Christina Haack's Full Transformation Since Her HGTV Debut

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Christina Haack has tried a few different last names since shooting to fame — she's been Christina El Moussa, Christina Anstead, and Christina Hall. But this California girl came full circle in 2025 when she returned to her birth name, Christina Meursinge Haack. The change represented another new era for Haack, who has transformed dramatically since rising to fame on HGTV. 

In high school, Haack seemed more interested in sports than home renovations, running track and playing basketball. She went on to attend San Diego State University, majoring in public relations. After graduating, the future reality star, who was always interested in home design, bagged a job with a real estate company. But she got a little more than she bargained for.

Haack's manager encouraged the then 22-year-old to get to know a co-worker he felt could make a good mentor. That co-worker? Tarek El Moussa. The two didn't start dating right away, but, once they did, there was no waiting around for months in escrow. "The day Tarek and I officially started dating, which was October 9, 2006, we moved in together," she told Good Housekeeping. The happy couple tied the knot three years later and welcomed their first child, daughter Taylor, the following year. Fate stepped in when they heard a production company was looking for unknowns who could flip homes on TV. "I just remember driving to an auction and thinking there's just no way this is really going to happen," Haack recalled. "Then, all of the sudden, HGTV wanted a pilot, and the pilot got picked up and it was a series, overnight." So began this stunner's transformation.

"Flip or Flop" became an instant success when it debuted in 2013. The series made Christina Haack (who looked so different during her HGTV debut) and Tarek El Moussa two of the biggest names on the home improvement network. According to The Futon Critic, the show would go on to be watched by more than 90 million people between its debut and final season (which aired in 2022). "They liked the fact that we were poor and were trying to make something of ourselves," Haack told The Orange County Register of HGTV picking up the show. The couple was initially paid $10,000 per episode and viewers couldn't get enough, with more than 1 million tuning in to many episodes (via Next TV).

But Haack, El Moussa, and their young daughter's lives were about to be turned upside down. El Moussa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013. He was also diagnosed with testicular cancer around the same time, but chose to keep that diagnosis private until 2017. "I had never even known anyone with cancer, so it was a very scary time," Haack told People of her then-husband's health crisis. The couple also opened up about the terrifying time on "Today," with Haack sharing, "I was just feeling totally overwhelmed about losing him, him having to go through treatments, our daughter."

Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa welcomed their second child, Brayden, in 2015. Haack opened up about her tough fertility journey, telling People, "We found out Tarek had cancer, and ... they said that if you go through radiation, which Tarek had too, then you should not get pregnant from that sperm from six months to a year. So, right away, we did sperm banking and [tried] IVF." Tragically, one IVF attempt ended in a miscarriage, but the two were determined to give Taylor a sibling. "I had to do one full week in bed. For 13 weeks after [implantation], I couldn't go for a walk and couldn't lift anything over a gallon of milk ... We did everything we could to make sure this one worked," Haack recalled. Thankfully, it did, and she gave birth to their baby boy.

But dealing with fertility struggles while grappling with a busy TV schedule and newfound fame wasn't easy, and cracks began to form in Haack and El Moussa's marriage. Haack told People in 2017 she felt she returned to work too soon after giving birth, which took its toll on the relationship. "I was overwhelmed. Tension between me and Tarek was high," she said. The duo were also busy renovating their own home, which likely added to the strain. In a 2015 Instagram post, Haack shared, "We purchased our current home 2 years ago and have been going through an extensive remodel for about a year ... For some reason doing our own home is so much harder than a flip!"

Christina Haack found a serious new level of fame in 2016 when she and Tarek El Moussa hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. That May, police were called over an incident that saw El Moussa leave their family home with a gun and make his way to a hiking trail. "[It was an] unfortunate misunderstanding," the two later told TMZ in a statement.

Haack and El Moussa confirmed they had separated following the incident, but noted, "[We] will continue to work through this process civilly and cooperatively, and plan to continue our professional life together." The following December, Haack and El Moussa spoke to People about the alarming occurrence, stating, "We had an unfortunate misunderstanding about six months ago and the police were called to our house in an abundance of caution. There was no violence and no charges were filed."

