Saira Khan has opened up about the 'shame' she felt as a Muslim woman that had boyfriends and sometimes enjoyed a drink.
The former Loose Women star, 50, has shared that she is no longer a practising Muslim, as she explained that she now wants to live by her own rules.
In her column for The Mirror, Saira wrote: "People assume that because we have Muslim parents we are practising Muslims, that we have read the Quran, that we fast every Ramadan, that we don't drink, that we don’t have sex before marriage."
She added: "Saying I'm Muslim and then having a boyfriend behind closed doors, wearing clothes that go against the Muslim dress code, having a cheeky drink and living a non-Muslim life only brings guilt, self-loathing, loneliness and a feeling of being caged.
"I know that one of the reasons I have been so angry and unhappy in my life is because of the many contradictions I've had to live with."
Saira married her husband Steve Hyde, who isn't Muslim, in 2004.
The couple share two children, Zach and Amara.
Before she quit Loose Women last year, she would often speak about her marriage and family life on the ITV show.
And Saira has admitted that this made her feel uncomfortable because of her religion.
She added: "My milestones have always been tinged with shame and guilt – marrying Steve, being on the telly talking about my life, adopting a child, and not following Islamic rules on her inheritance rights."
Speaking about her decision to speak about her faith, Saira said: "I'm doing it now for my own wellbeing.
"I want to be honest and feel free to live my life by my own rules.
"I feel that by saying this as a public figure, I will no longer inadvertently confuse or unintentionally hurt others of the Muslim faith."
