Fans really did watch Chelsea Houska grow up on TV, from the time that she welcomed her oldest daughter, Aubree, into the world on 16 & Pregnant to adding three more children to the family and marrying Cole DeBoer on Teen Mom 2. Chelsea walked away from the franchise five years ago, and now that she’s looking back, she’s opening up about the impact that being on reality TV at such a young age had on her.
In a new interview with The Local Moms Network, Chelsea, who is now 34, explained that privacy is so much more important to her now after living so many years of her life without having it.
“After living my teenage years so publicly and really just having nothing off limits, you learn to value your privacy,” she said.
That means that she’s become more of a homebody in the years since her time on the show came to an end, and sticks close to her home in South Dakota — and that’s the way she likes it.
“Anything outside of my little safe bubble is scary for me,” she said. “I live such a low-key life. I have a small friend group, and I rarely leave South Dakota. We just love our little safe space here in the middle of nowhere.”
There are good things that have come with growing up on TV, too. For Chelsea, that’s knowing that there are fans out there who have followed all of her ups and downs through the years.
“I love that people feel like they know me!” she said.” “They truly have been with me for all my stages of life. They’ve seen me down in the dumps, they’ve seen my vulnerable moments and watched as I pulled myself out of them. Everyone is so kind and supportive when I meet them!”
Chelsea is still on TV, starring on Down Home DeBoers with Cole on HTV, but that requires a bit less of her personal life to be on display and it allows her to spend more time with her husband when their lives get hectic.
“I feel like my favorite part of the show is that I get to work with Cole,” she said. “For most people who have four kids, it’s hard finding time with your partner, but we get to be together 24/7. But also, just meeting other families in our community and being part of their home and journey — it’s very rewarding.”
