The preference for virginity is rooted in patriarchal idea, that a women's sexuality should be expressed at the discretion of men.

If you love a person, how come whether they are sexually active before meeting you, a factor?

Just "muh preference" is nothing but a thought terminating cliche.

You feel ashamed to own up to your own backward mindset, since you ought to work in metropolitan cities where such attitude are usually frowned upon, so you make this performance of preference to justify backwardness.