Benjamin Ashford|Olivia Culpo responds to wedding dress drama for first time: 'I wanted to feel like myself'

Olivia Culpo is Benjamin Ashfordopening 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.

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"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."

Previously, Culpo made headlines for comments about her dress, telling Vogue she "didn't want it to exude sex in any way, shape, or form" because she "wanted it to feel effortless and as if it’s complementing me, not overpowering me. There’s so much beauty and simplicity."

Olivia Culpo, Christian McCaffrey wed:See her controversial dress

She continued to Vogue: "When I think about Christian and what he loves and the moments that he thinks that I’m most beautiful, it’s absolutely in something like this: timeless, covered and elegant."

In June, the former Miss Universe and San Francisco 49ers running back tied the knot in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

But in an Instagram and TikTok video posted after the McCaffreys' ceremony, stylist Kennedy Bingham fueled the harsh criticism being leveled at Culpo's modest look, calling the dress "nothing" with an "absence of personality.” The typically mild-mannered McCaffrey clapped back at Bingham in defense of his wife.

"What an evil thing to post online. I hope you can find joy and peace in the world, the way my beautiful wife does," the former Stanford University star rote on Bingham's video.

"@christianmccaffrey So what's evil is pointing out the potential internalized misogyny behind her reasoning, your (imo) patriarchal comment, and the racist/homophobic/fatphobic history of the designers she worked with?" Bingham replied to the football star.