Lauren Conrad Takes Step Forward, Puts Partying in the Past

Lauren Conrad, or LC for anyone who watched the infamous MTV reality show "Laguna Beach," said that she is no longer the party girl she used to be. After leaving Laguna Beach, loyal LC fans followed the blonde bombshell to Los Angeles, where she continued to let cameras follow her life on "The Hills."

After admittedly "destroying" her voice with endless nights spent clubbing into the wee hours of the morning, Conrad says she's glad she's done with that part of her life. As the most successful of the cast, Conrad designed a popular clothing line and penned eight novels that have gained attention on a national level. The books are loosely based on her own life and experiences, which drew much intrigue from fans of the show.

 "I only ever got to tell half my story," Conrad, now 27, said. She started filming with MTV at 18. "People are very quick to judge these days, especially behind the anonymity of a screen name. It's very easy to say, 'I hate her, I hate what she wore, she seems mean.' But you're only seeing a small fraction of her life. I hoped I didn't [have to stay on TV]. Everybody told me to stay on TV. Nobody wanted me to leave."

Conrad also said she made some bad decisions when she was younger, influenced by TV directors, but now that she is off the air, her best days are ahead of her.

"It feels done for me. I'm OK with it being done," she said. "I destroyed my voice when I moved to L.A. There are polyps all over my vocal chords because I was in a lot of loud places. If you listen to the first episode of 'Laguna,' my voice is completely different."

Now, with a new website where Conrad writes posts about hosting brunches and decorating your office cubicle, her partying days seem to most definitely be behind her.