How Christina Haack Transformed Her Life in 1 Year as Cameras Rolled

When it comes to renovating houses, Christina Haack, one of Us Weekly’s Reality Stars of the Year honorees, knows things can get very unpredictable.

The same can be said for the ambitious HGTV star’s personal life as she experienced a year of change in the public eye.

When The Flip Off premiered in January, viewers watched Haack, 42, and Josh Hall face off against Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae El Moussa.

In a twist that could cause even the most professional reality stars to flip out, Haack and Hall’s relationship came to an end in the middle of filming. (Their divorce was later finalized in August.)

Instead of throwing in the kitchen towel and ending her special project, Haack persevered and found an unexpected alliance member in the process.

“I always wanted to do [the show],” Haack exclusively shares with Us Weekly in the annual Reality Stars of the Year issue. “And yes, I was a little bit worried about what was going to happen. But when the network was like, ‘Yeah, we don’t care about him. Yes, the show is going to go on,’ it was the biggest relief. As a single mom, I love my career, and I want to maintain it.”

When Haack agreed to continue filming, she also conceded to the fact that she would likely have to share the ups and downs of going through a public breakup with viewers.

In the middle of searching for the perfect backsplash, flooring and home accessories for a remodel, Haack had a tearful conversation with Tarek, 44, about her breakup.

The emotional and vulnerable moment set the foundation for a healthy relationship with two exes who didn’t always see eye to eye after they divorced in 2017.

“I knew I had to discuss the breakup,” Haack says when reliving the emotional scene with Tarek. “I just felt like him and I have been through so much since we entered this TV world together and separated. We’ve both dealt with a lot, and we’ve both come a long way. I just really wanted to turn it back to what really mattered, and it was our friendship, our history on TV together and how we’ve been able to work through so much stuff being thrown at us.”

The scene was met with empathy and compassion from many viewers. The positive comments online were seen and appreciated by Haack, who has previously tried to drown out any negative noise.

“I appreciate it. It was a very real scene,” she says. “It still makes me emotional because it is so real and raw, but I think that people deserve to see that. I’ve been on TV a long time. … I appreciate people seeing the real side of me, because, yes, we are all human.”

In August, HGTV officially ordered a season 2 of The Flip Off. Production kicked off in the fall but a premiere date has yet to be announced.

While Haack remains competitive and determined to beat Tarek and Heather, 38, with every home renovation, the Christina on the Coast star is in a completely different headspace from one year ago.

For starters, she has a new man in her life named Christopher Larocca. Together, the pair enjoy double dates, birthday celebrations and even trips with Tarek and Heather.

“Nice people still exist, right? They’re still out there,” Haack jokes to Us. “There can be a lot of scary individuals out there that don’t have your best interest, and especially in this world. I would say I got lucky meeting him, but I definitely deserved to meet him, and he’s definitely just changed my life for the better.”

While it’s too soon to know if Larocca, 52, will appear on season 2 of The Flip Off, Haack made it clear that if viewers see him, “It won’t be anything that would actually affect our relationship.”

Behind the scenes, Haack is proud to say she also worked on herself to be the best partner, coworker and mom she could be. (Haack shares Taylor, 15, and Brayden, 10, with Tarek. She also is mom to Hudson, 6, with ex-husband Ant Anstead.)

“I hired a really good life coach, and she’s helped me a lot. We talk weekly, and a lot of it is holding myself accountable,” Haack reveals. “I’m definitely part of the problem, and I’m still working through things and still working through my own anxieties, but it was just really having a lot of self-reflection. I call it awareness.”

In just a few months, Haack has noticed a difference in her behavior. Instead of worrying about what curveball could be coming from around the corner, the Orange County, California, resident feels like she’s “set up” for success.

“I’m totally at peace. I’m just really grateful, and everything makes me excited now,” she says. “I just appreciate the small moments. I appreciate being in the present.”

She also has developed an even closer bond with the two children she shares with Tarek.

“I’ve always been very, very close with my kids, but I feel more grounded and less anxious. It’s just so much better for them in general,” Haack shares. “They still love me. … I know that I’m better, more present, more grounded.”

As a new chapter of Haack’s life continues — with a brand-new champagne line called Clé Cachée — the HGTV is ready to raise a glass to all the life lessons she’s learned.

In a candid Instagram post in September, the designer celebrated her growth and reminded followers that every storm comes to an end.

Although cameras were rolling during parts of her “tornado,” Haack reminded her community not to give up on a brighter tomorrow.

“Everything happens for a reason, and I think that the last situation that happened was for me to really appreciate what easy felt like,” Haack shares. “It’s like going through hell, then when you’re on the other side of it, everything’s just brighter.

To learn more about Haack and the other Reality Stars of the Year, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.