Lauren Conrad admits she can finally laugh at her Laguna Beach love triangle with Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Colletti after years of ’embarrassment about my behaviour’ as cast reunite for 20th anniversary

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Throughout high school, her life was constantly documented on camera, sharing everything from her friendships and social life to a complicated romantic relationship with a large audience.

Okay, so I just read that Lauren Conrad – Lauren Conrad! – finally talked about Laguna Beach, and it’s honestly so relatable! She said she’s only just gotten over being embarrassed by some of the stuff she did back then. Like, can you even imagine? Forty years old and still cringing? I get it, though! It’s amazing to me she’s opening up about it after all this time. I just… I love that she’s being real about it!

Lauren, known for her role on The Hills and later for creating her own fashion and lifestyle brand, is getting back together with her original castmates from Laguna Beach for a special television event celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary.

Looking back on her time as the star of the reality show, Lauren shared that she had been embarrassed by things she did when she was a teenager for many years.

She admitted to feeling embarrassed by some of her actions and words when she was 18, telling Entertainment Weekly that it took her a while to get over it.

I believe our show succeeded, in part, because we were so authentic and didn’t try to be overly clever or self-conscious.

We hadn’t encountered a performance quite like it, so it was hard to tell what elements were intentional and what weren’t. That uncertainty, I think, is what made it feel so genuine.

Looking back, I can now laugh at how I acted when I was 18. I’ve definitely matured a lot since then.

Lauren lives back in her hometown of Laguna with her husband, William Tell, and their two sons, Liam and Charlie, who are eight and five years old, respectively.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say reality TV thrives on relationships, and Laguna Beach was no exception! A huge part of the show’s buzz came from the complicated love triangle between Lauren, her rival Kristin Cavallari, and the guy they were both after – the charming surfer, Stephen Colletti. It was classic teen drama!

Stephen, known for his acting roles in shows like One Tree Hill, told Entertainment Weekly there’s one part of the reality show he wishes he could redo.

During the first season in 2004, the group took a trip to Cabo San Lucas, where Stephen and his girlfriend, Kristin, had a major fight.

Let’s talk about healthy relationships, because what I saw unfold was anything but. There was a really upsetting incident where Stephen lost control, verbally and physically, with Kristin. He was yelling at her, even pushing her, after she danced on a table and kissed someone else. He later explained he’d been drinking heavily for an entire day – basically blacked out from tequila – but honestly, that doesn’t excuse the behavior. Regardless of what happened beforehand, losing control and being abusive is never okay. It’s crucial to remember that you are responsible for your actions, and substance abuse isn’t a free pass for harmful behavior. It’s a reminder that if you’re struggling with alcohol, or seeing this kind of behavior in a relationship, please reach out for help.

Stephen admits there are scenes he regrets and wishes they could have been reshot. He’s had moments where he’d prefer certain things hadn’t made the final cut.

You know, looking back on our trip to Cabo, it’s clear we were completely unaware we were being filmed. We had no idea what would come of it, and honestly, if I could, I’d love a chance to redo that experience knowing what I know now. It’s a big lesson learned, and I wish I’d been more aware of the situation at the time.

Even though Stephen and Kristin went through some typical teenage ups and downs, they’ve stayed friends and now co-host a podcast called ‘Back to the Beach,’ where they revisit their time on the show Laguna Beach.

Over the years, Lauren has intentionally kept her distance from the show and some of her former co-stars. She recently shared that filming the reunion special was the first time she’d seen most of the cast in years, and she found it to be a helpful and positive experience.

The Reunion: Laguna Beach will air in the US on April 10 on Roku. 

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2026-03-10 14:50