“This past July, I went on vacation with a female friend; the next thing I knew, I was in love with her.”

Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson might have only just recently confirmed their relationship status, but Miley Cyrus’ ex Kaitlynn Carter wants you to know that their “friendship” was a lot more than that, in fact, it was love.

Soon after Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth announced their separation in August, the ‘Mother’s Daughter’ singer was pictured kissing Kaitlynn on holiday in Italy. Kaitlynn was going through a separation of her own at the time too, from her ex Brody Jenner.

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Because of the time the kiss occurred, it was assumed that Kaitlynn and Miley Cyrus were just having a summer fling or holiday romance. But, Kaitlyn has admitted it was so much more than that in a personal essay for Elle.

Miley Cyrus poses backstage during the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival, on holiday with Kaitlynn Carter. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia, @kaitlynn via Instagram

“This past July, I went on vacation with a female friend; the next thing I knew, I was in love with her,” she penned. “It wasn’t quite that simple, of course. But it also wasn’t very complicated, either.

“Until that trip, it had never crossed my mind that I was even capable of loving a woman the way I loved her. But after reflecting on my romantic history, I realized that I’ve never really had a ‘type’.”

Although they initially bonded over their mutual heartbreak, it quickly turned into a romantic relationship. Miley and Kaitlynn continued their trip together and when they returned from their Italian getaway they were inseparable. Kaitlynn supported the Hannah Montana star at her performances and Miley even got a Kaitlynn-inspired tattoo… yep, it was that serious.

She added: “As my friend and I spent that August travelling through Europe together and trying to move past our respective breakups, my first and only romance with a woman was born. Reflecting back on our three-year friendship, I realized I’d always been drawn to her in a way I wasn’t with other friends, but until that trip, it had never crossed my mind to think of her in a romantic sense.”

Sadly, after six weeks of dating Miley and Kaitlynn were no more. According to People, Miley wasn’t feeling a serious relationship at the time and it was moving too fast. Not long after, she began a relationship with singer Cody Simpson.

Although Kaitlynn’s relationship with Miley didn’t work out it was a great learning experience for her. It allowed her to gain a better understanding of herself and she is still exploring her sexuality.

“While it was short-lived, I’ll remain eternally grateful to my most recent relationship for opening my eyes to this unexplored part of myself, and for inspiring a new level of self-discovery and wonder at all the possibilities of life,” Kaitlynn continued. “I’ve been forced to get to know myself in a far deeper way than ever before, and not just in terms of my sexual preferences. I’ve also been forced to reckon with who I am as a person.

Celebrity Sightings in Los Angeles – September 14, 2019. Picture: Chris Wolf/Star Max/GC Images

“Although the relationship with my friend was often referenced in the media as merely a ‘summer fling’ or a ‘same-sex affair’, it was so much more than that. This was a profound journey of self-discovery. For the first time, I listened to myself, forgot about the ‘norm’, and lived.

“I hope that everyone, when given the chance, takes the time to understand who exactly their most authentic selves are, untethered from what we may have been taught to believe. Remain curious. Know that there are many layers within you – and they just might be the most invaluable ones.”