Kristin Cavallari And Lauren Conrad's Rocky Path To Friendship Is Refreshingly Relatable

Kristin Cavallari and Lauren "LC" Conrad are best known for their appearances in the hit series "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County ." Like most teenagers, Cavallari and LC argued while at Laguna Beach High School — predominantly over shared romantic interests. In their early 20s, they appeared on the spin-off "The Hills," with Cavallari eventually replacing LC as the lead. In 2007, a huge row became the central storyline for Season 3, and they left the show without rekindling their friendship.

In 2022, despite some very real tension, the rivals reunited on the "Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen" podcast, co-hosted by Cavallari and co-star Stephen Colletti, to address rumors surrounding their fallout. "I felt like MTV coming kept it alive and made it way worse than it ever would have been," Cavallari said, later apologizing to LC for saying 'some horrible things.' LC also apologized to Cavallari, noting that the producers were looking for unfiltered and dramatic moments. In 2025, Cavallari posed in a picture with LC on Instagram. She later confirmed they were friends again on her "Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari" podcast, having made amends while filming "The Laguna Beach Reunion." Their friendship might seem messy, but the rocky relationship and cutting of ties is incredibly relatable. According to experts, it is not unusual for friendships to break down after leaving high school. While most of us want to keep adult friendships for life, it is completely normal to outgrow our social circles.

Studies show that only 1% of adolescent friendships last after leaving high school. While at school, teenagers tend to gravitate toward social groups that share the same interests, whether it's playing the same sports, sharing the same music tastes, or experimenting with the same style. Teenagers often struggle to navigate outgrowing their social circles because they lack the problem-solving skills needed to break away from old friendships. By the time they reach adulthood, they often find themselves trapped in a difficult situation: They have created strong bonds and love their friends, but they can no longer relate to them and feel a sense of disconnect. Some major signs that show you may be outgrowing a friendship include feeling the urge to cancel plans often, being unfulfilled when you do spend time together, or having a desire to find new friends. People might also ask: "Is friendship therapy worth it?"

Therapy practice Amanda Neves Therapy points out that the best way to navigate outgrowing friendships is to do so with reflection and self-awareness. The first step is to evaluate the friendship — consider whether the relationship is affecting your life in a positive or negative way. Next, reflect on your compatibility with old friends and ask yourself if you still share common interests. When managing old connections, it's best to communicate with complete transparency, as this will prevent any misunderstandings and help set boundaries.