of Cameron Diaz in Hawaii

Jersey Shore: A guide to the extended cast

7 best cop movies you cant resist…

Royals attend “War Horse” premier

FYI to the unaware, Demi considers Selena her best friend, while she’s credited Kim Kardashian a lot for helping her get through some of the most trying times in her life, particularly during her stint in rehab last year for treatment of Bi-Polar II, eating and cutting disorders…

Hmmm…looks like Selena and Kim were too busy to grace Demi‘s event with their presence, so we guess the “Skyscraper” singer just had to be content with their heartfelt emails to celebrate her February 2012 Seventeen Magazine cover.

“Thank you for always being a true friend, for always following your heart and for being an inspiration to me and countless other girls around the world,”

went Kim‘s email, which Seventeen’s editor in chief Ann Shoket read to Demi at The Redbury hotel’s Cleo restaurant in Hollywood.

“Your strength and kindness will never go unnoticed.”

Selena also sent her best regards in a second, longer email:

“You have courage—courage to want to change to be better for yourself,”

Selena wrote.

“The amount of respect I have for you is indescribable. You have gone through one of the hardest chapters in your life and I praise you for wanting to share that journey and walk away from it all as a better person. Thank you for trusting me and wanting me there during that hard time. I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am of the role model that you have become.”

And given that Demi did find a tremendous amount of courage to make a successful comeback, maybe both Selena and Kim may very well find time in their busy lives to give their support in person at Demi‘s next big event…

Photos By PR Photos / Seventeen Magazine February 2012 Cover

After all, Demi did punch a backup dancer in the face back in 2010 after they had a heated argument on a plane. And we all know Miley’s a bit of a firecracker too, as evidenced by the fact that she cussed out a fan who was rude to her just last month.

In a recent interview with Seventeen magazine, Demi shares:

“There are two people that no matter how many times we fight, we will always be in each other’s lives.”

According to Demi, Miley Cyrus is one of them. However, she admits that when she and Miley fight, it can get ugly. She explains:

“Miley and I are very strong-headed, so when we fight, it’s brutal and we’re like, ‘We’re never going to be friends again!’“

But they always make up! Demi continues:

“…two days later, we’re like, ‘I love you and I miss you!’”

The other friend Demi can never cut out of her life is of course her longtime BFF, Selena Gomez. However, unlike Demi and the feisty Miss Cyrus, she and Justin Bieber’s ladylove never fight. Demi admits:

“Selena and I, we never fight. She’s not a confrontational person at all.”

She adds:

“Both of them will never leave my life no matter what happens, because we’ve been through so much together.””

Aside from Miley and Selena, Demi is also thankful for her other friends, such as Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian, who were there for her when she was in rehab. She shares:

“We’re not super-close, but Taylor Swift tweeted ‘Pray for Demi,’ which I thought was really awesome of her. And Kim Kardashian, the busiest woman on the planet, took time to call me… [Kim] was there for me when not many people were. I could count on my hands how many people were there for me. So the people who were, I didn’t forget it.”

Photos By PR Photos

Showing a maturity well beyond her 19 years, Selena expressed her gratitude to fans for understanding why she had to cancel the rest of her holiday concerts to be with her mom, Mandy and stepfather, Brian Teefy after she got the news of her mother’s miscarriage while she was in the audience during Power 106′s Cali Christmas 2011 concert in Los Angeles…

“Belated Merry Christmas everybody.. I can’t thank you enough for all of your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate every one of you.. I love you all so much and we hope you and your family had a beautiful Christmas! Love, Me, Momma, Brian and our guardian angel Scarlett. God bless”

Selena wrote on her Facebook wall, identifying the gender and name of what was to be her little sister.

Let’s pray the rest of the holidays help heal Selena and her family’s anguish at the loss of their little angel. After all, 2012 is a new day dawning just around the corner…

Photo By PR Photos

Britney Spears might be engaged

Jennifer Aniston talks about her skin and reveals that she no longer smokes

Afternoon Insights: Jennifer Lopez gets mad when people think she’s her boyfriend’s mom

Ellen DeGeneres buys Brad Pitt’s Malibu beach home

Pippa Middleton walks to work

Kobe Bryant’s wife files for divorce, joins most necessary breakups of 2011

Angelina Jolie is fabulous as always for Marie Claire…

Kate Beckinsale does “Flaunt”

Photo By PR Photos

Last month, Selena was so excited upon learning that her mom, Mandy, and stepfather, Brian Teefy, were expecting a little bundle of joy, she immediately took to Twitter to broadcast the good news.

“Momma and Brian are finally letting me share the news… My mommys carrying my baby brother or sister :) I’m the happiest girl in the world!”

Selena posted a shoutout to her 9 million Twitter followers last November 26.

Unfortunately, right when Selena was in the audience at the Power 106′s Cali Christmas 2011 concert in Los Angeles last night, tragic news came that Mandy had lost the baby…

Selena immediately left the show and headed home to be with her devastated family. Her scheduled performance on MTV’s live New Year’s Eve special hosted by her pal Demi Lovato and “Teen Wolf” star Tyler Posey has also been canceled.

