Side-By-Side Pics Show How Much Laguna Beach's Lauren Conrad & Kristin Cavallari Have Changed

In the first half of the year alone, 2026 was a remarkable time for millennial throwbacks. Hilary Duff made her musical comeback, Miley Cyrus put her Hannah Montana wig back on, and the cast of the MTV reality series "Laguna Beach" gave us a spectacular reunion. We've already mentioned how Kristin Cavallari's "Laguna Beach" reunion premiere dress was a nostalgic wink at her teen years, but we also have to talk about the transformation we've witnessed in two of the show's biggest stars: Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari.

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Cavallari posted a fun video of the two on Instagram, and a follower instantly noticed that the former co-stars didn't really look older. "I swear neither of you age, looking gorgeous," they wrote. And frankly, we couldn't agree more. However, the ladies have changed and grown, and their days of tacky Y2K fashion and eyeshadow-heavy makeup are thankfully long behind us. 

Famously, the two teens were frenemies throughout most of the series, and viewers often picked whether they were Team Lauren or Team Kristin. Two decades later, they have buried the hatchets, and the reunion played a significant role in that. "It's great, to have honest conversations like that are amazing," Conrad shared with E! News. "And I think it's important, especially for women, to just find common ground and lift each other up. In this reunion we both talk about our biggest regrets or the way we spoke about each other, the way we treated each other, and we both are such different people now."

After "Laguna Beach," Lauren Conrad proceeded to star in the spin-off "The Hills," and by the early 2010s, she had become a certified fashionista. Reflecting on her Y2K style, Conrad told Elle in 2014 that she had no regrets. "The early 2000s were an interesting period for fashion," she explained. "And as much as I get shivers when I look at photos from that time, I'm comforted by the fact that most people standing around me were doing the same thing." Fashion played a significant role in Conrad's career, as she released numerous fashion lines and collaborated with multiple fashion brands.

However, over the past decade, the reality star slowly retreated from the spotlight, taking a more private approach to life. Still posting on social media, Conrad kept her fans updated, and with the 2026 "Laguna Beach" reunion, she was once again in the spotlight. Side-by-side photos of the star from 2004 and 2022 showcase just how much she has changed over the years. Conrad ditched her Y2K style for a more refined and preppier look, as the star began gravitating towards timeless fashion pieces. Conrad stuck to blond hair, embracing a balayage that perfectly blended with her roots instead of the harsh blond she used to rock in the early 2000s.

Over almost two decades, Conrad's appearance hasn't changed too much, as the star still looks very youthful. However, there has been some skepticism about how natural her look is. "Does anyone think she had a brow lift?" a Reddit user asked, with another replying, "A lot of Botox at the least." Conrad herself hasn't addressed whether she uses injectables, but it's clear that many believe her youthful appearance isn't achievable without cosmetic intervention.

Just like Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari also transformed her style after "Laguna Beach" ended. Over the past two decades, colorful blazers have been replaced by sleek monochrome fashion, as Cavallari embraced a more modern look. Unlike Conrad, who changed her hair more noticeably, Cavallari stuck to a hairdo that works for her. Platinum-blond shoulder-length hair remained a staple, with shadow roots peeking through, just like in the 2000s. However, Cavallari is now rocking a more modern cut without the infamous Y2K side bangs.

While Cavallari has changed since her teens, the truth is that she still looks very youthful, which is why the reality star is often accused of having had plastic surgery and injectables. In 2025, Cavallari took to social media to clarify whether she'd had any work done. "Ok guys. You can see every line and pore in this picture," the star wrote over a close-up photo of herself (via People). "Zero makeup here besides a little mascara. I've said 500 times that I don't do Botox and people still don't believe me." Cavallari added that she had plenty of movement in her face, which Botox usually prevents. She attributed her youthful looks to PRF injections and regular microneedling, as well as a healthy lifestyle.

While the star claimed not to have touched her face, Cavallari has been very transparent about her breast augmentation, revealing that she had done a second one in 2025, and during the procedure, it became clear that her previous implants had ruptured. "I was 340 cc before now I'm 400. Everyone thinks I went a lot bigger but I've just pushed them up a couple times since getting them done," the star explained, per People.