Kristin's early life was marked by a significant change when her parents divorced, prompting her father to relocate to Laguna Beach, California, accompanied by her brother. Meanwhile, Kristin's mother moved to Illinois, where she remarried and had a stepfather and stepbrother.
As a result of her parents' separation, Kristin struggled to cope with the new dynamics, and her behavior became increasingly attention-seeking. However, her mother eventually reached her breaking point, and Kristin decided to join her father and brother in Laguna Beach.
Upon arriving in Laguna Beach, Kristin enrolled in a Catholic school, where she was required to wear uniforms. During her freshman year, she also took Driver's Education at Laguna High School, where she crossed paths with Alex Murrel, who would later become a key figure in the Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County crew.
Determined to switch schools, Kristin convinced her father to let her attend the public school system, beginning her sophomore year.
