JUST IN:Olivia Culpo responds to wedding dress drama for first time: ‘I wanted to feel like myself’..See more

Olivia Culpo is opening up about criticism surrounding her wedding dress.

In an interview with People published Thursday, the former Miss Universe 2012 got candid regarding the world of opinions she received about her custom Dolce and Gabbana gown following her late June wedding.

“I wanted to feel like myself in every sense of the word,” she told People. “And I think that’s where my decision to be more pared down came in.”

Culpo told the outlet she “was definitely very surprised” by the criticism, adding that she likes “to give people the benefit of the doubt and unfortunately, I feel like the words I said were spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have.”

Culpo also spoke out about the love she shares with McCaffrey, who defended her in the wake of the controversy.

“I loved every part of my wedding because I love my husband and the people we got to celebrate that day with,” she added.

“The choices that I made are because I wanted to feel like they’re choices I could be proud of in 50 years. And that’s it.”