Why Christina Haack Was Never The Same After Divorcing Ant Anstead
HGTV star Christina Haack is just as famous for flipping and renovating homes as she is for flipping and renovating her love life. Who could forget her tumultuous marriage to her first husband and "Flip or Flop" co-star Tarek El Moussa? The couple officially divorced in 2018, and Haack married Ant Anstead shortly thereafter. While there were moments of marital bliss, including the birth of their son, Hudson, their love story wasn't meant to be.
In September 2020, Haack announced via Instagram that she was separating from Anstead after less than two years of marriage (via People). Not long after, she officially filed for divorce. At the time, Haack said that the couple was "grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority." While the couple continue to co-parent together and navigate life after divorce, it hasn't been totally seamless for her. Following her divorce from El Moussa, Haack was never the same, and the same can be said for her life after Anstead. She has undergone many changes post-divorce, both external and internal, which is why it's safe to say that Christina Haack was never the same after divorcing Ant Anstead.
Christina Haack decided she was 'taking back' her family name
When Christina Haack married Ant Anstead in December 2018, like many new brides, she quickly changed her last name to his. She even made the switch Instagram official by changing her name on the social media platform. Even when she filed for divorce from Anstead back in 2020, she was still referring to herself as Christina Anstead and continued to keep her Instagram handle @christinaanstead.
However, that all changed in January 2021, when Haack announced on Instagram that she was "taking back" her family name. She not only legally changed her surname back to her maiden name but also changed her Instagram handle to @christinahaack (via ET). Apparently it seemed to be a new year and a new start for the HGTV star. In the personal post announcing the news, she wrote, "Taking back the family's last name and know my grandparents are smiling from above." She also acknowledged her grandma Mildred "Biddy" Haack and said she was the "greatest influence growing up."
Changing your last name is a definite sign that Haack wasn't the same after the divorce — and she seems proud of that fact.
She saw her divorce as an opportunity to grow and heal
Divorce can obviously be a devastating experience for people, especially when there are young children involved. It requires a great deal of humility and growth, and it was no different for Christina Haack. In a very vulnerable Instagram post from September 2020, she admitted that she "never thought I would have one divorce let alone two." Nor did she think she would have two "baby daddies." But instead of allowing her divorces to define her, Haack said she was choosing to see her new life circumstances and challenges "as opportunities to grow." The HGTV star added that, while others might seem to judge her, she was remaining true to herself and her healing: "I'm messy, I'm real and I'm working on healing."
She capped off the post by saying she understood that she was supported and surrounded by "extremely powerful women who help me cope, build me up and push me to be better." The social media post signaled that Haack was open to changing herself and evolving in the best way possible as a result of the divorce from Ant Anstead.
The TV star is not taking life 'so seriously' anymore
Christina Haack is not only a very busy woman, but she's also been through a lot over the last few years. From her troubled marriage to Tarek El Moussa to her multiple properties and TV shows to her short-lived marriage with Ant Anstead, it wouldn't be at all surprising to learn how stressed and serious her life must have felt for a long time. So it's no wonder that in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in June 2021, Haack shared a new optimistic outlook that included choosing to focus on her kids and work and on "just having fun." In the interview, she said her goal in life is "just to move on and not take things so seriously."
Some of the fun things she was looking forward to at the time were going on some "fun trips" with her children, traveling to Tennessee more on her down time, and engaging in "fun moments" to "really focus" on her family.
Christina Haack started focusing more on her health
It's very common for recently divorced couples to focus on their wellness and health post-breakup (after all stress can wreak havoc on one's immune system and #revengebody is a real goal), so it makes sense that, in light of her divorce from Ant Anstead, Christina Haack told Entertainment Tonight that one of the ways she's moving forward is by focusing on her mental and physical health. In the interview, she shared that she's visiting a holistic doctor and has been adding supplements to her wellness routine. She added that her health is "one of the most important things to me."
In fact, wellness is so important to Christina that she's interested in opening up her own wellness center. She made the announcement during the premiere of her show "Christina: Stronger by Design" in January 2021, saying (via House Beautiful), "I really want to open up a wellness center by this time next year. Like start it, buy it ... like a piece of land in Utah. I feel like that's calling to me." While there hasn't been any further updates on the wellness center, we can safely assume if Haack wants to do it, she will.
She's been 'diving in deep' with her spirituality
It's obvious that Christina Haack is shifting priorities in her life, and one of the newest parts of her journey post-divorce is deepening her relationship with spirituality.
