The 5 Most Iconic Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez Kisses: Why 'Jelena' Still Dominates Pop Culture In 2025
Despite both moving on to new chapters in their lives, the public fascination with the relationship between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, affectionately known as 'Jelena,' remains one of pop culture's most enduring sagas. As of December 2025, any speculation of a recent kiss is entirely unfounded; Justin Bieber is married to Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomez has recently tied the knot with music producer Benny Blanco. Yet, the images and memories of their public displays of affection continue to circulate, serving as a powerful timestamp of the early 2010s celebrity landscape. This article revisits the most iconic "Jelena" kisses that defined their tumultuous, decade-long on-again, off-again romance, examining why these moments are still discussed today.
The intensity of their young love, played out entirely in the public eye, created a mythology that transcends their current realities. From award show PDA to simple street-side smooches, each kiss was a headline, cementing their status as the ultimate celebrity power couple of their generation. We delve into the timeline, the context, and the lasting impact of these unforgettable moments on both their careers and the collective memory of their global fanbase.
The Complete Profile: Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
Understanding the context of their relationship requires a look at the two stars who defined a generation of pop music and teen television.
Justin Bieber: Biography & Profile
- Full Name: Justin Drew Bieber
- Born: March 1, 1994 (Age 31 in 2025)
- Birthplace: London, Ontario, Canada
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actor
- Breakthrough: Discovered on YouTube in 2008 by Scooter Braun and Usher.
- Key Albums: My World 2.0, Believe, Purpose, Changes, Justice
- Current Status (2025): Married to model Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin).
- Notable Entities: Usher, Scooter Braun, "Baby," Beliebers, Hailey Bieber, OLLG (One Less Lonely Girl).
Selena Gomez: Biography & Profile
- Full Name: Selena Marie Gomez
- Born: July 22, 1992 (Age 33 in 2025)
- Birthplace: Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
- Occupation: Singer, Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur
- Breakthrough: Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012).
- Key Albums: Stars Dance, Revival, Rare
- Current Status (2025): Married to music producer Benny Blanco.
- Notable Entities: Disney Channel, Wizards of Waverly Place, Rare Beauty, Only Murders in the Building, Lupus, Benny Blanco.
1. The 2011 Billboard Music Awards Kiss: The Public Confirmation
The "Jelena" relationship had been a subject of intense media speculation throughout late 2010. While they were frequently photographed together, the couple remained coy about their status. That all changed on May 22, 2011, at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
The Moment: As Justin Bieber won the award for Top New Artist, he walked past Selena Gomez's seat. In a spontaneous, yet highly publicized moment, Selena leaned in and gave him a quick, genuine kiss on the lips. This wasn't a posed photo op; it was a candid moment of celebration.
The Impact: This kiss was the definitive public confirmation of their romance. It launched them into the stratosphere of celebrity couples, making them the undisputed king and queen of the teen pop world. The image of the young stars, both at the peak of their early careers, kissing in front of the world, became an instant classic.
2. The Infamous 2016 Instagram Throwback Kiss Photo
Years after their initial split, and long after the peak of their first run, Justin Bieber reignited the "Jelena" fire with a single Instagram post in March 2016. The photo was a blurry, grainy throwback of the two of them kissing in a swimming pool.
The Moment: Justin captioned the photo simply with "Feels." The post immediately went viral, garnering millions of likes and comments within hours.
The Impact: This was a pivotal moment not because of a new kiss, but because of the intentional *re-sharing* of a past kiss. It proved that the emotional connection and public memory of "Jelena" were still incredibly powerful, even when both were seeing other people. The post fueled months of renewed speculation and demonstrated Justin's own nostalgia for that period of his life.
3. The 2017 Hockey Rink Kiss: The Final Reunion
After Selena Gomez's high-profile relationship with The Weeknd ended in late 2017, she and Justin Bieber were spotted spending time together again. Fans went into a frenzy, hoping for one last reunion.
The Moment: The most significant public display of affection during this final brief reconciliation occurred at a hockey rink in Los Angeles in November 2017. Justin was playing hockey, and Selena was watching from the sidelines. They were photographed sharing a sweet, intimate kiss through the glass barrier, confirming they were officially back on.
The Impact: This kiss marked the official return of "Jelena" for their final, short-lived chapter. It was a quieter, more mature display of affection than their award show days, symbolizing a relationship that had weathered years of drama, breakups, and public scrutiny. It was the last major public kiss documented before their final split in early 2018, which paved the way for Justin's quick engagement to Hailey Bieber later that year.
4. The Street-Side Smooch in LA (2018)
During their final reconciliation period, the couple was often seen on casual dates, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy away from the red carpets. One such moment captured the simple, everyday affection they shared.
The Moment: In February 2018, just before their final breakup, a fan caught footage of the couple sharing a quick, casual kiss while walking down a street in Los Angeles. It was a fleeting, unposed moment, showcasing the kind of everyday intimacy they rarely got to experience without a crowd.
The Impact: This moment, though less dramatic than the others, is important as one of the very last documented kisses. It represents the quiet end of an era, a final attempt at a normal, private relationship that ultimately couldn't withstand the pressure of their respective careers and personal struggles. Shortly after this, they took a "break" that became permanent.
5. The Jamaica Wedding Kiss Recreation (2018)
While not a kiss between them that was photographed, a moment from their trip to Jamaica for Justin's father's wedding became a viral talking point due to its similarity to an earlier, famous "Jelena" kiss.
The Moment: Photos from the trip showed Justin and Selena in a loving embrace, and fans immediately noticed that their posture and look of affection mirrored a famous 2011 kiss photo.
The Impact: This "recreation" was an emotional nod to their past, suggesting that even in the present, they were consciously or subconsciously referencing the iconic moments of their early romance. It was a final, sweet echo of the "Jelena" brand before their definitive separation and Justin's subsequent marriage announcement to Hailey Bieber.
Why the 'Jelena' Kiss Mythology Still Endures Today (2025)
The collective memory of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez's kisses continues to dominate pop culture for several key reasons, even as both stars are happily married in 2025.
The Power of Nostalgia and Timing
Their romance coincided perfectly with the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Every kiss, every date, and every breakup was instantly amplified globally, creating a shared cultural experience for millions of millennial and Gen Z fans. The relationship is a nostalgic time capsule of the early 2010s.
The Narrative of 'The One That Got Away'
The on-again, off-again nature of their relationship fueled the dramatic narrative that they were "soulmates" who were constantly trying to find their way back to each other. This narrative makes the finality of their split and their subsequent marriages all the more compelling, turning their kisses into tragic, romantic artifacts of a love that was not meant to be.
Selena's Recent Reflections
Selena Gomez has been open about the emotional depth of that period, even reflecting on the difference between a kiss "for fun" and a kiss where you "feel something behind it." Her vulnerability in her documentaries and interviews keeps the conversation about her past, including her relationship with Justin, alive and relevant. The media's focus on her current relationship with Benny Blanco often uses "Jelena" as a point of comparison, ensuring the old flame never completely fades from public view.
Ultimately, the kisses shared by Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were more than just moments of affection; they were historical markers of a young, intense, and globally scrutinized relationship that defined a generation of celebrity romance. While the chapter is closed, the iconic images of their love story will likely remain a fixture in pop culture history for decades to come.
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