Our prayers go out to Selena and her family as they go through this painful time…

Photos By PR Photos / Selena Gomez‘s Twitter

Is this piece of news that Selena‘s jumping the gun on The Bieb true? Because we’ve even gotten the impression there’s parental approval backing this move. Is Selena going to turn the tables around and make Justin Bieber the youngest male pop star ever to be engaged at the age of 17?

Yes, she’s allegedly getting him a ring!

“Selena is crazy about Justin, and she hates seeing him so upset over the paternity allegations,”

a source told The National Enquirer.

“He’s been on edge thinking Selena might leave him, so she wants to get him a ring to show that she’s with him for the long haul.”

Earlier this month, Selena was seen sporting a ring of her own, but her reps denied Justin had popped the question. This time it seems like Selena‘s giving the rumor of an upcoming engagement a feminist twist by doing the honors herself.

Even Justin‘s mom, Pattie reportedly approves of Selena‘s plan.

“Pattie thinks Justin is talking about having kids partly because he’s afraid of losing Selena. But if Selena proposes, Pattie thinks Justin will feel more secure, and she’ll be able to talk them into putting off a wedding and kids.”

So The Bieb‘s been trying to knock his girlfriend up so she wouldn’t leave him, and Selena‘s giving him a ring for Christmas to reassure him she’ll stick around…so he wouldn’t try to get her in the family way?

How logical do you think that is?

Photo by PR Photos

Courtney Stodden stuffs her bikini, has droopy camel toe

The marriage of Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith is over? New reports

Pics! Matt Damon gets teeth dirty filming SNL with Katy Perry & Andy Samberg

Robert Griffin III wins Heisman Trophy: Photos, Video

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber on vacation in Los Cabos

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter apparates to California

Did James Cameron steal Avatar?

Jennifer Aniston tops list for hottest woman of all time

Photo By PR Photos

Hmmm…didn’t she deny similar rumors that she and Justin were a couple last year, too? Maybe she’ll emerge red-faced from another Ellen DeGeneres interview after crafty Ellen makes her put her foot into her mouth again…

In any case, Selena‘s publicist went on record to say that no, Selena is definitely not engaged to Justin Bieber.

“She is not engaged.”

the publicist confirmed with US Weekly earlier this week.

Because didn’t Selena make it very clear she doesn’t want to get married until her mid-twenties?

“If the time is right, I definitely want to be married by 25,”

Selena said in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily three months ago.

“[But] I’m not looking to get married now.”

So meanwhile, she and Justin will continue to do torrid PDA all around town like they did in their recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, where they attended a wedding, complete with their now-signature bikini frolic under the sun.

Ready to do an exposé, Ellen?

Photos by PR Photos

Does this mean Justin‘s finally going to be a daddy, after all…and for real? *gasp*

And here we thought Selena was a good girl… well, at least a good enough girl to carry her own contraception for just in case…

Hold your horses, Beliebers and Selena fans. The former Disney star did have some baby news of her own…only it isn’t her baby, but her mom’s.

“Momma and Brian are finally letting me share the news…”

Selena shared on Twitter .

“My mommys carrying my baby brother or sister :) I’m the happiest girl in the world!”

She gushed, attaching an Instagram photo of her mom and step-dad bending over the beginnings of a baby bump.

Selena‘s mom, who divorced her biological dad when Selena was five, remarried the singer’s stepdad, Brian Teefy, in 2006, and now they’re about to gift heretofore only child Selena with a sibling of her own.

In the meantime, Selena (and Justin) remain content to share parenting duties for their adopted baby, Baylor.

Do we hear a lot of  “whews!” from you all?

Image via Twitter

Selena may be facing a scandal (well actually, her boyfriend is) right now, but that didn’t stop her from joining her best friend Taylor Swift onstage. The two sang Selena’s hit song “Who Says” together on Tuesday—and you can barely hear their voices in this video since the audience is going wild.

Before Selena came out to the stage, Taylor gave her a sweet and touching introduction:

“On special occasions you want to be surrounded by your friends… and one of my best friends, she is such an amazing singer. In our four years of being best friends we’ve never sung onstage together.”

Selena tweeted after the performance:

“Performing at Madison Square Garden with my best friend was a highlight.. Congratulations Taylor on Speak Now tour!! Love you ”

Aawww. Check out Taylor and Selena’s duet now:

image via Selena Gomez‘s Twitter

Justin wore a black tuxedo and bow tie in the 1940 smoking jacket style, slicking his hair back with a sharp side part, while Selena wore a long, classic Giorgio Armani dress in light gold lame. Entertainment news today took one long look at Bieber and…is the kid wearing mascara and tinted lip gloss? Scroll down, take a look at the photos and tell us what you think…

We love the way Selena‘s slit rides up her thighs and displays those long legs of hers. Unlike some former Disney child stars, she’s gradually revealing her more mature style at the age of 19 without assaulting the public’s eyes at every turn. And her career’s doing great, too…kind of like a slow, steady burn instead of a flash-in-the-pan instant burnout.

Their show of unity at the AMAs bodes very well for Justin‘s case, and he’s determined to take that paternity test alleged baby mama, Mariah Yeater’s legal team is forcing on him, just to prove he didn’t spread his sperm around indiscriminately.

Oh, and, love those teeth, Justin. New veneers?

Image via video screen grabs