All the drama and relationship fallout brought more attention to Haack than ever before — but not all of it was welcome. "I would go to the grocery store and there were these disgusting articles and I was with my children. It was awful," Haack told The Orange County Register. "[Paparazzi] were following me and the kids everywhere, knocking on neighbors' doors, asking for stories for money. Definitely low times," she added.

In 2017, now-single mom Christina Haack debuted a new look. That May, she showed off two new tattoos on her forearm: her two children's dates of birth in Roman numerals. She captioned a snap of her ink, "Been wanting this for a long time ... no time like the present." The daring move may have been Haack's way of letting off steam, as she saw the positive in being a single woman again. "It's invigorating to know I am starting over. It's fun to be able to create my own destiny right now," she told People.

But while she was permanently adding to her skin, she was still unravelling other parts of her life. Tarek El Moussa officially filed for divorce in January 2017, and a few months later, Haack was spotted with a mystery man. He turned out to be Doug Spedding, whom Haack dated for around four months before they split as he entered rehabilitation treatment. "Christina didn't just turn her back on him. She respects and supports Doug's decision to take the steps to make changes in his life," a source told InTouch of the breakup.

Despite Haack and El Moussa going their separate ways romantically, they continued to work side by side on "Flip or Flop." "Tarek and I have been working together for a long time and we look forward to continuing to work together on 'Flip or Flop,'" Haack said in a statement (via Today). Fans watched in droves to see how the former couple interacted, and E! News reported that the first three episodes to air in 2017 attracted almost twice as many viewers as the year previous.

Christina Haack was a big star by 2018. So much so, she landed her own "Flip or Flop" spin-off series entitled "Christina On The Coast." She also found love again, as she took her romance with British TV host Ant Anstead public in early 2018. The house flipper was clearly ready for a style reset as she transformed her life, because she cut her signature long hair into a flattering lob. "When a woman cuts her hair she's ready to change her life," her hair stylist Shannon Houston wrote on Instagram alongside a snap of the star rocking blond locks. Her mane skimmed her shoulders and was styled into modern waves. But that was just one stop on Haack's gorgeous hair transformation journey.

It wasn't long before Haack was ready to adopt another new last name. She became Christina Anstead that December when she and her fellow TV personality tied the knot. "It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Christina Anstead," she told People of her name change. "We couldn't be any happier!" she gushed. The twosome welcomed a son named Hudson the following year, but, unfortunately, Haack didn't find eternal wedded bliss with the "Wheeler Dealers" host. In a now-deleted 2020 Instagram post, Haack confirmed their breakup and wrote, in part (via People), "Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate. We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority."

As the world slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina Haack was as busy as ever putting her experience to good use and focusing on her health. She released her own book with nutritionist Cara Clark entitled, "The Wellness Remodel: A Guide to Rebooting How You Eat, Move, and Feed Your Soul." In a now-removed Instagram post, Haack told fans (via House Beautiful), "I've been following [Clark's] meal plans since 2013 and credit her to really showing me what eating healthy looks like. This book will include all our favorite recipes as well as workout tips and strategies for reducing stress and being more mindful."

The star also opened up on Instagram about her experience with an autoimmune disease and why she took her health so seriously. "It's so important that I stay healthy and that my brain stays active that way I'll be able to be on for all the kids and work," she told fans in the since-deleted clip (via House Beautiful). The California native also shared she'd been taking supplements and probiotics in an attempt to live a healthier lifestyle. She told People in 2020 that she'd been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease and had learned new techniques to help her feel her healthiest. "Instead of crashing myself with exercise, I do yoga and practice meditation on the Headspace app," she said.

Christina Haack was back in the dating game in 2021. People confirmed in July that Haack had been privately romancing a mystery man. "They've enjoyed getting to know each other one-on-one without outside noise," a source said. That same month, Haack made their relationship Instagram official and defended entering another romance after two very public divorces. "When we met this past spring, the synchronicities hit us so hard and fast they were impossible to ignore," she captioned a now-removed post (via People). "So yes 'another relationship' and guess what. I'm 38 — I'll do what I want." After about a year of dating, Haack and Hall tied the knot.

