Listening to Hilary Duff’s “Coming Clean” while slapping on a black choker and a denim, mini skirt can only mean one thing…LAGUNA BEACH! You would be lying if you said that you never enjoyed “the Real Orange County”. Hook ups, house parties, high school drama–it was all too good to miss! Whether you were Team LC (Kristin was such a sloot) or Team Kristin (LC needs to stop pretending to be so innocent), I think it’s safe to assume that we are all wondering where our favorite Laguna teens ended up.
Kristin Cavallari: We all remember Kristin as Queen Bee of Laguna Beach High School. She had hottie-tottie Stephen Colletti in the palm of her hand and was most likely the inspiration behind Regina George (“I have this theory that if you shave all her hair off she’d look like a British man”). Since her LB days, Cavallari went onto MTV’s The Hills, where she announced that everything about the show and its precursor Laguna Beach was fake (I refuse to believe it). More importantly, she is engaged to Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler and has a son named Camden.
Lauren Conrad: Lauren was the all-American girl next door. She was devastated by the fact that she was in love with her guy BFF Stephen, who almost always chose her arch nemesis Kristin over her. We all know Conrad went on to host The Hills, where she fell in love with resident bad boy Jason Wahler and interned for Teen Vogue. Lauren is now focusing on her clothing line Paper Crown and is dating USC law student William Tell.
Stephen Colletti: Laguna’s hottie Stephen Colletti was the boy every girl wanted. He practically begged high school girlfriend Kristin to visit him in San Francisco every weekend when he was away at college. Stephen attended San Francisco State University before pursuing acting. Stephen has dated practically every blonde Californian in Hollywood, including Kristin Cavallari, Lauren Conrad, Hayden Panettiere, and now Chelsea Kane. Colletti now plays Chase Adams on One Tree Hill, a high school student who plans to save himself until marriage. Hmm…
Lo Bosworth: Lo was LC’s best friend, and could always be counted on for a good time. It was impossible to hate Lo–she was smart, funny, and cute. Lo attended University of California, Santa Barbara and went on to become a socialite on The Hills, where she coined the name “Justin Bobby” for Audrina’s boyfriend. In addition to her newest project, Revelry House (party planning for the modern hostess), Lo still gives BFF Lauren advice like she did on The Hills and Laguna Beach (my favorite: “You weren’t being over sensitive, he was being over a**hole”).
Jessica Smith: Poor Jessica. Can’t you see that Jason’s cheating on you?! “JESS-ka! JESS-ka! Jason’s cheating on you!” Wise words, Kristin Cavallari. We all remember Jessica as the paranoid, pushover girlfriend who let boyfriend Jason walk all over her. Jessica was Kristin’s #1 side kick and loyal BFF. After joining the DUI club, Jessica got hitched to Michael Evans in 2009 and gave birth to her son in 2010. Here’s hoping her husband treats her a lot better than Jason ever did!
Jason Wahler: Jason was the bad boy we just loved to hate. From dating Jessica, to cheating on Jessica, to dating Lauren, to cheating on Lauren with Jessica, Jason was the epitome of a player. Jason moved on from Laguna Beach to The Hills, where he made Lauren choose between going to Paris for her Teen Vogue internship and staying with him in Malibu for the summer. Lesson learned, Lauren–always choose Paris. Soon after, Jason ended up on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew for his substance abuse. Nevertheless, Jason has cleaned up his bad boy act and is now sober and happily engaged to model Ashley Slack.
Talan Toerriero: “Talan really grew up this summer.” Talan spent his Laguna days confused about his feelings for Kristin, who would bounce back to Talan whenever Stephen bored her. I guess Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls was a Laguna Beach fan because they dated for a couple years before Talan got a DUI and 3 years of probation.
Alex H.: We all remember Alex H…just kidding, no we don’t. If you need a refresher, Alex H. was the often forgettable, tall blonde who was besties with Jessica and Kristin. We never saw much of Alex’s personality or social life, maybe because it didn’t exist…or maybe the producers chose not to show it–who knows? Similar to her Laguna Beach days, Alex has stayed out of the spotlight. Perhaps Alex is the most normal of the bunch.
Casey Reinhardt: Casey was the real-life Barbie who transferred to Laguna Beach High School. Casey was known for her fake hair extensions and her ostentatious mansion–equipped with a full staff of employees and chefs. No one will ever be able to forget when she ignorantly barked at her housekeeper to make a quesadilla,“Uno kay-suh-dill-uh, por favor!!!” After eating her quesadillas, Casey went on to attend Pepperdine University and opened Casey’s Cupcakes in Riverside. Yelp reviewers say her shop has “too much pink my eyes started to bleed” and “great looking overpriced cupcakes that taste like Safeway.” But Casey won Cupcake Wars, so she must be doing something right!
So long Laguna Beach, you and Kristin Cavallari’s tolken, black choker made the 2000s some of the best years of our lives!