Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari (born January 5, 1987) is an American television personality, fashion designer, and actress. She first rose to fame in 2004, as a cast member on the popular MTV reality television series, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County (2004–2006), and was later given her own reality series to star in, Very Cavallari (2018–2020). Outside of reality television, Cavallari has enjoyed minor success as an actress, appearing in a handful of television shows and direct-to-video films, and as a fashion designer with her own line of clothing and jewellery, Uncommon James.
Early life
Cavallari was born in Denver, Colorado, one of two children born to Judith Eifrig and Dennis Cavallari, the other being her late older brother, Michael Cavallari. She is of Italian heritage through her father and of German heritage through her mother. After her parents divorced, she moved with her mother from Colorado to Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where she lived until her junior year of high school, after which she moved to Laguna Beach, California, to live with her father and brother. She graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 2005.
Career
Cavallari in September 2008
Cavallari was in her junior year of high school when the first season of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County began production. At the time, she was involved in an on-and-off relationship with senior Stephen Colletti. Cavallari’s romance with Colletti caused a rivalry with another cast member, Lauren Conrad. The love triangle became one of the series’ central plot lines.
In May 2009, Cavallari confirmed she would be joining the cast of Laguna Beach’s spin-off series, The Hills. She made her first appearance on the series during the fifth season’s midseason finale on May 31, 2009, at Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt’s wedding, where she caught the bouquet. The second half of the season premiered on September 29, 2009, with Cavallari assuming the position of former main cast member and narrator Conrad. Despite originally signing a deal with MTV to appear in two additional seasons following the fifth, the sixth and final season concluded on July 13, 2010.
Cavallari was on the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and partnered with two-time champion Mark Ballas. She was the third to be eliminated.
After Laguna Beach, Cavallari headed to Los Angeles and signed on the UPN reality television series Get This Party Started, which premiered February 7, 2006. The series was canceled after airing two episodes. She appeared on one episode of another UPN series, Veronica Mars, and went on to guest roles on series including CSI: NY, Cane, and Adventures in Hollyhood. In 2006, she signed on as Crystal in the horror film Fingerprints.
In 2008, she had a supporting role as Summer in Spring Breakdown alongside Amy Poehler. The film was released straight-to-DVD on June 2, 2009, and received mixed reviews. She also starred in the independent film Green Flash with Torrey DeVitto. In 2009, she starred in the independent American high school comedy film Wild Cherry, as Trish, which also starred Rumer Willis. She also starred in the straight-to-DVD film National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: Freshman Year, as Kaitlyn. The film was released July 14, 2009, to mixed to negative reviews.
In March 2012, Cavallari commented her first Oscars with the E! team and in 2014, began ‘hosting the half-hour fashion/lifestyle trends show called The Fabulist alongside Orly Shani (Fashion Star).’
On April 4, 2018, E! announced that Cavallari would be getting her own reality show, Very Cavallari. It premiered in summer 2018 and followed “Kristin as she opens the flagship store and Nashville headquarters of her rapidly growing fashion and lifestyle brand Uncommon James”. The show was renewed for a second season on August 23, 2018. In May 2020, Cavallari announced that she was ending the series and there would not be a Season 4.
Charity work and public image
Cavallari has been involved in the “Until There’s a Cure” public service advertising campaign, to raise awareness and funds for AIDS and HIV research and vaccine development.
In March 2014, Cavallari drew criticism for refusing to vaccinate her children, a decision her husband and she made due to their concerns of a connection between childhood vaccination and autism.
From 2015–2016, the former website Gawker ran a series of daily articles on Cavallari for a streak of 415 days.
Personal life
In June 2013, Cavallari married Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. The couple has three children: sons Camden Jack (born August 8, 2012) and Jaxon Wyatt (born May 7, 2014), and daughter Saylor James (born November 23, 2015). In April 2020, the couple announced that they were divorcing.
In June 2018, Cavallari and Cutler put their mansion in Nashville, Tennessee up for sale for $7.9 million. The mansion is seen in numerous scenes of Very Cavallari. The couple purchased a mansion in Nashville for $4.2 million in April 2018.
Her brother, Michael Cavallari, was found dead on December 10, 2015, having died of hypothermia following a car crash.
Filmography
As actress
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Veronica Mars | Kylie Marker | Episode: “Versatile Toppings” |
| Fingerprints | Crystal | Main Role | |
| 2007 | Cheerleader Camp | Julie | Television movie |
| Cane | Casey | Episode: “Family Business” | |
| 2008 | Green Flash | Lana | Direct-to-DVD release |
| CSI: NY | Isabelle Vaughn | Episode: “Forbidden Fruit” | |
| Spring Breakdown | Seven #3 | ||
| 2009 | Wild Cherry | Trish van Doren | |
| National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: Freshman Year | Kaitlin Hayes | Direct-to-DVD release | |
| 2011 | The Middle | Ms. Devereaux | Episode: “Friends, Lies, and Videotape” |
| 2012–2013 | The League | Herself | Season 4, Episode 4; Season 5, Episode 3 |
As herself
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County | 28 episodes |
| 2006 | Get This Party Started | Host; 2 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | The Hills | 23 episodes (Guest appearance Season 5 Episode 10, Main Cast Season 5 Episode 11-Season 6 Episode 12) |
| 2011 | RuPaul’s Drag Race | Season 3 |
| America’s Next Top Model | Guest Judge; Season 17, Episode 3 | |
| Dancing with the Stars | Season 13, Eliminated week 3 | |
| 2012 | Cupcake Wars | Guest Judge; Season 6, Episode 9: “Kristin Cavallari’s Baby Shower” |
| 2018 | Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry | Guest; Season 3: Episode 1 |
| 2018–2020 | Very Cavallari | 30 episodes |
| 2019 | Paradise Hotel | Presenter; 7 episodes |