Kylie Jenner Credits Justin Bieber For Helping Her Cope With Fame And Bullying

Kylie Jenner is speaking out about life in front of the lens. And, it turns out, family friend, Justin Bieber, plays a big role in helping the 18-year-old deal with her high-octane life.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is the cover girl of Elle U.K’s February issue. The profile covers her feelings on bullying, fame, and how it affects her relationships, and some of her hopes for the future.

Amid seismic events like Kylie’s father transitioning to her new identity as Caitlyn Jenner, attacks from Blac Chyna over her relationship with the rapper Tyga, and accusations of cultural appropriation after she wore cornrows, Kylie launched an anti-bullying campaign called “#IAmMoreThan” earlier this year to address the ugly things some users say and do on the Internet.

As someone who has experienced cyber bullying, Kylie says she wanted to try and help others who are also going through it. “I came up with the idea because I feel like being a teenage girl and growing up in the spotlight, online bullying is kind of inevitable. I’m OK with that,” she explains.

Kylie added, “It hurts me still but I can handle it and I know it comes with the lifestyle, and it’s just mean people on the Internet doing what they do. But I just wanted to find real people with real stories about their bullying and how they overcame it.”

One individual who has been a source of guidance and support to Jenner about coping with the spotlight is Justin Bieber. “I’m so close to him because I feel like he’s been through exactly what I’ve been through in a completely different way but very similar,” Kyle tells Elle.

“So, he’s just… he just… he gets me, and every time I see him, he always sits me down and is like, ‘Are you okay? You’re amazing. You can get through this. Just stay true to yourself.'” She went on to say, “He helps me a lot.”

It’s not surprising Kylie considers Bieber as someone she can relate to. Those tracking his eight year arc in the public eye will be aware the Canadian has been subjected to misgendering, body-shaming, hate speech, on and offline bullying, false, misleading, or exaggerated media reporting, false accusations, and targeting by tabloid media, talk show pundits, comedy shows, and a proportion of fans throughout his entire career. In short: If anyone knows about a taking a crash course in weathering the eye of a personal storm, it’s the Biebs.

Perhaps deliberately, Kylie’s revelations about the dynamic between her and Justin also show how off-base the tabloid-generated rumors about them dating really were.

Kylie Jenner opens up about how Justin Bieber helps her cope with fame. https://t.co/UOMh9pLf7S pic.twitter.com/d76gWLRLDR

— E! Online (@eonline) December 30, 2015

Jenner also opened up to the magazine about her relationship with dad Caitlyn Jenner. “It’s an honest relationship, you know? I feel like you can’t build a strong relationship if there are secrets,” she says.

“Everything’s out in the open and now we’re closer,” the teen elaborated. “I feel like we want to hang out more. I think there was always something on her mind before she transitioned.”

Echoing Bieber’s advice while celebrating her latest cover on Tuesday, the youngest of the Jenner clan took to Instagram to post (one of many) pics from the magazine’s shoot captioned by the following.

“This has been such an amazing year every moment was a learning experience. There has been so much light and love in my life and only in the past few weeks have I realized the importance of staying true to myself,” she wrote.

She continued, “I am very much over people telling ME who I am. We are all in this together. Let go of all the negative people and energy in your life. Because 2016 is lookin real good from over here.”

Amid an admission that she can’t name a single character from Friends, Kylie also revealed she plans to withdraw from her active social media life at some point, vowing that when she has a family of her own she will step away from social media. “Once I have a kid I’m not going to be on Instagram,” she promise.

Although we’ll believe that last feat when we see it, full props to Kylie Jenner for articulating her personal journey to young adulthood so honestly.

[Images via Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images]