A 33-year-old virgin who has never even been on a date says she likes living life on her own terms - and insists there's "nothing wrong" with being a late bloomer. "

Lauren Harkins, 33, has taken an unconventional path and believes having a partner is "not necessary" to lead a fulfilling life. "

During her high school years, Lauren found herself uninterested in relationships, viewing them as "juvenile" and "overly complicated"."

While her friends navigated the ups and downs of young love, Lauren remained focused on other aspects of her life - especially after her dad, William Stacey, 46, passed away in 2006 which further shifted her priorities away from romantic situations.

Now approaching her 30s, Lauren feels for the first time that she might be open to a relationship - provided she meets the right person.

But she doesn't feel like she's missed out by not having sex or having a relationship and says she is not "actively searching" for love."

Lauren, from Portland, Maine, US, said: "It's a unique situation."

"I'm a virgin but I'm not a traditional, usually it's one or the other but I'm just very content on my own."

"The 20s is such a confusing time, everyone is figuring out careers and navigating all this stuff - it just wasn't something I wanted."

"When I looked around there was no one who I was friends with and in a relationship whose life I wanted to emulate and I was quite happy to just do my own thing."

"I've never looked to others as a marker for how my life is going to play out but have instead chosen to follow my own intuition on what is best for me at any given time."

An only child, Lauren learned early on how to be content on her own.

Although she would like to meet a partner to share her life with, she says she has got no desire to get married or have kids.

Lauren said: "This is really the first time that I even feel ready for that."

"If someone comes along who I really click with then I would be happy with that, but otherwise I'm very happy being on my own."



"I would want someone who is way more established than I am – I would only want to be someone who is better than me in every way!"

"I don't want to live a traditional lifestyle, I am very goal orientated, emotionally independent, and love my freedom – I just want to live life to the fullest. "

"I love adventures and trying new things."

After working in correctional law enforcement for two years - where she helped convicts to integrate back into society - Lauren is now focussing on travel and social media and lives primarily off her late dad's trust fund.

Lauren fills her days with travel, adventure, hobbies such as shooting and fitness and

socialising with friends.

"Recently I've been to Morocco, Peru, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, France, Germany and the Netherlands, I love immersing myself in new cultures," Lauren said. "

She says she has never felt any pressure from family and friends to date people, but says she gets some judgement from people online who question her choices - especially as she is not religious, so they "don't know how to categorise her."

Lauren said: "When you're confident and firm in who you are, there's really not anything someone can say, to make you question how you live your life. "

"Most people who are still virgins at my age save themselves for a husband and are often religious. "

"I don't subscribe to any particular religion at all but because I'm not sleeping around and living super modern feminist lifestyle, that camp also doesn't know what to do with me. "

"It's like I'm too traditional for the feminists but not traditional enough for the traditional people – so I am trying to break that barrier."

"I find both sides at their most extreme to be a bit toxic and I would love to be a voice for those who don't fit perfectly into either category."

"I think it's important to have high standards in everything - romantically and otherwise."

Lauren posts about her life on social media and says it's made her realise that the lifestyle she leads is much more normal than people think.

"I have hundreds of messages from people in similar situations, so I feel like I'm helping people," she said. "

"I am of sound mind and body, I'm not socially awkward or repressed, and quite normal despite my unique lifestyle."

"I think it's important to destigmatise this lifestyle, I'm just a late bloomer – it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with me."