The woman known around the world as the “oldest living virgin” has finally broken her silence — explaining why she chose to live more than a century without ever having sex. At 108 years old, British-born Clara Meadmore became an unlikely viral icon years ago for her unapologetic stance on celibacy. Now, a resurfaced interview has reignited fascination with her astonishing life — and the simple, almost defiant reason she said “no” for over a hundred years.

“I’ve never had sex,” Meadmore once said with her signature wit. “And guess what? I’ve never missed it.” The line, first uttered during a televised interview when she turned 105, stunned the audience — but her reasoning was even more remarkable. “When I was young, sex was only for married people,” she explained. “And I was far too busy for men.”

“Clara Meadmore, dubbed the world’s oldest virgin, said she stayed celibate for 108 years because ‘men were a nuisance.’” @PopBase

Born in 1903 in Cornwall, Clara grew up during a time when women’s independence was rare — yet she refused to follow convention. She worked as a secretary, volunteered during World War II, and later traveled across continents alone, often shocking people with her outspokenness. “Everyone told me I’d regret it,” she told a journalist years ago. “But I never wanted to depend on anyone. Love sounded lovely, but marriage? No thank you.”

Her story resurfaced this week after a viral post on X shared a clip of her 2008 interview, which has now been viewed over 15 million times. In it, Clara laughs as she’s asked if she ever came close to temptation. “A few men tried,” she said with a smirk. “But I was more interested in reading and gardening.”

Social media users have been fascinated by her unflinching honesty. “She lived through two world wars, the moon landing, and Tinder — and said no to all of it,” one user joked. Another wrote, “She’s the original queen of self-respect.”

“She said, ‘Men were a nuisance.’ Iconic energy.” @buzzingpop

In interviews archived by UK newspapers, Clara revealed that she first decided to remain single in her teens after watching friends marry and struggle. “They were miserable,” she said. “Arguing about money, children, in-laws. I thought, ‘Why would I want that?’” Instead, she poured her energy into her career and hobbies — and never looked back. “I was content. I had my freedom. That was enough.”

Her attitude, though considered radical at the time, has gained renewed admiration in the modern era. Many women online have called her “a feminist icon before feminism existed.” One post on Reddit read, “She didn’t hate men — she just didn’t need them.” Another user added, “108 years of peace and quiet. Goals.”

Friends and neighbors who knew Clara described her as witty, fiercely independent, and perfectly content in solitude. “She never looked lonely,” one acquaintance told a British reporter. “She loved conversation, good food, and a tidy house. She used to say, ‘I’m too old to regret anything — least of all men.’”

“108 years, zero drama. Clara Meadmore might have been onto something.” @etnow

When asked how she managed to avoid temptation altogether, she famously replied, “I’m a strong-minded woman. If you want to stay a virgin, it’s very easy — just don’t do it.” The bluntness made her an internet legend decades later, with younger generations calling her “the original queen of boundaries.”

Experts who have studied longevity and happiness even weighed in after her passing in 2011, noting that Clara’s lifestyle choices — independence, low stress, and a lack of emotional turmoil — may have contributed to her remarkable health. “She walked daily, cooked for herself, and stayed mentally sharp until the end,” a gerontologist told a news outlet. “Her story challenges the assumption that intimacy equals fulfillment.”

Clara herself was amused by her fame in her final years, telling friends she found it “hilarious” that people cared about her virginity. “If that’s what I’m remembered for,” she joked to a BBC interviewer, “then I suppose it’s better than being forgotten.”

Online, fans have turned her quotes into viral mantras. “Men are a nuisance” has become a trending meme — often paired with photos of wine glasses, cats, and cozy apartments. “Clara lived the dream,” one post reads. “No heartbreaks, no divorce lawyers, just peace.”

“She refused to marry, travel plans instead of wedding plans. Legend.” @PopTingz

Even decades after her story first made headlines, the fascination hasn’t faded. Documentaries and social historians have cited her as a rare example of female autonomy before women even had the right to vote. “In her quiet way, she redefined womanhood,” one historian said. “She proved that a full life doesn’t need to include romance — or anyone else’s expectations.”

When asked, near her 107th birthday, if she had any regrets about never falling in love, she smiled and said simply, “No. I had freedom. That was love enough.”