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She’s going public about her private life.
A 35-year-old Maine woman who’s never had sex says she’s frequently mocked for her virgin status — but refuses to be silenced.
Lauren Harkins has taken to social media to reveal she’s never even been on a date, but hopes to bust myths around virginity.
“I’ve never once felt ashamed about being a virgin or having limited sexual experience, and I’ve always been open about it – even as a teenager,” Harkins told What’s The Jam.
“For me, intimacy has always been something meaningful, not something to rush through just to ‘keep up’ with everyone else,” she added.
On Instagram and TikTok, Harkins often gets comments claiming that she “doesn’t act like a virgin” – which she puts down to the fact that she’s not the “meek, socially awkward, self-conscious stereotype” that people expect.
“Having any kind of public platform comes with its share of negativity,” the blonde explained. “The criticism usually falls into predictable categories – claims that I’m lying, ‘expired’, attention-seeking, narcissistic, you name it.
“At this stage, it doesn’t touch me.”
Meanwhile, Harkins says people often assume she is religious and “saving herself” for marriage, which is another false stereotype.
“What I value is a committed, aligned, long-term partnership – not a contract or tradition for the sake of it,” she stated. “I’m not the hyper-traditional archetype people try to project onto me, but I’m also not your everyday modern woman who’s into hook-up culture and playing it casual.”
Only in recent years has Harkins become more open to the prospect of romance, saying she “wasn’t ready” during her teens or twenties.
“I’m only now approaching that readiness, and there’s nothing embarrassing about that – if anything, it’s deeply intentional,” the beauty insisted.
“I’m waiting for the right connection, not grasping for the first one,” she defiantly declared. “You’ll never catch me settling out of fear or desperation.”
“I’m in my own lane entirely – and I like it that way.”
