By Breaking Celebrity News Staff

It's Justin Bieber's world, we just live in it.

The Canadian pop sensation, 18, scored big at Sunday night's American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, taking home three awards on the evening: favorite pop/rock male artist, album and the night's most vaunted honor of artist of the year.

"I wanted to thank you for always believing in me," Bieber told his mother Pattie Mallette (who joined him onstage) after receiving the award for the second time in three years, defeating musical mainstays Rihanna, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Drake for the honors.

Bieber, after winning the pop/rock award, dedicated the honors to "all the haters who thought I was just here for one or two years.

"I feel like I'm going to be here for a very long time," the confident singer said.

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After the show, E! reports, Justin snuck out of the venue holding hands with his on-again, off-again love Selena Gomez, who did not attend the event.

The Monte Carlo beauty, 20, was clad in jeans and a dark top as she met her boyfriend at the theater.

Other highlights on the night included a collaboration between Korean rapper PSY and 90s rap star MC Hammer; Bieber's mentor Usher