Having started his career as an enigmatic internet sensation, whose dark production and sweet vocals spoke of easy drugs, casual sex and a fear of commitment, there were certainly quite a few raised eyebrows when news broke that The Weeknd had started dating Bella Hadid earlier this year.

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After first being spotted together at Coachella back in April, there was talk of a relationship between the 25-year-old singer and 19-year-old supermodel (and sister of Gigi), but now The Weeknd has opened up about exactly how he managed to woo the youngest Hadid, who was seven years his junior when they started dating.

'I actually asked her to be on the artwork for Beauty Behind the Madness,' the R&B star said in an interview with Rolling Stone. 'My motive was literally to work with her.'

And although she declined the offer to appear on the number 1 album, The Weeknd persisted, adding: 'I was like, 'Alright, cool – we can meet up face-to-face.' Addressing Hadid's young age, the singer said: 'It just kind of fell into my lap. If this had happened two years ago – well she couldn't. But if I'd met someone two years ago, I probably would've f****d it up. But I'm more – how do I say it? – clear-thinking now.'

He went on to praise Bella's work ethic, which is seeing her train for the equestrian event at the 2016 Olympics. 'I read that!' he said of Bella's athletic talent, which was detailed in a recent interview. 'I hope she does. I've never seen her do it, but word on the street is she's bangin' at it.'

Speaking about her boyfriend's creativity, Hadid previously told Entertainment Tonight: 'There's a lot that goes on in his mind. So I don't know if it's about me – it's crazy what some people think of.'

Who says romance is dead?