Lauren Conrad confesses: Beauty secrets, body issues, and what she wants in a man

Lauren Conrad

From the OC
to the
corner office

Even in her early days of reality television, Lauren Conrad knew she was destined for bigger and better things. Now three years post-Hills, L.C. is getting everything she ever wanted. For being an inspirational business woman and beauty icon, Lauren is this month’s SheKnows Girl Crush.

We watched her grow up before our very eyes. Now The Hills queen Lauren Conrad has taken her journey off-camera to pursue her dreams in entertainment, fashion and beauty, and is pretty much killing it!

Conrad recently released her fourth novel titled The Fame Game (a spin-off of her successful L.A. Candy series), and is currently operating two fashion lines and two popular blogs, all while balancing a highly scrutinized personal life. No easy feat for a 26-year-old. In our SheKnows Girl Crush interview, she confesses what she loves and what she doesn't.

Balancing life and love

But Lauren manages it all with a smile. She told SheKnows at her book signing recently that she has an incredible support system to help with the struggles.

"I have people in my life that are really understanding," said Lauren. "They understand that I’m going to disappear for a couple of weeks at a time, and they’re all so supportive. Luckily at this point in my life, I don’t really feel like I’m having to make a compromise."

It doesn’t seem so!

Conrad is regularly spotted enjoying herself with friends -- having recently attended the Coachella Festival in Indio, California -- and is rumored to have a new love in her life. After splitting with beau of three years Kyle Howard last June, L.C. is now said to be dating former guitarist turned law student William Tell.

Getting down to business

But love is clearly not her top priority. Lauren told us she is completely dedicated to her work and truly loves what she does.

"I love the blog because it’s this great sense of community," Lauren told SheKnows. "It’s this platform where I get to go and talk about things that I love. I think that if you’re going to do something, you have to do it your own way."

And Conrad certainly does do things her own way. From keeping candy bowls scattered around her office to painting it entirely pink, the entrepreneur told us she is far from the typical "boss."

"I’m not really a boss," Lauren humbly stated. "I don’t feel comfortable being a boss to anyone. I’m more partners."

About that Glamour cover

Despite being so successful, Lauren told us that she’s just like every other woman with fears and insecurities about her looks.

After her recent Glamour cover -- in which she posed topless -- many women envied Conrad’s amazing physique. Still, Lauren revealed that she too is self-conscious sometimes, and that diet and exercise are constant battles.

"I struggle with it," Lauren told us. "My legs are the one thing that I’m always sort of working around. With book tours and stuff, it’s tough. You really just have to depend on diet. You just cut back on processed sugar, carbohydrates, really just everything that you want."

For now, Lauren is basking in the success of her recent achievements, but that doesn’t mean she's slowing down anytime soon.

When asked where she sees herself in the next five years, Conrad told SheKnows, "Hopefully still doing the things that I’m doing… still in the fashion industry, writing."

Conrad’s next novel, Starstruck, is scheduled for release on Nov. 6 and her guide book, Lauren Conrad BEAUTY, will be out Oct. 16.

Up next: Girl crush quickie Q&A with Lauren Conrad >>

Photo credit: Wright/Beiny/WENN.com, Brian To/WENN.com