A 35-year-old woman who has never had sex or even gone on a date has clapped back at haters, insisting she couldn't be happier and is not ashamed of being a 'late bloomer.'

Lauren Harkins has never had a partner, never been on a date and never been intimate with someone.

But it's not because she's religious or saving herself for marriage.

While her friends were having their first crushes and navigating their way through their first relationships, the self-described 'late bloomer' found herself disinterested - viewing them as 'juvenile' and 'overly complicated.'

Now, she has no regrets - and while she's open to love, it is certainly not a priority for her.

But her unusual stance has lead to immense backlash online, with haters branding her as 'expired' or 'narcissistic.'

'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, founder of upcoming unisex streetwear brand UNBXBL, recently told What's The Jam.

'I happen to think it's pretty cool. It sits in the same category for me as not drinking, not smoking and not doing substances.

'It is simply another way I've chosen to honor my body, my energy and my boundaries. 

'For me, intimacy has always been something meaningful, not something to rush through just to "keep up" with everyone else.

'I think there's real strength in being intentional about who you let into your life and your space.'

Harkins, from Portland, Maine, hopes one day to be in a long-term relationship, but has decided against having children, so she doesn't feel any rush.

She said: 'I don't feel the need to force anything; I'd rather wait for the relationship – and the man – that feels genuinely meant for me.'

She has chronicled her experience on Instagram and TikTok, where her posts have garnered millions of views.

But Harkins has often receives negative comments over her love life, or lack thereof.

She said people often write that she 'doesn't act like a virgin' – which she puts down to her not being the 'meek, socially awkward, self-conscious stereotype' that people expect.

'Having any kind of public platform comes with its share of negativity,' she 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. I'm not afraid to defend myself when I feel inclined, but once you understand the psychology behind online hostility – or just unevolved behavior in general – it becomes more revealing, and even a little entertaining, than anything else.

'It's simply part of choosing to live publicly. I stand by this choice, and I sleep very well at night.

'Collectively, we still cling to these outdated assumptions around virginity – especially adult virginity – as if it automatically signals something fragile, sheltered, or socially stunted.

'There is nothing I love more than being able to shatter these stereotypes, as someone who is continually told I don't "look" or "act" like a virgin.'

Harkins said people often assume she is religious and 'saving herself' for marriage – which isn't true.

Describing herself as 'spiritual' but not religious, she doesn't transcribe to the concept of marriage.

She added: 'What I value is a committed, aligned, long-term partnership – not a contract or tradition for the sake of it.

'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.

'Balance and duality are my anchors, and I thrive in the space between opposites.'

Only in recent years has Harkins become more open to the prospect of romance, saying she 'wasn't ready' during her teens or 20s.

'I'm only now approaching that readiness, and there's nothing embarrassing about that – if anything, it's deeply intentional,' she said.

'I'm waiting for the right connection, not grasping for the first one. You'll never catch me settling out of fear or desperation.

'I'm not here to mirror the choices of the masses or chase validation from people whose values don't align with mine.

'I'm on my own timeline, and integrity is everything to me – I move when it feels right, and not a moment before.

'I'm in my own lane entirely – and I like it that way.'

Harkins previously spoke to the Daily Mail about being a virgin, and she explained that while she's open to love now, it's still not her main priority.

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

'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.

'[Now], 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'm just very content on my own.'

And she has some requirements for the type of partner she's looking for.

'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,' Harkins explained. 

'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.'

She said she she maintains her high standards when it comes to finding a partner and encourages people to do the same.

'I have hundreds of messages from people in similar situations, so I feel like I'm helping people,' she dished, adding she's 'quite normal' despite her unique lifestyle.

'I am of sound mind and body, I'm not socially awkward or repressed. I think it's important to destigmatize this lifestyle, I'm just a late bloomer – it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with me.'