0 Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Kiss at The 2011 Billboard Music Awards

Justin Bieber tied with Eminem as the top winner at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards with six trophies. But it was his embrace of reported sweetie Selena Gomez that set the Internet on fire after a night that saw splashy performances from Rihanna, an upside-down Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Mary J. Blige with Lil Wayne, Taio Cruz, the Black Eyed Peas and Pitbull.

surprising kiss occurred when Justin Bieber kissed girlfriend Selena Gomez after it was announced that he won the award for Top New Artist.

Gómez, who didn’t expect the kiss, seemed pleasantly surprised and was all smiles after Bieber smooched her.

While both parties have long played it coy whenever confronted about their relationship (even by so formidable an inquisitor as Ellen DeGeneres), there was no mistaking their being together Sunday … with his mother, Patricia Mallette, sitting next to them in the audience of the MGM Grand, chaperoning.

The 17-year-old singer began dating the Disney starlet last year and while they refused to confirm their romance for months, Justin says he's smitten with Selena as she makes him "really happy".

He said: "Selena is ... ah ... she's amazing. She makes me really happy."