The reality star also changed her look again by adding to her tattoo collection. Seemingly as a nod to her past heartache, she got the words "Still I rise" inked from the bottom of her neck down her back. The star gave fans a look at her large new ink on Instagram, sharing the shot alongside an inspiring quote from the eponymous poem by Maya Angelou.

As for her style, Haack made it clear she wanted to keep things chic and easy, which made sense considering she was busy as ever with three kids, a thriving career, and a new love. The star wore several winning monochrome outfits (which are great for lazy days!), rocking all-black ensembles. "My fav attire black on black on black #johnnycashvibes," she captioned one Instagram post, which showed the beauty posing in a mirror wearing a black sweatshirt, ripped black skinny jeans, and chunky black boots. 

In 2022, Christina Haack got candid about additional health issues she'd been experiencing, sharing on Instagram Stories she had mercury and lead poisoning she believed stemmed from house flipping. She also told fans she had an overgrowth of bacteria in her small intestine. "We are first detoxing all of this through herbs and IVs," she wrote (via People). Haack added that she was considering having her breast implants removed because of possible health impacts.

That same year, the TV star was dealing with a major life change when HGTV confirmed "Flip or Flop" was ending. The mom of three marked the occasion with a poignant Instagram photo that showed her posing with the cast and crew, including Tarek El Moussa. "From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one of you who have watched the show throughout the years," she wrote. "It's been a wild ride to say the least!! I'm excited to see what the next 10 years has in store and can't wait to share what I've been working on behind the scenes." It wasn't all bad news, as her second spin-off "Christina In The Country" began airing soon after.

Though "Flip or Flop" may have ended, Haack's love of super long extensions certainly didn't. In an 2023 Instagram post with her hair salon, she documented having 20-inch strands installed into her caramel blond locks. She appeared to be ready to move on with her style, though. After years of embracing all-black ensembles, she stunned on Instagram in a lilac sweater paired with flared jeans (the bold, '70s flared pant was a huge trend in 2023).

Sadly, the third time wasn't the charm for Christina Haack when it came to marriage. She and Joshua Hall filed for divorce in 2024 and things turned nasty between the ex-couple as Haack taught us another relationship red flag to avoid. "We don't get along. We're not getting along," she lamented on "Jeff Lewis Has Issues" when asked about their separation. The Golden State beauty pointed out they were married for less than three years, sassily quipping, "That was way longer than I wanted to stay in it." Ouch.

But despite her personal issues, Haack was determined to keep expanding her business empire. She launched Christina & Kylie in fall 2024, an interior design and home furnishing company, alongside her longtime friend Kylie Wing. The star was also dressing noticeably more glam than when "Flip or Flop" began. That summer, she shared a snap to Instagram that showed her posing on vacation in a black Louis Vuitton bikini and plenty of pricey jewelry, including a Dior necklace and what appeared to be Cartier's Juste Un Clou bracelet.

Christina Haack took stock of her life choices in 2025 and shared a poignant Instagram message about working on herself following the demise of her three marriages. "As someone who recently discovered I have anxious-attachment ... and for sure a history of co-dependency issues ... things can be challenging and by 'things' I mean 'me,'" she wrote, in part. "At 41 I'm finally learning about safe communication, independence during commitment and a relationship that is NOT 0-100," she added. The star also shared she'd found love again, as she'd started dating Christopher Larocca.

Her romance with Larocca went public that January, but they found themselves in hot water when Larocca's ex-girlfriend Andrea Deanna made some shocking claims to Daily Mail. "While we were still dating, [Christopher and Christina] were dating, and she was still married, and they were still living together," Deanna claimed. Haack's representative denied the allegations, hitting back, "This person continues to make false allegations and spread lies. Christina was separated when she met Chris."

Whatever's next for Haack though, it seems she'll always be focused on family. Despite a previously rocky relationship with Tarek El Moussa, the star is showing us how to do co-parenting right with Heather Rae El Moussa (the "Selling Sunset" star tied the knot with Tarek El Moussa in 2021). Haack shared an Instagram reel demonstrating how well she gets along with her ex and his wife writing, "Let's just say we're not your average blended family." She can say that again.