'I never wanted to make a career out of it': Lydia McLaughlin bows out of The Real Housewives of OC after just one season
The new housewife on the Orange County block, Lydia McLaughlin, has revealed she is moving on after just one season on Bravo's hit reality show.
The blonde mother-of -two says there is 'no epic story' or feud that prompted her to quit the show that launched the franchise.
'I never wanted to make a career out of being a Housewife. That's never really been a dream of mine,' the 32-year-old told Us Weekly on Monday.
Moving out: Lydia McLaughlin, the newest member of The Real Housewives of Orange County is leaving Bravo's hit reality series after just one season
The magazine entrepreneur says she was flattered when producers asked her to come back for season nine but explained, 'I want to build my brand outside of the Housewives.
'I've always been really honest with the producers about that. I knew that while I was filming it that I probably wasn't going to be doing it again.'
The celebrity compared the experience to breaking up with a boyfriend who's not the right man, saying: 'It's bittersweet. It's hard, but overall you know you're doing the right thing.'
One's enough: The 32-year-old said she never intended to stay long on the show, and said she was really honest about that with the producers
Lydia and her millionaire husband Doug McLaughlin, 33, live in Dana Point, California, with their two sons, Stirling, four, and two-year-old Maverick.
The couple owns Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine, while Lydia - who is the daughter of Canadian medial mogul Geoff Stirling, founder of the country's first 24-hour TV station - also runs Lydia M Jewelry and SKYLAB Modern Art.
But Lydia hasn't given up on reality TV completely.
Housewife's choice: The celebrity said there was 'no epic story' or feud behind her decision to quit
She said: 'I definitely have plans to continue to sparkle fairy dust and be a light! I want to develop our own reality show (with Doug) about our magazine and all the glitz and glamour involved with publishing it.'
The newbie joins two other Housewives who won't be returning.
Gretchen Rossi, who joined the series in season four, and Alexis Bellino, who joined in season five, were both ousted.
Real life: Lydia and Doug with their sons, Stirling, four, and Maverick, two. The couple are considering creating a reality show revolving around their Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine
The remaining Housewives are Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Barney and Heather Dubrow.
Lydia says: 'I still see Alexis and Gretchen. Ironically they're not on the show anymore!'
But she's unsure whether she will watch the next season, telling Us: #I feel like because I did have such a great experience with it, I would be sad to watch it.
It'd be like seeing your ex-boyfriend with a new girl! I'm really grateful for the opportunity!
Me and the girls: Lydia, second from the left, with The Real Housewives of Orange County in April, Gretchen Rossi, Tamra Barney, Alexis Bellino and Vicki Gunvalson
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