'I'll never do that again' - Bingle breaks her silence

Lara Bingle says she is still friends with her former fiancé, Australian cricket star Michael Clarke. Photo / Getty Images

Lara Bingle has broken her silence and spoken to media for the first time since her separation from her fiancé, Australian cricket star Michael Clarke.

The model sat down with Grazia magazine during Fashion Week in Sydney last week, where she said she had been through "the loneliest two months" of her life.

In that time she endured a nude photo scandal, a massive public outcry over selling her story for a reported A$200,000 and ultimately her split from one of Australia's most popular professional sportsmen.

In March 2010 Australian Woman's Day published a nude photo of Bingle, allegedly supplied by former boyfriend Brendan Fevola. Celebrity agent Max Markson brokered a deal between Bingle and the magazine to tell "her side" of the story.

She felt the decision cost her numerous promotional deals, and has now severed her ties with Markson.

"I made a mistake," she said.

"It was my decision and I thought it would settle things but it just got worse."

Bingle, who was used to turning to Clarke for support, told Grazia their schedules contributed to the collapse of their relationship.

"We'd always spent a lot of time apart, but it was just getting worse and worse - that's really it," she said.

"It's scary because I've always had Michael at my side, but now I'm having to stand on my own two feet."

"I know I need to build up people's respect and I'm going to have to start at the bottom and work up, but that's what I'll do."

Despite the highly-publicised breakup, Bingle insisted that she and the man fans affectionately call "Pup" are still friends.

"We talk all the time and he's been great to me," she said.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE