Scherzinger: I earned my stars and stripes in Lewis relationship

Nicole Scherzinger gave "everything" to her relationship with Lewis Hamilton.

'The X Factor' star split from her boyfriend of five years in July after their hectic work schedules made it difficult to spend time together and although she admits the break-up is still "raw", Nicole is confident she poured all she could into her romance with the Formula One race car driver.

She said: "He knows that I gave everything. I really earned my stars and stripes as a woman and as a girlfriend in that relationship."

The 35-year-old beauty revealed she is finding it difficult to process the split, especially following Lewis' grand gesture of love, dedicating his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July to his former girlfriend just weeks after they went their separate ways.

Quizzed about the romantic declaration, Nicole responded: "I'm still taking all of that in. I'm still in the eye of the storm. I know I was genuinely happy for him and I continue to support him. I was his number one believer. I told him he could do anything he wanted and could be anything he wanted."

While the 'Boomerang' singer is still coping with her split from Lewis, 28, she feels her recent heartbreak is a test of her resolve and believes it will only make her a stronger person.

In an interview with the new issue of Glamour magazine, she said: "When you've been in a relationship for five years, it's gonna take time. But the good thing is, it grows you some balls. You grow a pair! Everybody knows what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and my focus is to put my pieces back together. So whatever relationship comes next, I'll be a whole person."