Millennial explains why she’s still a virgin at 27 years old: ‘It’s partly circumstance, it’s partly choice’

'I guess I just never found the right person'

A 27-year-old woman has spoken out about her experience of being a virgin in her late twenties.

Alice Riley’s public confession comes after new research revealed that one in eight people today are still virgins at the age of 26, a finding which one psychologist put down to a “culture of hypersexuality” and a subsequent “fear of intimacy”.

However, neither of which seem to be Riley's reasons for celibacy.

Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, the digital marketer and blogger explained that her virginal status is not down to religious beliefs either and is as much of an active decision as it is a circumstantial one.

“I think it’s partly circumstance and partly choice,” she told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

“I think when it comes to losing your virginity there are two camps of thought, when one wants it to mean something and wait for the right person, and obviously some people don’t care.

“I guess I was in the first category, I wasn’t looking for the man I was going to marry, but I wanted something that wasn’t going to be a one night stand, a connection more than sex. I guess I just never found the right person.”

Riley revealed she was in a relationship for five weeks and that sex “was on the cards”, but things fizzled out before an opportunity arose as it transpired that the man in question still had feelings for his ex girlfriend.

She went on to explain that her decision has nothing to do with a lack of confidence, doubts regarding her sexuality or a lack of interest in sex, as some have suspected.

“The main misconception that people have if you’re a virgin is that you’re completely disinterested in sex altogether which is not the case,” she added.

Appearing alongside Riley on the show was relationship expert and psychologist Emma Kenney, who argued that sex should not be perceived as a power exchange, as the virginal narrative of being "pure" may sometimes suggest.

“When we say that our body is something that is based on whether we have virginity or no virginity, we create what would be considered a patriarchal argument over our bodies," she said.

“My body’s mine, if I want to play with it, that’s okay.”

Turning to face Riley, she added: “You’re going to be just as worthwhile the day after you’ve had sex as you are right now.”

When asked whether the 27-year-old blogger would mind if her first sexual partner had a “colourful” sexual history, Riley responded by explaining that it wouldn’t necessarily be a red flag so long as they had expressed some sort of commitment to her.

“You seem very level-headed about it,” Kenney concurred.

“This isn’t a thing about you wishing to be a virgin, this is actually just about you finding a guy you want to have sex with.

“I think that’s a very different situation than when we talk about the power play that can be involved in a woman feeling that virginity makes her ‘pure’, it doesn’t make you pure, it just means you haven’t had sex.”

Riley's appearance divided users on social media, with some questioning the need for her to provide an explanation for being a virgin aged 27.

"Why should she have to explain what she does with her virginity?" asked one person on Twitter.

"Her business. Her virginity," added another.