The TV star thanked fans for their support through 'this difficult time' - and asks them to 'respect my courage' for ending her marriage to NBA star Kris Humphries after just 72 days.
Expressing outrage that anyone would question her motives for going down the aisle - with many insisting she did it for fame and money - she instead insists the problem was she is too romantic.
She acknowledged that having her wedding filmed for her TV show: 'turned out to not be the smartest decision', but explains: 'I want a family and babies and a real life so badly that maybe I rushed into something too soon.'
Of the split she said: 'This isn’t easy to go through. But I do know that I have to follow my heart.'