Kristin Cavallari, 37, reveals why she broke up with boyfriend Mark Estes, 24: ‘He will look back and thank me’

Kristin Cavallari spoke about her recent breakup with Mark Estes on Tuesday’s episode of her Let’s be honest podcast for the first time.

While speaking to her listeners about their split, the reality star, 37, confirmed it was her decision to call it quits with the TikTok star, 24, after seven months of dating.

“Mark and I broke up,” she confirmed. ‘It’s hard because I broke up with Mark because I just know it’s not good in the long run, and not because love was lost or something bad happened.’

The mother of three insisted that “no one cheated” and that Estes didn’t do anything “mean” or anything that made her “hate him.”

She went on to praise the influence for being “nothing but so sweet and so supportive” during their relationship.

‘He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. I just know that in the long run he has to experience life, he is young… I started to feel the age a little bit through the life experience,” she explained.

Cavallari continued, “I look back when I was 24 and how much life has happened since then. Those are crucial years, those are formative years, in which you find yourself and he should be able to do that.’

The Laguna Beach alum insisted that she was “aware” of their 13-year age difference and had not “ignored the fact that he was younger.”

Still, she insisted that her and Estes’ relationship was the “best” of her life and “very healthy and very mature.”

“He’ll make someone so happy one day… and he’ll have a beautiful family of his own,” she predicted. “I know one day he’ll look back and understand, and I actually think one day he’ll look back and thank me.”

Despite their split, Cavallari insists she doesn’t “regret making him public” or “introducing him” to her three children Camden, 11, Jaxon, 9, and Saylor, 8, whom she shares with ex-husband Jay Cutler.

‘I don’t regret anything. It was such a good, happy relationship. And I think with every relationship that you learn from and grow from, I will forever look back on Mark and I with such fond memories and pure happiness,” she noted.

The Uncommon James founder also stated that she was “optimistic” that she and Estes would remain friends.

While speaking to her listeners about their split, the reality star, 37, confirmed it was her decision to call it quits with the TikTok star, 24, after seven months of dating

“Mark and I broke up,” she confirmed. “It’s hard because I broke up with Mark because I just know it’s not good in the long run, and not because love is lost or something bad happened.”

At this point, she said she has “no interest in getting back into the dating world right now.”

“I’m very happy and very satisfied that my life now revolves around my children and work,” Cavallari said. ‘I just really want to take care of myself. I really feel the energy of just wanting to feel really good and make myself a priority, and so I don’t really know where men fall on that list.”

Although she says her mindset may change “in a few months,” she is currently prioritizing her happiness and “peace.”

On Friday, the TV personality revealed her new single status for the first time while on stage with podcast host Alex Cooper during her Unwell tour stop in Austin, Texas.

Cavallari revealed that her breakup was still “fresh.”

The fashion designer previously revealed that Estes first came to her attention in September 2023 when she was browsing TikTok and immediately thought he was “so hot.”

The mother of three insisted that “no one cheated” and that Estes didn’t do anything “mean” or anything to make her “hate” him

She went on to praise the influence for being “nothing but so sweet and so supportive” during their relationship

Speaking on her podcast in March 2024, she said: “Like in September, I’m scrolling and I come across this boy group, I guess you could call them: The Montana Boyz. So I say, “Holy s***-, who are these guys?” Because they are so hot. Particularly this one, which I’ll call Montana.’

She then received a message from their account saying “I love you” and invited them to her podcast, where she immediately hit it off with Mark.

Kristin said, “That attraction was always there, but when I met him I thought, he’s actually a really nice, good guy. He is very sweet from the jump. He was so kind to me.

“Dating a 24-year-old isn’t something I was looking for. It’s not something I ever thought would ever happen. I understand what it looks like to the outside world. Really and truly. I understand that. He’s not a typical 24-year-old.

“I think it’s a lot of things. I think sex for women only gets better as you get older. Because I think women, when you’re in your early twenties and stuff, you’re insecure in a lot of ways, you’re worried about your body or whatever. [you] look like. I’ve let go of all that and I think I’m more physically present during sex than ever before. And I’m so attracted to it [Mark]. And I just think we’re having really hot sex.”

‘He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. I just know that in the long run he has to experience life, he is young… I started to feel the age a little bit through the life experience,” she explained.

Kristin was previously married to Cutler for seven years before they split in 2020.

Cavallari was previously romantically linked to Stephen Colletti, Matt Leinart, Brody Jenner, Nick Lachey, Chris Evans and Chase Rice.