Saira Khan lost her "innocence" when she was abused at the age of 13.
The ‘Loose Women’ panellist revealed on the show earlier this week that she was sexually assaulted by her father’s brother and she believes the "one-off" incident affected her forever.
She said: "I am a strong woman but that day my innocence was taken away
"It was a one-off but enough to shape what happened the rest of my life. Some may find that hard to believe. But it is true.
"I’m not saying it made me a victim and I certainly don’t want pity."
Saira admitted she didn’t know what to do when her uncle came into her bedroom and began touching her, so she simply carried on doing her homework as she was suddenly "transported into the adult world".
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It felt like it went on for an age. I kept thinking: ‘You are my uncle. Why are you doing this?’
"My heart was beating a million miles an hour but I thought if I didn’t acknowledge what was happening, it would stop.
"He carried on and on and because I didn’t know what to do, I did nothing, just kept doing my homework. It was like in that moment I was transported into the adult world. Everything changed.
"Up until that day I’d been totally innocent. I wasn’t even allowed to play out or get on a bus by myself."
The 46-year-old star only confided in someone about her ordeal when she met her husband Steve Hyde. She then told her mother and brothers after her father and uncle were both dead.
But she admitted her mum was shocked when she spoke out on ‘Loose Women this week.
She said: My mum said to me yesterday, ‘Why did you have to talk about it on the television?’
"I explained if I didn’t talk about it I’d be colluding with the silence. Deep down I think she understands. And since the show, I’ve been inundated with messages from women with similar experiences."
Saira Khan lost innocence with assault