Her health is one of the reasons behind her taking the time to be more reflective in life, telling Entertainment Tonight that, due to her autoimmune issues, it's important for her to "take time to meditate and go for walks and focus on spirituality." If she doesn't, she said, "I will just kind of hit a wall. And I don't really have that option with kids and work and everything, so that's just a big part of my journey."
She also talked about the importance of spiritual healing in her life on Instagram back in November 2020, shortly after filing for divorce from Ant Anstead. While she admitted that 2020 wasn't "at all" what she thought it would be, she said, "I've been finding time to get to know myself more in the quiet. It can be isolating but it's also helped me begin to heal and get less uncomfortable in 'the void.'" She capped off the message by sharing that spiritual healing has been important to her "for years," so she was "looking forward to diving in deep."
Christina Haack values self-love now more than ever
We all know that Christina Haack has had some tough experiences with love and dating over the last few years. She's fallen in love, gotten married, and gotten divorced twice, all within a few years. It's quite normal (and healthy) for anyone to step back and commit to loving and nurturing themselves before jumping into the next relationship. In fact, most love experts recommend that the more you start to love yourself, the happier you'll be and the more likely you'll be able to find healthier relationships. And it looked like Haack was promoting just that on her first Valentine's Day post-divorce.
On her Instagram stories (via People), Haack shared an inspiring message about loving yourself, reposting a quote about self-love that said: "Heal your past. Love yourself for how far you've come. And live in gratitude for how much you have. It's important to work hard and become the best version of yourself. But having fun, being kind to others and loving yourself is what it comes down to. Always remember that."
She made more time for her girlfriends
Christina Haack has always shared a special relationship with her long-time best friends Cara Clark and Cassie Zebisch. Her friends have been her lifeline during the highs and lows — especially Clark, with whom she's been friends since they were both 14 years old, as reported by E!
While Haack and her friends have been busy with their own lives, she has still been able to rely on her best friends for their support and constant love, on and off the small screen. She kicked off a new chapter in her life and on the show "Christina on the Coast" with them both, and she shared with E! just how grateful they feel for having each other's backs. "Not only are we best friends, but we get to work together and film together on camera and have so much fun," she said. "We grew up talking about our goals and ambitions and we are truly living that life of our dreams."
Christina Haack adopted a new puppy after her divorce
They call it puppy love for a reason. Shortly after announcing her split from Ant Anstead, Christina Haack became a new dog mom. She adopted an adorable Rottweiler puppy named Biggie who joined the family's other dog, Cash, a French bulldog (via ET). At the time, she captioned a cute Instagram photo of the pup, "Too cute not to share. Meet the newest member of our family — Biggie. We are all obsessed and in love."
However, the puppy love wasn't meant to last (via Page Six). Perhaps knowing more now than ever how important harmony and well-being is to a family, Haack made the difficult decision to rehome Biggie, risking heartbreak again. After facing questions about the whereabouts of her new pup, the HGTV star took to Instagram in October 2021 to explain his absence, saying, "Due to behavioral issues, I made the hard decision to have Biggie re-homed in the best interest of my children." Since then, all pictures of Biggie have been deleted.
She now has more than one place to call home
Everyone knows Christina Haack has quite the real estate portfolio even before her divorce to Ant Anstead. But now, post-divorce, Haack has had a definite real estate glow-up.
According to the New York Post, the "Flip or Flop" queen purchased two new properties after her breakup — one in Tennessee, the other in California — and now her real estate properties combined are worth $13 million. Only two weeks after her divorce from Anstead, she purchased a 6,000-square-foot mansion in Dana Point, California that's estimated to be worth just over $10 million. Soon after, she purchased a new property in Tennessee after being inspired by her best friend Cara Clark's move to the south.
She told E! Online that the house purchase was "one of my best decisions," describing it as "the perfect hideaway." She went on, "It's in the woods on 24 acres and off-road vehicles and it just feels like freedom." The New York Post reports Haack scooped up the home, which also has a chicken coop, for $2.5 million and plans to use it as more of a vacation spot rather than a full-time residence.
Christina Haack got a Maya Angelou-inspired tattoo
Sometimes we need a permanent reminder of how far we've come, and from the looks of things, Christina Haack needed that in the form of a tattoo.
She showed off her new ink on an Instagram post in January 2021, showcasing the new ink on her neck and back. The tattoo reads, "Still I Rise," in cursive font, and is taken from the famous poem by Maya Angelou. Alongside the image of her new tattoo, Haack quoted from the poem, writing, "Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.' Still I Rise — Maya Angelou."
