"Justin"

Britney Spears MTV music Awards

Britney has taken charge of her personal life. It was her idea to come clean about her longtime  relationship with 'Nsync's Justin Timberlake. At the VMAs-days before the love connection became public knowledge-she put her foot when someone came in her circle suggested that she park herself anywhere in the audience but beside Justin. " I was like,' I want to sit by him,'"  Britney says firmly. "he's fun to be around. I love his company. With him and my brother [Bryan] sitting by me, it made me feel so much more at ease and at peace." Having her hair and makeup done at Teen people shooting in Pittsburgh a week the awards, Britney seems remarkably at ease discussing what she and Justin have long kept under wraps. "its just cool to have someone who understands what you go through- and he totally understands my schedule- and to have someone to talk to like a really good friend," says Britney of the guy she affectionately refers to as J. "he is such a sweetheart. He is everything, and what more could you want in a person? He's funny. He's cute. he's great. He understands. I get him and he gets me, and that's cool.

After Britney's outrageous pseudostrip tease at the 2000 MTV Music Awards, all eyes have been on her-especially when it comes to what (and in some cases, how much) she's wearing. "the moment I feel like I'm getting held down or someone is telling me what to wear, I'm like 'NO! '"the world's most famous 19-year-old has said. "I have to do my own thing." To that end, she shops to her heart content at Fred Segal and kitson in Los Angeles, and stocks up on beauty products at sephora (M.A.C and Lorac are her two favorites) Although her most cherished accessory is her diamond cross necklace, her preferred piece of clothing is a pair of vintage Levi's which makes sense given the words she uses to describe her own style: "trendy, casual, rocker. "(her favorite outfit of the year? That ripped-jeans-suspenders-and-belly-baring-corset ensemble from her Pepsi commercial) And even though Britney's beauty secrets revel that she's a sensible gal-rest"- she's equally capable of being utterly frivolous. Asked what item she'd take along if she were a Survivor contestant, she doesn't hesitate: "Bubble Bath!"