NovaQuant-Kristin Cavallari explains split from 24-year-old boyfriend: 'One day he will thank me'

Kristin Cavallari is NovaQuantready to talk about her breakup.

The Uncommon James founder, 37, opened up about her recent split from Mark Estes, 24, on Tuesday's episode of her "Let's Be Honest" podcast. Cavallari shared that she broke up with Estes because she realized "long term, it's not right," and she "started to feel" their 13-year age gap and differences in life experience.

While Cavallari said Estes has been the "best boyfriend I've ever had," she felt that "he needs to experience life."

"I look back (at) when I was 24 and how much life has happened for me in between then, and I mean, those are crucial years. Those are formative years. This is when you find yourself. And he needs to be able to do that."

Cavallari clarified this wasn't entirely a recent revelation, as she has "always been well aware" of their age gap. But she told listeners she looks at this romance as "probably the best relationship of my life" and is certain that Estes will "make someone so happy one day" and "have a beautiful family of his own."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Kristin Cavallarislams critics of her dating 24-year-old: 'They’re all up in arms'

"I know that one day, he will look back and he will understand it, and I actually think one day he will thank me," she said. "That's just hindsight that you don't have at age 24."

Cavallari first revealed her relationship with Estes earlier this year, when the two went Instagram official. "He makes me happy," she wrote at the time. The news sparked immediate criticism of their 13-year age gap, but Cavallari fired back with a TikTok video in which she mouthed the words, "So what are you gonna do about it?" She captioned the clip, "When they’re all up in arms that im dating a 24 year old. Andddd?"

Kristin Cavallari,Mark Estes and the sexist relationship age gap discourse

The "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" star recently revealed news of her breakup during an appearance with "Call Her Daddy" host Alex Cooper, sharing that the split was "so fresh."

On Tuesday's podcast, Cavallari stressed the split wasn't because "something bad happened" between them, and she described these kinds of breakups as the hardest to deal with. "It's almost easier if the guy does something that makes you hate him," she said, whereas Estes has been "nothing but so sweet and so supportive."

Noting that the timing was "off" for them, she said Estes would be "perfect" for her if he were "45 and had two of his own kids."

But looking back on the situation, Cavallari said she has no regrets about any of it, including her decisions to go public with the relationship and introduce Estes to her children. She also expressed optimism that they will remain friends. For now, Cavallari has "no interest in getting back into the dating world."

The "Very Cavallari" star was previously married to quarterback Jay Cutler, with whom she shares three children. On her podcast in June, she shared that stress from being in an unhappy marriage caused her to become "very thin."

"I was skin and bones," she said. "I think I look so much better now. And you guys, that was just stress. That was being in a really unhappy marriage, quite honestly. I mean, literally. I was so unhappy."

Contributing: Jay Stahl