It’s been five long months since Hillary Clinton lost the US presidential election to Donald Trump and boy, there is a lot to talk about.

In her first public interview since November 8, the former Secretary of State sat down with The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof at the Women in the World Summit in New York, to discuss how she’s been coping since the election (“I’m OK. As an American I’m pretty worried”), why she stopped caring what everyone thought, and her fears for women everywhere.

‘Women are being targeted globally’

Clinton voiced her concern over the “global gag rule” that would see aid agencies lose funding if they spoke about abortion.

“The targeting of women — which is what is going on — is absolutely beyond any political agenda. There is something else happening here,” she said.

Clinton said the funding the US provides is “saving women and children’s lives and helping women have a better shot at a future”.

"The more we support women, the more we support democracy… Women’s issues are national security issues around the world."

Hillary also criticised Trump's determination to ban Muslims from entering the country.

"I don’t understand the commitment to hurt so many people that this administration, this White House seems to be pursuing. There are so many examples in just the first 100 days," she said.

"The ban on people coming into our country — and yes, it was aimed at originally seven, now six, countries but it really sent a chilling effect across the world."

Sexism in the election was real, and she's trying to understand why.

When asked about the election, Clinton agreed that "misogyny played a role".

"And that just has to be admitted, and why and what the underlying reasons for that, is what I’m trying to figure out myself."

The 69-year-old described the election as a "very real struggle" between people welcoming Trump's win as an exciting change, and others seeing it as "worrisome and threatening".

Clinton also revealed she knew many people didn't like her, but eventually stopped caring.

"I am not perfect, everybody knows that by now… Sometimes I don’t know quite how to fix what they are concerned about. But I try. And so, I take it seriously, but I don’t any longer, and haven’t for a long time taken it personally.

"Because part of the attacks … part of the bullying and part of the name calling — and that has certainly become more pervasive — is to crush your spirit and feel inadequate.

"And I just refused to do that — and that infuriated everyone."

She thought that photo of men deciding women's futures was ridiculous and awful, too.

Clinton told the audience this is her favourite meme:

Why? Because it so perfectly encapsulates the laughable-if-it-weren't-so-depressing irony of President Trump surrounded by men "deciding how they were going to defund Planned Parenthood and maternity care, and access to insurance for family planning and contraception".

"Looking at that picture, you just think it has got to be from a skit on Saturday Night Live. It can’t possibly be true."

What was your favourite quote from the Women in the World Summit?