Why Christina Anstead Was Never The Same After Divorcing Tarek El Moussa

Ever wonder why Christina Anstead never the same after divorcing Tarek El Moussa? Any time a couple appears on television, even on a network like HGTV, viewers are bound to be interested in their private lives. Seriously, even if the show is entirely focused on home design and renovation, fans still want to know what goes on behind closed doors. 

That certainly couldn't be more true for Flip or Flop stars Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa. The couple married in 2009 (via Us Weekly), and then landed their dream job with HGTV in 2013. Flip or Flop quickly took off, but the marriage between El Moussa and Anstead went downhill as their stars continued to rise.

El Moussa and Anstead announced their split in December of 2016 (via People), and while they've continued to work and co-parent together, it's appeared to be harder for Anstead to move on than it has for El Moussa. Christina and Tarek had an odd marriage, fraught with health issues, police reports, and so much more, so it's no wonder Anstead has struggled since the split. Indeed, there are many reasons why Anstead was never the same after divorcing El Moussa.

When Flip or Flop stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead filed for divorce, they had to do so in a very public manner, which you might think would have made the whole thing more difficult. And, to be fair, Anstead did deal with some issues following her divorce, but that doesn't mean she wasn't optimistic. Specifically, in an interview with Good Housekeeping in August 2017, nearly a year after her split from El Moussa was first announced, Anstead described how hopeful she felt about her future.

Speaking of a new relationship she was in at the time, Anstead shared that it felt like it was meant to be. "I'm very spiritual, and I believe in things happening for a reason," she revealed. "I had it in my head, and it'd never been in my head before, that I was going to run into him that night." And that she did. 

Of course, while that specific relationship wasn't mean to be (via In Touch), Anstead remained hopeful after splitting from El Moussa. And though she was able to cope with the feelings of loss, the divorce definitely changed her.

For some people, living their life in the public eye can prove to be extremely difficult. But for Christina Anstead — who's undergone a stunning transformation — having fans and loyal viewers of Flip or Flop by her side while she went through her divorce from Tarek El Moussa was truly incredible. Of course, she likely had to deal with some not-so-great messages as well, but the positive ones helped her out a lot.

In an interview with ABC News, Anstead shared that what kept her above water was the support of her fans. "I get so many nice messages from people that have gone through similar situations and just the positive outreach, it's really helped me get through this," she explained. 

Going through a divorce in front of the whole world couldn't have been easy, but Anstead clearly appreciated all the love she got from fans. Plus, the fact that she was so open about what she went though is admirable. Still, Anstead wasn't the same after such a painful split, that's for sure.

After Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa finalized their divorce, Christina Anstead married Ant Anstead in 2018. Christina Anstead then welcomed her first child with Ant Anstead in September of 2019, son Hudson Anstead (via People), making for an obviously joyous time in their lives. However, it was also crazy hectic; becoming a mom to a newborn, on top of parenting her two children from her marriage with El Moussa, proved very difficult for Anstead.

So difficult, in fact, that Anstead made a lengthy Instagram post explaining just how challenging life was for her at the moment, sharing that her then-newborn could only stop crying if in a dark room with white noise. "Hudson's choice of spending his time is very unrealistic when we have a crazy 4 year old running around who definitely needs attention, as well as a [9-year-old] girl [whose] one-on-one time is her love language," she explained. That is a lot.

 Clearly, Anstead had her hands full with her three kiddos, and becoming a mother of three truly changed her after her divorce from El Moussa. Honestly, who could blame her for wanting a break every now and then? 

Listen, Christina Anstead is no random person off the street; she is very well-known. She's an HGTV star, a loving mother, and an Instagram star, so she likely doesn't get all that much alone time. But after her divorce from Tarek El Moussa, and later from Ant Anstead, she has truly learned to appreciate privacy.

When Anstead and El Moussa's split was still fresh, she told Good Housekeeping that she describes herself has a very private person. So private, in fact, that her own parents didn't know she and El Moussa were having problems. "I wasn't very vocal with them about some of the issues that Tarek and I were having, so all of the sudden it's like bam – I've moved out, I'm living at my nanny's house," she shared.

With everything that Anstead has gone through, she's had also to request privacy from her own fans a few times.

One of the biggest shockers after Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa announced their split was that the two were planning to continue working together on their HGTV show, Flip or Flop (via Good Housekeeping). Obviously, the show was wildly popular, so it makes sense that they wouldn't want to stop — but it couldn't have been easy for the two exes to work together.

To that end, Anstead found more independence when she launched her own HGTV series, Christina on the Coast. "I'm really excited to do something on my own," she said, according to USA Today. "I've been known for design, so I think it would be awesome to be able to do a show where I just help people who want to design their homes." 

Anstead also revealed that Christina on the Coast would feature her relationship with Ant Anstead, including her engagement and subsequent wedding, proving that she had truly moved on from El Moussa.

After her marriage with Tarek El Moussa ended, Christina Anstead had to do some thinking about what was really important with her. And as it turns out, she realized that communication was one of the things that she valued most, and one of the things that was the most lacking in her previous relationship.

Anstead told People that a lack of communication was a huge reason she and El Moussa ended things. "We weren't able to properly communicate anymore," she said. "It got to the point where we weren't even driving to set together." Additionally, in an interview with Good Housekeeping, Anstead revealed that she wasn't afraid to tell it like it is anymore, and that's one of the biggest ways she's changed since her divorce from El Moussa. "I'm like that with everyone now," she said. "If something is on my mind, you're gonna know. Because Tarek and I lost that communication, completely, and it's so hard to get it back once it's gone." Anstead has changed the way she sees communication, and it's everything to her.

