There are reality TV faces, and then there are reality TV stars. Kristin Cavallari fell into the latter category, after her sizzling breakout role on MTV’s reality teen soap “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” (2004-05). After appearing on the first two seasons of the hit series, Cavallari transformed herself into a Hollywood “It girl,” showing up at star-studded events and award shows. Despite having a limited resume at best, she also became an overnight tabloid sensation, with her dating and social life – particularly her alleged relationship with a newly single Nick Lachey – suddenly becoming a hot topic for weekly celebrity rags and entertainment blog sites.
Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari was born on Jan.14, 1987. Contrary to popular belief, the actress was not born in Orange County, California. She grew up in Denver, CO until her parents divorced, then relocated to Illinois with her mother. A few years later, she joined her father in Laguna Beach, CA in the OC. She attended a private Catholic school until transferring to Laguna Beach High her sophomore year of high school. It was while attending this school that Cavallari and several schoolmates were picked to be in a reality show for MTV that documented Orange County teens’ everyday lives – not unlike “The O.C.” – a fictionalized drama series on Fox (2003- ) that had enjoyed a tremendous following and made stars of its cast, including Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson. MTV marketed “Laguna Beach” as a reality series where the characters and situations were real, but some critics and audiences wondered whether plotlines and conversations were actually scripted.
Cavallari was in her junior year of high school when the first season of “Laguna Beach” taped. At the time, she had a romantic interest in Stephen Coletti, a senior at Laguna Beach High, and a rivalry with senior girl, Lauren Conrad. The love triangle became the show’s central plotline. The second season showed a more mature and confident Cavallari. The bubbly blonde flirted her way into everyone’s hearts on and off the show and seemed poised for reality TV icon status.
When the second season of “Laguna Beach” wrapped, Cavallari was offered a hosting stint on the former UPN Network’s makeover show, “Get This Party Started” in 2006. The series was cancelled after only two episodes, but Cavallari sought out numerous projects and made her presence in Hollywood known. She appeared that same year in the music video for singer Teddy Geiger’s song “For You I Will (Confidence).” She also guested on the CW mystery/drama series, “Veronica Mars” in 2006, starring as high school student Kylie Marker.
Cavallari broke out of her reality star status with news that she was up for the role of Lucy Ewing in a film version of the TV show “Dallas,” set at that time to star John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez. It was also reported that Cavallari had to turn down a role opposite Al Pacino in the movie “88 Minutes” (2007) because of scheduling conflicts with “Get This Party Started.” She finally landed two box office roles in 2007 – the thriller “Fingerprints” and the comedy “Spring Breakdown” – neither of which did much for her career, save provide true acting experience.
Perhaps more discussed for her social life rather than her acting career, Cavallari was a favorite amongst tabloid columnists and entertainment bloggers. She was rumored to have dated singer Nick Lachey shortly after his much-publicized divorce from Jessica Simpson – an alleged relationship which truly put her on the non-reality TV map. Ironically, Cavallari was up for the part of Daisy Duke in the 2005 film “The Dukes of Hazzard,” but that role eventually went to Lachey’s former wife, Simpson. The press made something of a feud between the two blondes, but if indeed it did exist, the rumored fling with Lachey was over before it started and the press moved on to meatier stories – one of which involved Cavallari and her confirmed boyfriend, “The Princes of Malibu” (Fox, 2005) star, Brody Jenner. Everywhere the extremely handsome couple went, shutterbugs followed. After 11 months of dating, however, the pair reportedly split in August of 2006, with Cavallari next rumored to be dating actor Nick Zano from “What I Like About You” (The WB, 2003-06).