Selena Gomez credits her group of female friends for helping get through some difficult times, including a bout with lupus and body shamers.

As reported by People magazine, Gomez, 23, dished about her besties Taylor Swift, 25, two roommates and a cousin in a new interview with Refinery29.

“I have a lot of friends in the business, but at the end of the day, [these four women] are who I call crying,” said Gomez, who recently revealed she underwent chemotherapy to treat lupus.

Other A-list actresses, including Jennifer Aniston, who invited Selena to her home for a pizza night, and Kerry Washington, who gave the singer her number in case she needed to talk, have supported the Rivival singer.

“I treasure these women,” Gomez said. “I’d rather be around women than men. I think they are interesting, complicated and beautiful.”

.@selenagomez is embracing her sexuality: 'It's part of being an adult.' http://t.co/GT8vnKGNrW pic.twitter.com/eWrJu6pA2B

— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) October 12, 2015

Gomez said she is tuning out the negative vibe and comments that have been directed at her of late, including criticism of her bikini body.

“It was appalling,” Gomez said. “I had never experienced that before. I was sad. I was angry. I feel all of it. But I also got motivated.”

Selena Gomez SHUTS DOWN body shamers by baring her tight tummy (via @toofab) http://t.co/DN6W8G1xkW pic.twitter.com/imfgHQkXk1

— TMZ (@TMZ) October 11, 2015

She added, “I don’t want to become little or hurt or a victim. I want to be strong for girls. I just want them to know that there is an option of standing up for yourself.”

She noted that other Disney stars like herself have had to deal in their own way with the transition into the pop world.

“Everyone has found their identity in a really interesting way,” Selena Gomez said of Miley Cyrus, 22, and Demi Lovato, 23. “We didn’t come out as these robots that looked and dressed the same. We had to go through our own s—. At the end of the day, it’s respecting every female artist’s choice in how she expresses herself, because that’s what she wants.”

What are your thoughts on Selena Gomez‘ reaction to body shaming?