As perfect as Christina Anstead's life might look to an outside observer — with her perfect hair, nice car, and adorable kids — she has still really struggled since she and Tarek El Moussa ended their marriage. But when life threw her another curveball and her second marriage, to Ant Anstead, came to an end, she learned a whole new lesson: expect the unexpected.

Specifically, Anstead has learned not to let the expectations you have for yourself get in your way of what actually happens in life. In an Instagram post, Anstead wrote how she has learned to deal with so much change. "I never thought I would have one divorce let alone two," she explained. "I never thought I would have 2 baby daddies — but sometimes life throws us curve balls. Instead of getting stuck in these 'setbacks' I choose to look at these challenges as opportunities to grow." Some people might struggle with that, but it's a lesson Anstead has truly taken to heart and just another example of how she has never been the same after her first divorce.

As Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa were together for so long, and had children and a business together, it's understandable that they would still be involved in each other's lives. So, in 2020, when news of Anstead's second divorce broke, fans were obviously curious to see what El Moussa would have to say about the situation. However, El Moussa didn't have much to say about Anstead's life change, but did throw some shade at her.

"I'm healthier than I've ever been," he said in an interview with E! News. "I survived cancer twice. My divorce almost killed me and for five or six years of my life, I was a really sick guy and today, I'm just grateful to live and be alive and beat cancer and thrive." Ouch. Hearing that their divorce was that bad couldn't have been easy for Anstead, but she doesn't need him anymore. And as she won't be invited to El Moussa's wedding to Selling Sunset's Heather Young, that's probably a good thing.

No matter how old you get, you never really stop learning in life. And that's something that this home design expect has had to learn first-hand, and it really impacted her. Though Christina Anstead has found plenty of success in life, has had three beautiful children, and has amassed a huge social media following, she still doesn't have it all together. Especially since her divorce from Tarek El Moussa, she's had to focus on self-improvement and really work on herself.

In fact, in an emotional and raw Instagram post in September 2020, Anstead shared about how she had to learn to put in more effort for herself. "I'm messy, I'm real and I'm working on healing," she wrote. "I'm surrounded by extremely powerful women who help me cope, build me up and push me to be better." Anstead added that she was "taking time to clear the 'noise' and focus on myself and the kids." Additionally, she stated that no one should feel bad about the things they've been through or decisions they've had to make because, after all, "We are all a work in progress." 

She couldn't have said it any better.

When a relationship ends, it can be difficult for people to truly move on and not look back. But that's actually one of the most profound ways in which Christina Anstead has changed since divorcing Tarek El Moussa. She knows what's important, and it's what's in front of her, not what's behind her in the past. Even when it comes to her second marriage to Ant Anstead, she's not looking back.

The thing is, Ant had said that he wasn't quite ready to put his divorce from Christina behind him. "Anyone who really knows me knows that I don't like to share private matters publicly," he shared on Instagram in September 2020. "I have remained silent while holding on to hope." However, a source told E! News that Christina felt differently. "She is moving forward and has no plans for reconciling with Ant," the source explained. "She saw everything she needed to see in their marriage and has made the difficult decision to move on." Christina Anstead has realized that the past belongs in the past, whether that be with Ant or her first husband, and she's likely never going back.

Let's just get one thing straight: Christina Anstead has been through a lot. Even when she and Tarek El Moussa were still married, they had to deal with money problems and El Moussa's cancer, as well as fertility issues. Then, after they got divorced, there were just more problems for Anstead to deal with. But one reason why she's never been the same after her split is because she's learned to be positive.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Anstead revealed that she refused to dwell on the negative. "I only want to talk about positive stuff. Tarek and I are still filming Flip or Flop, and #1 we have the kids, so at the end of the day I just want to be positive and not think about anything else," she said. Anstead added that she was content with things at the moment. "I feel very happy, calm and clear. It's my life and it's wide open," she stated. A positive mindset truly can change things, something Anstead has learned since her divorce from El Moussa.

When you're married to someone for as long as Christina Anstead was married to Tarek El Moussa, there's bound to be some collateral damage from the fallout. However, Anstead decided to adjust a few things and practically start her life over instead. And as difficult as that might sound, she truly enjoyed it.

In an interview with ET Canada, Anstead explained that she "thought of this year like a rebuild." For someone who had just gone through a huge life change, that might sound overwhelming, but it worked for her. "So I'm starting from scratch," she continued. "I'm moving, I have a new TV show, a new boyfriend — there's a lot of projects going on. I'm just so happy, and for the first time in a long time, I feel at peace, which is such a good feeling." Anstead needed a new start after her divorce from El Moussa, and that might have been the best thing she could've done.

Even before Christina Anstead got divorced from Tarek El Moussa, she had a lot of scrutiny from the public. People ragged on her wearing a matching bikini with her daughter, looking too glamorous, and so much else. But after her divorce went public, she kind of had to get over people talking about her because it was happening constantly.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Anstead explained that certain people, like her parents, kind of pushed their own beliefs on her about what she and El Moussa should do in their marriage. "But in the end, it's mine and Tarek's decision, and only ours," she said. Additionally, Anstead spilled some tea on how El Moussa felt about her then-boyfriend, businessman Doug Spedding. "Doug was very successful, and Tarek had some jealously toward Doug," she said. "And I don't care if it's out there. It's true." Hey, Anstead has definitely let her guard down more after her divorce, and it's clear she doesn't care what people think — nor should she!