Kristin Cavallari and Mark Estes have officially called it quits after seven months of dating.
The 37-year-old reality star and jewelry designer, known for Laguna Beach and The Hills, had been romantically linked with 24-year-old Montana-based TikTok star Mark Estes. However, their relationship has come to an end, with Kristin herself confirming the news on stage at Alex Cooper’s Unwell tour in Austin, Texas, on September 27.
During her appearance, Cooper brought up Kristin’s relationship status, prompting the unexpected reveal. Kristin blurted out, “We broke up,” adding that it was “fresh.” Cooper appeared taken by surprise, admitting she wasn’t expecting Kristin to share such personal news on stage. Kristin quickly added, “My plan was not to say it.”
The couple first sparked rumors of their romance back in February when they were spotted together on a vacation in Mexico. Shortly after, they made things Instagram official, and their relationship became more public. Just this past August, Kristin shared new vacation photos of the two of them in Greece, where they seemed happy and in love. But behind the smiles, Kristin knew the relationship wasn’t built to last.
On the latest episode of her Let’s Be Honest podcast, Kristin opened up about the breakup and explained her decision to end things with Mark, despite having strong feelings for him. “It’s hard because I broke up with Mark because I just know long-term it’s not right,” she said. “It’s not because of love lost or something bad happened. No one cheated. No one was mean. No one did anything wrong. Those breakups are always the hardest because it’s almost easier if the guy does something that makes you hate him.”
Kristin went on to praise Mark, describing him as “nothing but so sweet and so supportive.” She acknowledged that he had been the best boyfriend she’d ever had, but she realized the relationship wasn’t going to work in the long run. “I just know long-term he needs to experience life,” she said.
One of the key factors behind the split was their age difference, which Kristin said started to become more apparent as their relationship progressed. “I started to feel the age a little bit, just with life experience,” she explained. “I look back when I was 24 and how much life has happened for me in between. Those are crucial years. Those are formative years. This is when you find yourself. He needs to be able to do that.”
Though some people criticized the couple’s age gap from the beginning, Kristin insisted she was fully aware of it and wasn’t ignoring the reality of their situation. She defended her relationship, calling it “beautiful” and “probably the best relationship of my life.” She described it as a healthy and mature relationship, full of love and mutual respect. “Mark is a really good guy, and that’s what makes it hard,” she admitted.
Despite the heartache, Kristin believes that one day Mark will understand her decision to end things. “I think one day he will thank me,” she said. “It was such a good, happy relationship. I will forever look back at Mark and I with such fond memories and pure happiness.”
Kristin even expressed a desire to keep Mark in her life in some capacity, noting that her children liked him and that she still cared deeply for him.
Mark, for his part, has remained mostly silent on the split, but his representative shared a brief statement with E! News on October 2, stating, “Mark has immense love and respect for Kristin and their time together. He’s focused on the future of his business and his project in development with Vice Studios.”
It seems like both Kristin and Mark are handling the breakup with grace, cherishing the memories they made together while focusing on their future endeavors.
