Kelly Clarkson ready for romance

Mar 7, 2009, 4:00 GMT

US singer Kelly Clarkson. The \'My Life Would Suck Without You\' singer is on the hunt for a boyfriend because she "badly" wants to fall in love for the first time. EPA/Barbara Gindl

Kelly Clarkson is desperate for love.

The 'My Life Would Suck Without You' singer is on the hunt for a boyfriend because she "badly" wants to fall in love for the first time.

She said: "I've never been in love. I want to be so badly - I'm a hopeless romantic, but I haven't been there yet. I'd prefer to wait for the right one than settle for second best."

The 26-year-old beauty - who won the first series of hit TV talent show 'American Idol' - has found it hard to trust men since an ex-boyfriend treated her badly.

She said: "I don't think I'd fall in love easily - I had a boyfriend, who I discovered was only with me because he wanted to be famous. Oh, and he had a girlfriend the entire time we were together. I can spot a cheat a mile off these days. I was hurt but karma's a b***h and I'm sure he'll reap what he sowed."

Although she is looking for a man, Kelly won't settle for anybody and says any prospective boyfriend would need to have some very specific attributes.

She explained to Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine: "A good sense of humour is essential. And I like a man with facial hair! He also need to be independent - it's so easy to lose yourself when you're in a relationship, so I like a man who already has a strong sense of what he wants out of life. I love my career and being independent, so if I'm going to make time for a man, he has to be worth it."