The former 3LW and The Cheetah Girls star accepted a proposal from her boyfriend of six years, Roc Nation music executive Lenny Santiago, in February (15), but on Wednesday (16Sep15), she confirmed fan speculation the couple had called it quits.

In a statement issued to Usmagazine.com, the 31 year old wrote, "I am, of course, sad that things didn't go as we planned, but we still remain close friends. Six years is a long time to be together, but we had to make the decision to go with our hearts and not be embarrassed or afraid of change. He absolutely helped make me a better person and I will forever cherish the time we shared together."

Bailon opened up further about the love split on her U.S. talk show The Real on Wednesday, admitting she needed some time to herself to come to terms with the news before going public with the separation.

The star, who had revealed on Monday (14Sep15) that she had spent the summer studying abroad in Paris and London, compared the trip to Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert's world travels after a divorce, confessing she needed to 'find' herself and accept the broken engagement was just a part of life.

She explained, "Over the summer, I went on my little Eat Pray Love journey and it was a time for me to come to terms with my own truth and my honesty.

"I am not engaged anymore and we... are in a good place... We are gonna be great friends forever... It was a hard decision to make when you're with somebody for such a long time... but you have to be true to yourself, you have to be honest with yourself, and I think having time on my own gave me that..."

She continued, "It felt embarrassing (to admit she was single again), because it feels a little like a failure, but you know that in the long run it's for the good... and in the moment you feel like you're jumping out the window and you feel scared... but I know that it's going to be OK. I know that I've made the right decision and I want him to be happy."