15 Celebrities Who Waited Until Marriage To Have Sex

As 18th birthdays for minors are eagerly anticipated, sexual activity is pushed in films and tv shows, and the sanctity of sex continuously gets cheapened, it’s refreshing to see celebrities who refuse to conform and openly share why they chose to save sex for marriage.

Here are 15 of your favorite celebs who waited for marriage and why!

1. Jessica Simpson

Blonde bombshell singer and actress Jessica Simpson has openly advocated for celibacy, telling People during a 2000 interview, “Virginity can be cool and sexy. It’s something I stand strong in.” At the time she was dating ex-husband Nick Lachey, who stated it wasn’t always easy, but he respected it. Important note, ladies, a respectful man who values you will be willing to wait!

2. Justin Bieber

After Hailey and Justin reconnected in 2018, they told Vogue in a 2019 interview that they were waiting to have sex until they married. Justin shared his reasoning, saying, “I wanted to rededicate myself to God in that way because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul. And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey as a result. There are perks. You get rewarded for good behavior.” 

He went on to say: “[God] doesn’t ask us not to have sex for him because he wants rules and stuff. He’s like ‘I’m trying to protect you from hurt and pain.’ I think sex can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes people have sex because they don’t feel good enough. Because they lack self-worth. Women do that, and guys do that.”

3. Kirk Cameron

The handsome Growing Pains star, Kirk Cameron, has been traveling to various churches to share his Christian views about marriage and intimacy. He reportedly waited until he married co-star Chelsea Noble to have sex. In an interview he stated, “Sex within marriage is the only kind that’s truly fun and exciting – the kind that lasts for a lifetime. I’m glad I waited.” Today, he and Chelsea have been married for over 30 years!

4. Adriana Lima

Brazilian model Adriana Lima made jaws drop when she revealed during a GQ interview that she had never had sex and wouldn’t until she got married for religious reasons. She said, “They have to respect that this is my choice. If there’s no respect, that means they don’t want me.” She kept that promise until she married her now ex-husband Jaric in 2009. 

5. Tim Tebow

Former New York Jets quarterback was always turning heads for his devout Christian faith that he openly exemplified during his NFL career. When it came to sex he stated, “It’s about finding a girl who likes me for me, and not because of what I do, or who I am, or the name.” And God delivered! Tim is now happily married to Miss Universe 2017 Demi Leigh, who is just as pure-hearted and devoted to her faith as he is.

6. Tina Fey

Comedian and actress Tina Fey confessed on the Late Show with David Letterman that she didn’t lose her virginity until she was 24, after marrying her husband, Jeff Richmond. When questioned about it she said, “I couldn’t give it away. That’s just good, Christian values or being homely.”

7. Carrie Underwood

Country superstar and American Idol icon Carrie Underwood revealed in a 2007 interview with Slate Magazine that she was waiting until marriage to have sex. While the singer openly expresses her faith in songs like “Jesus Take the Wheel,” she has never provided a specific reasoning for her decision. Three years after the interview, she married her husband Mike Fisher, and they’re still going strong today!

8. Miranda Kerr

Australian model Miranda Kerr told The London Times that she and her then boyfriend (now husband) founder of Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, were waiting until marriage to have sex. When asked about it she said, “Not until after we get married. [Spiegel] is very traditional. We’re waiting.” Shortly after their May 2017 wedding, Kerr announced she was pregnant with their son! 

9. Ciara Wilson

Pop singer Ciara told People that she and her husband, NFL star Russell Wilson, chose to wait for marriage. She said, “I really believe that when you focus on friendship, you have the opportunity to build a strong foundation for a relationship – and once you know you're really great friends and you’re what we call ‘equally yoked,’ where you share the same values or the same outlook on life, it kind of sets the tone.”

10. Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough, well-known for her country singing career, went vocal about her decision to wait until marriage with CosmoGIRL! Magazine in 2008, saying, “I want to be with that special person. I think [the choice] to have sex before marriage is an individual one, but if you’re just with one person, it’s only for one good reason, and [waiting to have sex] will strengthen that relationship. I’m not trying to preach consequences here, but I think when you say no, down the line it will be a better decision.” 

11. Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey, known for her untouchable high notes and renowned Christmas album, took a stand about why it was important for her to wait when she was with former beau Nick Cannon. She vowed, “It’s not that we had no intimacy. We just didn’t have complete intimacy. It’s just me, and my feelings. But we both have similar beliefs, and I just thought that it would be so much more special if we waited until we were married. And it was.” The couple had two children together before splitting in 2015.

12. Kevin Jonas

The Jonas brothers took Disney by storm as the heartthrob trio. Alongside their good looks, their purity rings caught the attention of many adoring fans. When asked about it by the Huffington Post in 2008, the brothers said it symbolized the promises they made to themselves and to God to stay pure until marriage. Kevin, the oldest brother, went on to fulfill that promise. In November 2021, he and his wife Danielle celebrated 10 happy years of marriage!

13. Hilary Duff

Lizzie McGuire superstar Hilary Duff told Elle in 2006 that virginity was a prized possession of hers, despite people’s assumptions as she dated older men. She said, “It’s harder having a boyfriend who’s older because people just assume. But [virginity] is definitely something I like about myself. It doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about sex, because everyone I know has had it and you want to fit in. But when they talk about it, it doesn’t sound special, like you would imagine it to be. It just seems like everybody has slept with each other – you know what I mean?”

14. Lisa Kudrow

Friends star Lisa Kudrow, known as the fun, loving, and eccentric Phoebe Buffay, came out about her decision to remain a virgin until marrying her husband Michael Stern in 1995. She said, “I don’t know if you’d characterize me as uptight, but I understood what it is to be so afraid of sex – of your sexuality. For me it was just, ‘No I’m saving myself because I have to make myself worthy of the kind of man I have in mind.’”

15. Jordin Sparks

Top-charting singer Jordin Sparks remained a virgin until she married her husband Dana Isaiah in 2017. She told Celebs Now, “I don’t want to give away bits of my soul to lots of different guys – I want to give all of myself to the right man on the right night. And the right night is my wedding.”

Closing Thoughts

Whether it be for religious reasons, your own self-made promises, or core values you full-heartedly believe in, making the decision to not rush into sex is a choice you should feel confident about. Too often you hear the stories of girls who felt “pressured” their first time so they could fit in and instantly regretted it. These celebrities, men and women alike (which I think is powerful!), prove just how beautiful, fulfilling, and satisfying it can be to wait until you and your relationship are ready for the next big step. These statements remind us of the sacredness of sex, and how using it as the ultimate expression of love will enhance your values and relationships rather than diminish them.

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