I'm a 33-year-old virgin and have never even been on date - there's nothing wrong with being a late bloomer

At 33, Lauren Harkins has never been on a date or had sex - but insists she hasn't missed out on any important life experiences and is content on her own.

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

Deciding striking up a romance wasn't for her, Lauren, from Portland, Maine, admits she's never felt the need to prioritize having a romantic relationships in her life, and therefore has remained a virgin.

'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,' she continued, describing it as a 'unique situation.'

'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 added. 

At 33, Lauren Harkins has never been on a date or had sex - but insists she hasn't missed out on any important life experiences and is content on her own

After her father, William Stacey, died in 2006, Lauren said it changed the way she prioritized her romantic relationships.

As an only child, Lauren said she's content being by herself and believes having a partner is 'not necessary' to lead a fulfilling life. 

'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,' she explained.

'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,' she mused.

Now in her 30s, Lauren says she's finally open to a relationship - provided she meets the right person, admitting it's the first time ever she's felt ready.

'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,' she said determinedly. 

However, she has some standards 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!' Lauren said enthusiastically. 

Now in her 30s, Lauren feels for the first time that she might be open to a relationship

Lauren is embracing trying new things, and is now traveling the world

Lauren is embracing trying new things, and is now traveling the world after working in a correctional law enforcement for two years 

'I don't want to live a traditional lifestyle,' she continued. 

'I am very goal orientated, emotionally independent, and love my freedom – I just want to live life to the fullest.' 

Lauren is embracing trying new things, and is now traveling the world after working in a correctional law enforcement for two years, living primarily off her late dad's trust fund. 

'I love adventures and trying new things,' she gushed. 'I love immersing myself in new cultures.'

The world traveler - who documents her adventure on social media - has been to Morocco, Peru, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

While her family and friends have never pressured her to date, Lauren admitted they have trouble understanding why she doesn't want to have sex.

The world traveler - who documents her adventure on social media - has been to Morocco, Peru, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, France, Germany and the Netherlands

While her family and friends have never pressured her to date, Lauren admitted they have trouble understanding why she doesn't want to have sex

'Most people who are still virgins at my age save themselves for a husband and are often religious,' she pointed out.

'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,' Lauren explained.

'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,' she added.

She says 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 said, adding she's 'quite normal' despite her unique lifestyle.

'I am of sound mind and body, I'm not socially awkward or repressed,' she listed.

'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,' she said,