Camila Cabello Explains Her Decision to Keep Shawn Mendes Relationship So Private

Camila Cabello just opened up about her very private relationship with Shawn Mendes. For the October issue of Elle, the "Havana" singer was, unsurprisingly, asked about her collaborator/rumored boyfriend. And when the topic came up that the secrecy surrounding their romance might actually only create more buzz, Camila was quick to defend herself.

The 22-year-old songstress explained:

“I don’t know; people can say whatever they want. They can speculate, but at the same time, we are going to live our own lives, enjoy it, and fall for each other like nobody is watching. That is how I want to live. I never want to open the door for people to feel like they are involved. Like I said, I want it to be mine and [his]. That’s why I’m so tight-lipped about it: because I want to protect it.”

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@camila_cabello on her new music: “There was a time when I was listening to these songs that I had to turn the album off. I had to let go emotionally—I sat there and cried so much. I feel an undeniable truth that the album has captured the essence of me at this point in my life. I always think, ‘Could I be more honest? Could I be more open?’ I feel like I’ve done that even better than on my first album.” Link in bio for the full #ELLEWIM cover story.⁣ ⁣ ELLE October 2019:⁣ Editor-in-chief: @ninagarcia⁣ Cover star: @camila_cabello⁣ Written by: @dbacherwrites⁣ Photographer: @yvanfabing⁣ Stylist: @annatrevelyan⁣ Wearing: @davidkoma⁣ Hair: @dimitrishair⁣ Makeup: @patrickta⁣ Manicure: @jolene.b.nails⁣ Set Design: Bryan Porter at Owl & the Elephant @daysofourslides⁣ Produced by: Paul Preiss at Preiss Creative @preisscreative

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While Camila was vague about dating Shawn, she was much more explicit when she spoke about working with him. “I mean, I love him. We have always connected; we have the best time together," she shared.

"Shawn texted me the idea for the chorus for [our song] ’Señorita,’" Camila recalled. "He was like, ‘Hey, what if we work on this and do it together?’ I was on the Taylor Swift tour and hadn’t been in the studio for a while. I didn’t want to do it, and then a few months later, I couldn’t get the song out of my head."

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señor & señorita on the V Magazinita @vmagazine ??

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But like fans know, the collab almost didn't happen. By the time Camila was board, Shawn was no longer interested in the project. She continued, “He was like, ‘I don’t want to do it anymore. It went back and forth for, like, eight months. Then we finally went into the studio and reworked it so we both felt good about it, without any pressure. I love working with him so much.”

Camila has since been spotted at many outings with Mendes and has been in the crowd at several of his performances. She can be quiet all she wants, but after that steamy "Señorita" music video, along with PDA pics, there is no denying there are some serious sparks there.