Lauren Conrad reveals why she vanished from Hollywood… after addressing Kristin Cavallari feud

Lauren Conrad has lifted the lid on why she stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight at the peak of her fame - after addressing her long-running feud with Kristin Cavallari.

The former MTV darling, now 40, became a household name after appearing on the network’s hit reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its hugely successful spin-off The Hills.

Conrad was just 18 when Laguna Beach debuted in 2004, before cameras followed her to Los Angeles two years later - documenting the highs and lows of her internship at Teen Vogue, her love life and her friendships.

But in 2009 - at the height of her reality TV reign - she shocked fans by walking away to focus on her then-budding fashion career.

'I always looked at reality TV as a temporary thing to make my connections and then go on to my dream,' Conrad, who launched her first collection with Kohl’s that same year, told People on Tuesday.

Four years ago, the star - who shares sons Liam, eight, and Charlie, six, with husband William Tell - retreated even further from Hollywood, putting down roots in her hometown of Laguna.

'I really appreciate private moments,' she said. 'Nobody cares who I am here.'

She added, 'It’s such a privilege to be able to live my life for myself after putting many years on camera.'

She recently allowed cameras back into her life  - albeit briefly - for the highly anticipated 20th anniversary special, The Reunion: Laguna Beach, which is set to premiere on April 10.

During filming, and in a teaser for the project, she came face-to-face with Kristin Cavallari as the pair addressed their long-discussed fallout. 

Conrad and Cavallari, 39, were at the centre of some of the show’s most memorable drama during their time on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County - including a complicated love triangle involving castmate Stephen Colletti.

However, by October 2025, both women confirmed they had put the past behind them, revealing they are now on good terms after reconnecting during the reunion.

'Lauren and I are friends,' Cavallari stated during an episode of her Let’s Be Honest With Kristin Cavallari podcast.

'I just got back from Laguna. I filmed the Laguna Beach reunion which was awesome. I don't even know what I'm allowed to say or not say... It was such a great time.'

She went on to describe the experience as 'really healing in a lot of ways,' despite initially having reservations about taking part.

That same month, Cavallari shared a smiling snap alongside Conrad on Instagram, joking in the caption: 'Everyone can put away their team Lauren and team Kristin shirts now.'

'We have so much in common and have been having so much fun talking and texting,' Conrad told People. 'As you get older, you’re not worried about the small stuff.'

The pair had also revisited their history back in 2022 during an appearance on the Back To The Beach podcast, where they downplayed the extent of their on-screen rivalry.

'My take on it is, you and I never really had any beef,' Cavallari expressed.

'Obviously there was a little truth to what happened with the three of us, but I felt like MTV coming kept it alive and made it way worse than it ever would have been.'

Conrad agreed, explaining that while tensions briefly flared before filming began, the situation had already been resolved by the time production got underway.

'It was like the week before they started filming, we got into it and then made up. And it was fine. And they came… I don't think we were best friends, but we were fine,' the designer continued.

Cavallari added, 'They really hammered the love triangle home,' prompting Conrad to reply, 'They really did. They didn't want me to have anything else.'

More recently, Conrad reflected on her early reality TV years while speaking to EW ahead of the reunion’s release, admitting she now views some of her teenage behaviour with a sense of perspective.

'I think, for a while, I had a lot of embarrassment about some of my behavior as an 18-year-old, things I would say or do.'

She added, 'But I also think that that unfiltered thing we had was one of the reasons the show did really well. We weren't super self-aware.

'We hadn't really seen a show like this before, so we didn't know what was getting used or not used. I think that's what actually made it feel more authentic.'

Conrad continued, 'I think I'm finally at the place now where I can laugh at it and say I was 18. I've hopefully grown since then.'

She also opened up about how she first landed her role on Laguna Beach, revealing she turned to her father, Jim, for guidance before agreeing to join the show.

'He was like, ‘A lot of people who work in entertainment also work in fashion. This could be a really good opportunity for you,’' she says.

Now settled back in her hometown, Conrad is focused on raising her family - and embracing a quieter pace of life far removed from her reality TV beginnings.

While she may be synonymous with Laguna, her two sons remain largely unimpressed by her fame.

'I don’t think they really understand, and I don’t think they’re that interested, to be honest,' she told People.

'Once in a while, I’ll be like, ‘Oh, look! Mama did this.’ And they’re like, ‘Okay....’ Someday, they’ll get it.'