I’m a middle-aged virgin – I’d rather die one than settle for a rubbish man, casual relationships aren’t for me
A MIDDLE-AGED woman who has never been in an intimate relationship, revealed why she would rather die a virgin than settle.
The 34-year-old said the thought of enjoying casual sex is "repulsive" to her and that she preferred the idea of waiting for "somebody special".
Lauren Harkins is open and honest about her lack of sexual experiences.
She revealed how during her teenage years and throughout her twenties, she wasn’t bothered.
However, now she has entered her thirties, Lauren has warmed to the prospect of meeting the man of her dreams but has strictly ruled out any casual relationships.
Lauren, who resides in Maine, USA, said: “The thought of casual sex is repulsive to me.
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"I would need to feel a strong emotional and spiritual connection and feel completely safe with a man to want to explore a physical relationship.
“I believe having casual sex is more emotionally damaging than people would like to think, and there is nothing about that way of life that appeals to me.
“I would like to have the experience of being in an intimate relationship when the time is right, but it’s not something I’m rushing into.
“I’m quite happy and content on my own at this point.”
Rushing into a relationship for other reasons has never been at the forefront of Lauren’s mind, as settling down, having children, and getting married aren't a priority.
Simply engaging in sexual activities for the sake of it has never interested Lauren, and if she were to get into a relationship, she would have to feel a special connection with them beforehand.
One of the biggest benefits of Lauren being completely single is that she has "no baggage".
Having zero strings has opened the possibility of travelling overseas to places such as Peru and the Bahamas.
However, if Lauren is to find love, her two most important sets of criteria are feeling comfortable and safe with a person.
If these aren’t met, she said she could never imagine losing her virginity.
She explained: “I’ve simply never met anyone that I’ve connected with on this level before where everything felt aligned and where it felt like the right thing for me.
“I also don’t experience attraction all that frequently.
"I would happily have a committed long-term relationship with the right guy, but I don’t want to be legally married or have kids.
“I didn’t set out in life to be a 34-year-old virgin, but dating has never been a priority for me.
Celebs that waited until marriage to have sex
Celebrities tend to keep the details of their sex life private, but when it comes to their choice to wait until marriage, some stars are actually willing to open up.
Jessica Simpson - Before marrying Nick Lachey, Jessica was very open about her decision to remain a virgin. She said she was nervous about discussing the topic with Nick for the first time, but he "stayed patient" until they tied the knot in 2002.
Justin and Hailey Bieber - Justin may have been with other people before his wife Hailey, but when they reconnected in 2019, he was more than a year into a self-imposed tenure of celibacy. Together, the couple decided to continue to refrain from having sex until they were married.
Adriana Lima - Victoria's Secret model Adriana's Catholic faith influenced her decision to save herself for marriage. She explained potential suitors would have to respect her decision — and if they weren't willing to wait, then they weren't the right person for her.
Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel - When Miranda started dating Snapchat founder Evan, the couple decided to wait until marriage to have sex because of Evan's traditional beliefs. In an interview, Miranda was asked about the possibility of having children before their wedding and she said it wouldn't be possible: "Not until after we get married. My partner is very traditional. We can’t...I mean we’re just...waiting,” she told The Times.
Kevin Jonas - All the Jonas brothers famously wore purity rings for much of their adolescence, in part due to their religious upbringing. While Nick and Joe ended up taking their rings off, Kevin saw things through until he tied the knot with his wife Danielle in 2009.
"I knew I wasn’t ready in my teens and twenties, and it’s only in my thirties that I’m open to the possibility of not being single.
“I genuinely don’t feel bothered or embarrassed about it in any way.
"If anything, I’m grateful because I know I’ve saved myself from a lot of problems and messes along the way.
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“It’s always something I’ve been very open about and comfortable sharing, and I’m proud that I have never done anything with anyone just to do it or to get it over with.
“Everyone moves at their own pace and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”