As Kristen Doute’s focus has shifted to motherhood, her past issues with some — not all — of her former Vanderpump Rules have been hashed out.
During Us Weekly’s cover story, Kristen, 42, revealed which costars — past and present — have supported her since her and fiancé Luke Broderick welcomed their daughter, Kaia.
“Nia [Booko] has helped me through my fertility journey and through my entire pregnancy. We’re sending voice memos to each other every single day. She’s literally in the same exact position I’m in right now but she’s just done this before,” Kristen shared. “Her and Danny [Booko] are just both right there to give us any advice that we need and they’re always on call.”
Kristen is grateful for Nia, 35, and Danny’s support as they prepare to welcome their fourth child.
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“We have a group text with Nia, Danny, Luke and me, and even if I’m texting Nia one-on-one, she’ll reel it back to the four of us and she’s like, ‘Daniel really wants to be involved,’” she added. “It’s just really great to have the two of them.”
It doesn’t stop there — The Valley’s Jesse Lally, Brittany Cartwright and Zack Wickham have also shown up for Kristen and Luke, 34.
“[Jesse has] given a lot of really amazing advice as a girl dad to Luke and just constantly checking in on us and seeing if we need anything. Jesse’s been fantastic,” Kristen shared with Us. “We were in our pediatrician’s office and Brittany is our emergency contact in California. I told her that actually. I was like, ‘So I didn’t ask you ahead of time, but you’re Kaia’s emergency contact.’ She loves it.”
Kristen continued: “[Brittany’s] been over a couple of times, but she’s so excited about it. She knew the gender of our baby before we did, so it only makes perfect sense. She lives right down the street from us. I’m over there all the time.”
The same can’t be said for Brittany’s estranged husband and Kristen’s costar, Jax Taylor. “I wouldn’t let Jax babysit Luke’s gecko — who requires no work whatsoever,” she joked. “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t let Jax babysit my Yeti. Like, no.”
When asked whether Kristen heard from her former employer Lisa Vanderpump, she quipped, “What do you think? No and it will undeniably stay that way.” At the same time, Kristen has been pleasantly surprised how this next chapter of her life has allowed her to move on from past feuds with people like Lala Kent.
“Strangely enough with Lala, it has been kind of public that we made up in a way. She landed a really gracious apology, which I appreciate. We have not talked everything through yet. We definitely still have some things to do,” Kristen noted to Us about the mom of two. “But she’s been very understanding that I’m not ready for that yet. I was pregnant but she’s been really helpful. She lent me a night nurse. She’s talked me through things and she’s been someone that’s been really great to text.”
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Kristen has also remained in contact with Ariana Madix over text as she continues to host season 7 of Peacock’s Love Island USA in Fiji. Weeks into being a mother, Kristen is prioritizing her peace and her loved ones as she and Luke adjust to being a family of three.
According to Kristen, Bravo viewers will get a glimpse into this era of her life when cameras pick back up for season 3 of The Valley.
“It’s going to be the best video yearbook ever for us to film season 3. The production company and network are so respectful of us being new parents and what that means,” she teased. “I’ve talked to [VPR costar] Scheana [Shay] about when she filmed with Summer, same with MJ [Javid] from Shahs [of Sunset]: she filmed with her son when he was days old. So I’ve had these conversations [of] what that was like and if it was hard on their bodies, their minds, their emotions and everyone’s been like, ‘You know what, you kind of don’t even think about it.’”
Kristen is also thankful for the second chance to document her life after being a main cast member on VPR before her exit in 2020.
“I’m very humbled that the viewers say they love this new era. The past hasn’t been so cute. I started TV when I was in my late 20s, but I did a lot of questionable things in my 30s as well,” she noted. “I’m stoked that they’ve given me this opportunity to show who I am now.”
For more on Kristen’s motherhood journey, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
