Kristin Cavallari Explains Why She Left Los Angeles: 'The Paparazzi Had Gotten to Me'

— -- If Kristin Cavallari had a reality television show today, it would look drastically different than "Laguna Beach." That's the show that first introduced the then 17-year-old and her model-like high school friends to the world.

Cavallari, now 29, has traded in beach bonfires and random fashion shows for baby wipes and Bounty as she runs after her three children with husband, Jay Cutler. The family of five lives in the suburbs of Chicago, thanks to Cutler's job as the Chicago Bears' quarterback.

The change of scenery was necessary for the reality star, who later moved to Los Angeles to star on "The Hills." Cavallari said all of the media attention had become overwhelming.

"When I first met Jay, at the time I was living in Los Angeles and the paparazzi had gotten to me," she told ABC News. "I was really wanting out of LA and that whole lifestyle."

"Living in Chicago, it’s so refreshing. We’re up in the suburbs. We live such a normal life. There’s no paparazzi and so it’s ideal," Cavallari added.

If Cavallari had a reality television show today, she would seem drastically different too. But that's because "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" producers "chose to focus on one side of my personality," she said.

"The thing is, I've always had this sweeter, softer side," Cavallari continued. "Once I had kids, I really felt like I kind of came into my own and I feel like I have a real purpose now. This is what I’m meant to be doing. This is where I’m the happiest. This is where I’m the most confident."

Cavallari is a mom to three children: Camden, 4, Jaxon, 2, and Saylor, who will turn 1 in November. The mom recently partnered with Bounty to kick off birthday celebrations in honor of Saylor last Thursday with an event in New York City.

The reality star's confidence as a mom is what's helped her brush off negative comments about her kids. Cavallari's children became targets of online commenters after Cavallari posted a photo of her two sons playing at the beach. The reality star blocked some who called them too skinny.

"I feel like [with] mommy shaming, it’s not really an area where it gets to me," Cavallari admitted. "Only because I’m so confident in what I’m doing as a mom that I don’t really care. I have Jay as support and my kids are all very healthy and all very happy. Without good health we have nothing; nothing else matters."

"And I’ve seen firsthand too with my husband; he’s a type 1 diabetic," she continued. "His health has improved drastically since I’ve met him because he’s changed his whole lifestyle. He’s changed his whole diet so I’ve seen firsthand with my husband and with my three kids what a healthy lifestyle can do."

It also helps, Cavallari said, that she's survived controversies before in her career.

"I feel like controversy my whole life has sort of followed me. It’s just sort of who I am, I guess, without even trying," she said.

Cavallari and Cutler have been married for three years. Reality TV show producers have been trying to convince them to open up their suburban home to the world.

The mother said she'll "never say never" to the possibility.

"Jay and I don’t want to air our dirty laundry," she admitted. "We care too much about each other. My experience is reality shows end up ruining friendships and relationships, and I care too much about my family."