Picture yourself entering a room full of artists.
Then, you see one artist standing behind another, examining each brushstroke in great detail.
First, there are a few minor parallels–a thoughtful selection of texture here, an additional pop of color there.
However, as time passes, the copying gets increasingly noticeable. The second artist isn’t just inspired, they are doing the exact same work as the artist in front of them.
Now imagine Selena Gomez as the original creator and Hailey Bieber as the second artist.
One can’t help but notice the remarkable similarities between Hailey and Selena’s public persona.
But is this just inspiration, or is it something more deep: a quiet form of copying?
As Selena blossoms in her personal life, Hailey and Justin Bieber’s relationship has started to show signs of strain.
Fans who have kept a close eye on the complexity of the couple’s marriage have started to see that Justin may not be as emotionally committed to Hailey as he previously was.
Justin’s instagram posts have users alarmingly concerned, calling Justin “the next Kanye West.”
It’s always dangerous for the public to speculate on a celebrity’s relationship, but it’s difficult to overlook Justin’s behavior change.
Although Hailey hasn’t made any public remarks on the marital status, a lot of fans are starting to think that Justin might be emotionally fading.
But what has caused this mania? And what does Selena have to do with it?
Pop culture has long discussed the conflict between Hailey and Selena.
After the 2018 split between Selena and Justin, many have come up with theories that Hailey has ‘retroactive jealousy,’ which is a condition where someone experiences jealousy towards their partner’s exes.
However, a surprising perspective has surfaced: a lot of fans are starting to realize that Hailey seems to be mirroring Selenain a number of ways.
An increasing amount of evidence indicates Hailey has been subtly copying Selena’s look and character since “Hailey Bieber’s Decade Long Obsession,” a seven part series, resurfaced on TikTok.
American model and social media influencer Hailey Bieber is primarily known for her marriage with pop sensation, Justin Bieber.
Justin and Hailey tied the knot in 2018, and fans have questioned their marriage due to Justin’s past history with Selena.
Although it’s been seven years since Justin and Selena’s relationship ended, fans couldn’t help but question why Justin decided to marry Hailey just three months after his split from Selena.
In recent years, fans have taken note of Hailey’s weird persona.
For example, in a 2020 interview with Jimmy Fallon, Fallon asked if Hailey had been a Belieber (fanbase name for Justin Bieber, combining his name with the word Believe) before meeting Justin.
Hailey said, “He was so new that I didn’t really know a lot about him yet.”
Users found this quite strange, since there is footage and images of Hailey attending premiers–the same premiers as Justin–eyeing him, which has only grown user concerns about Hailey’s “obsession.”
Cooking Show: Shared Coincidence?
One of the most glaring examples of Hailey’s imitation of Selena comes in the form of their cooking shows.
In 2020, Gomez debuted her cooking show Selena + Chef on HBO Max, which quickly became popular.
In order to share her attempts at different recipes and gain knowledge, Selena invited renowned chefs to her kitchen.
The series’ realistic and intimate tone won over fans, and it revealed another side of Selena’s character.
Three years later, Hailey’s What’s In My Kitchen? series appeared on YouTube.
While Hailey’s show had a different structure and concentrated more on chatter with loved ones while cooking, the similar concept and timing caused people to take notice.
In the first episode, Selena says that her show takes place at her real home.
“Everything that we’re doing is at home.”
Hailey then said the same thing.
“We actually are in my real kitchen and my real house, this is not a set.”
In the intro of Selena’s episode, it shows Selena adjusting the camera to kick off the first episode.
Hailey does the same thing on YouTube, adjusting the camera to start off the episode.
The ‘G’ Tattoo: Copycat Strategy?
If the cooking shows weren’t enough, there’s another specific detail. Selena has the letter G inked behind her ear.
Gomez got hers in 2019, which she revealed was a tribute to her little sister, Gracie Elliot Teefey.
The tattoo represents Teefey’s name initial, signifying a close bond with her sibling.
Selena said she got the tattoo sometime around in 2012.
In 2015, Hailey also got the G tattoo, with a similar font and placement.
While she said that it’s a tribute to her pastor’s daughter, Georgia–who was diagnosed with lissencephaly–it remains a striking detail in the ongoing conversation about her possible obsession with Selena.
Borrowed Words?
Fans have noted that Hailey has used almost the exact same words as Selena in interviews. For instance, Selena had talked about her love for pop icon Britney Spears.
She said, “She was the first record I ever bought, and she was the first concert I ever went to.”
In an online interview, Hailey said the same thing.
“And I love Britney Spears. She was the first concert I ever went to. I idolized her as a kid.”
Many fans noticed the similarity.
“She’s not even trying to hide it,” a TikTok user commented.
Another situation was when Selena was featured in Vogue on June 8, 2021. She broke down some of her looks over the years.
At one point in the video, she said, “I don’t have to be that 19 year old body shape anymore because I’m not.”
On June 24, just several days after Selena’s Vogue video was posted, Hailey was featured in an interview saying almost the same phrase.
“I’m not 19 anymore. I’m 24 now. I feel like my body has changed the most even this last year,” she said.
Fans have found it quite strange that Hailey was specific with the age.
Gomez’s New Chapter With Blanco
Despite all of the controversy surrounding Hailey and her seemingly obsessive behaviors, Selena has developed a romantic relationship with music producer Benny Blanco.
Their engagement that happened in late 2024 sent shockwaves through social media, with fans celebrating Selena’s happiness.
Fans have noted that Blanco–who is well known for his collaborations with well known musicians like Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, and even Bieber–treats Selena with a degree of respect and admiration.
Hailey’s fascination with Selena continues to raise questions about her intentions.
It’s evident that Hailey’s career and personal story appear linked to Selena’s, whether it’s through the mirrored cooking programs, identical tattoos, or usage of words.
This controversy leaves everyone wondering just how much of Hailey’s identity is shaped by the woman who once shared Justin’s heart.