Considering that she got the new ink only months after her divorce was finalized, it seems pretty safe to assume Haack was referring to her current state after splitting from Ant Anstead. But the HGTV star didn't stop there. In November 2021, she showed off another photo of herself getting a new tattoo, this time one on her wrist (via People). While she didn't reveal what exactly she was getting, eagle-eyed fans can pick out the initials "G" or an "S" and an "H."
We guess only time will tell what Haack what the tattoo means, but it's definitely a sign that she's changed since her breakup.
She was able to make a clean break from Ant Anstead
Sometimes it takes a literal "cleaning of house" to move forward from a breakup, and that's exactly what Christina Haack did with Ant Anstead. After finalizing their divorce in June 2021, the couple split their assets evenly, according to Us Weekly. Haack kept her five real estate properties, in addition to a Range Rover, a Bentley, and her wedding ring. While it remains to be seen what she will do with her wedding ring, which, according to Hello! magazine, is made of 8.5 carats of diamonds, at least it's her decision to part with it or not. Neither party has to pay spousal or child support, either (via The Blast), so it looks like Haack was able to have a clean break from her ex.
While dividing assets is never an easy thing to do, it's always a step in the right direction to making a fresh start, and it's safe to say that the "Christina on the Coast" star will never be the same again after letting go of her old life.
Christina Haack looks at love differently now
Christina Haack has definitely had her ups and downs in the love department, and like many of those who have had their heart broken, it's apparent her attitude towards love has shifted to one that's both hopeful yet cautious post-divorce. Ever the hopeless romantic, she told E! in June 2021 that she believes "everyone deserves to have love and find love and I hope that happens for me."
However, she made it clear that she was taking her time when it came to finding love herself and that it would "take a really special someone" for her to give up her single status. At the time, her priority was to focus on her kids. And though she has had her fair share of high-profile romances, including with her ex-husbands, Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead, she told E! in the same interview she was keen to keep her private life "as private as it can possibly be." This perhaps suggests that a high-profile romance isn't what she was looking for anymore, which is a definite change from her previous relationships.
The Flip or Flop star got engaged to Joshua Hall
Christina Haack's life undoubtedly changed after her divorce from Ant Anstead, and this is probably most evident by her moving on with realtor Joshua Hall. She was first spotted with her new guy in July 2021, with a source telling Page Six the two had been dating for "months." The couple were first photographed at the airport on their way to celebrate her 38th birthday together in Mexico. Shortly after news broke of their new relationship, Haack shared a photo of them on her Instagram, calling Hall her "ride or die." She hinted at her divorce in the caption, writing, "Some people are lucky enough to get forever the first time but no one should be shamed for things not working out and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors — remember that before making judgements and assumptions ... and this woman/mama is still lucky enough to have this man choose me."
Two months later, in September 2021, Haack announced her engagement to Hall on her Instagram using some choice emojis: A heart, an infinity sign, a lock, a key, and a ring (via People). And if a giant ring wasn't proof enough that these two are in love, the HGTV star showed off her new three-piece bracelet collaboration with jewelry retailer The Lace Project, including posting a photo of herself and Hall holding hands and wearing the bracelets together. Not so coincidentally, one of the new bracelets is called "Josh" (via People).
In April 2022, Haack and Hall married. She now goes by the name Christina Hall.
She learned to be super protective of her relationship
Christina Haack has definitely received criticism from fans before when it came to her love life and her life in general, which is probably why she was ready for it when it came her way after announcing her relationship with Joshua Hall.
After encountering some criticism from fans who accused her of jumping into "another relationship" since she's been divorced twice in three years, she immediately fired back (via Us Weekly). Alongside a photo of the couple, she wrote on Instagram, "I may be a bit crazy and I'm definitely not perfect but I will never live my life based on other people's judgments or opinions. We pride ourselves on never judging others and always wanting others to be happy and we wish others would have the same respect."
She also mentioned how she feels "crazy protective" over the private real estate agent because she's faced the backlash and prying eyes before. No doubt her famous relationships with both Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead have caused Haack to approach dating publicly more cautiously than ever. While she admitted fame "comes with a cost," she capped off the post by saying, "I'm 38 – I'll do what I want."
It's clear that Christina Haack has moved on from her marriage to Ant Anstead, and she isn't going to let her past define her. She's definitely a changed woman now!