Chantelle Houghton has been celibate for two years because she's given up on finding love
Chantelle Houghton has been celibate for two years after giving up on love and dating
The 40-year-old reality TV star has become disillusioned with the dating scene because "decency seems to have gone out of the window" and she's decided she would rather stay single than face any more cheating partners, disastrous dates or social media "creeps".
She told The Sun newspaper: "The dating landscape has completely changed; decency seems to have gone out of the window, and in all honesty, after a series of heartbreaks, cheating partners and disastrous dates, I’ve now given up looking for love.
"And don’t even get me started on the creeps who approach me on social media with sexually inappropriate messages. Where have all the gentlemen gone? Chivalry appears to be dead and I’d much rather go through the rest of my life single than settle for someone who makes me miserable."
She explained the final straw came around a year ago when she matched with a man on a dating app and agreed to meet him for lunch in a posh restaurant.
Chantelle claims he splashed out on a full meal and a "gallon" of wine while she had a small sandwich and a tap water, but he still expected her to pick up the whole bill.
She has now decided she's happier on her own even though she's had to sacrifice any chance of intimacy.
Chantelle added: "At the age of 40, I’ve reached a place where I’m fine on my own. In fact, I’m happier than ever. That also means kissing goodbye to intimacy, making me officially celibate ... It’s been two years now and, without sex, I feel empowered, independent and free."
Chantelle went on to insist she would never consider a one-night stand because she considers sex to "come hand-in- hand with a relationship" because she needs to have a real connection with a partner.
The former 'Celebrity Big Brother' star has a daughter, now 11, with her ex Alex Reid and she admits another plus to giving up dating is making sure there aren't lots of different men coming in and out of her little girl's life.
Chantelle - who was previously married to musician Samuel Preston - concluded by insisting she "deserves more" than what the men she met were preparing to offer, and she leads a full life without a partner.
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