Christina Anstead New TV Show Is More Personal Than Ever Before

From House Beautiful

Christina Anstead (formerly El Moussa) made a strong case for the whole "change your hair, change your life" argument in Summer 2018. Weeks after chopping off her signature mermaid waves, she chose to cut loose in a whole new way: With her first solo HGTV show, where she won't be sharing top billing with her ex-husband, Tarek El Moussa.

Christina On The Coast will debut on the network at 9 p.m. EST on May 23, Christina announced on Instagram, and it'll be less knock-down-the-walls renovation and more design-focused. It's a change the HGTV star is so ready for.

"I can't believe it's finally here," Christina told House Beautiful over the phone last week. "It's awesome to see, first of all, such a great design show, and it also takes people behind the scenes of my personal life." That's no exaggeration. Here's what to expect from the series.

The First Episode Will Get Personal.

Christina's launching the eight-episode series by tackling her best friend and publicist Cassie Zebisch's house. The duo have been inseparable for years, so the episode will give fans a greater glimpse into their friendship. "Cassie and I have been friends for so long that I wasn't worried about offending her-we can be totally honest with one another," she said.

In the episode, Christina transforms Cassie's childhood home. It was an older house that was more closed off, so she worked to open up the kitchen to the rest of the house. "Before, it wasn't suited to her and her lifestyle," the designer explained. Cassie loves to cook and entertain, so making the kitchen more of a focal point made sense. "It was so much fun to hang out with my bestie."

Future Episodes Will Tackle Christina's Own House.

She sold the Yorba Linda house she'd shared with her ex, prior to their separation, and bought a new house in Newport Beach, CA. It'll show a more personal side of the star, since this time around, she's not designing for what sells (while sticking to a flip budget); she's designing based on what she loves the most.

"In flipping, you want to keep it more streamline-you want to appeal to the masses," she explained during an interview with ABC.

Oh, and don't be surprised if husband Ant Anstead and the rest of her blended family make a few cameos-part of the goal of the series is to show Christina IRL, balancing parenthood, her career, and her new relationship, according to a press release.

"Fans also are deeply vested in her personal life and eager to see ‘what happens next’-so we’re bringing them the opportunity to share in these real-life moments in a way that no one else can," HGTV and Food Network president Allison Page said.

Viewers will also get a special episode where Christina and Ant fully renovate their pool and transform their backyard into a tropical paradise, complete with a water slide, outdoor kitchen, bar, and hot tub.

It's Not All About Her.

Yes, the show's called Christina On The Coast, but after tackling her house, Christina will turn her focus outward, meeting with families and helping them redesign their homes.

"I’ll be able to do what I like more, which is the design part," she told People. "That’s always been what I’m good at, and people are always asking me to come help them do their house. It’s going to be fun to be able to add my taste, and not have a flip budget."

Calling All The Shots May Be A Refreshing Twist From Sharing The Spotlight.

Those aren't the only perks, though. Christina will also benefit from more creative control. As she discussed during an interview with ABC, she's seen Flip Or Flop evolve over the years.

"At the beginning, it was different because we’re kind of taking on different roles," Christina said. "Tarek is being more involved with design now, where that was my role before. ... I have to be a little bit more amiable as far as how everything is done."

With her own solo series, her design compromises will only come from the other homeowners.

She's Not The Only One Going Solo.

There's no word whether Tarek will make an appearance on Christina On The Coast, but that doesn't mean you'll be seeing less of the star. Tarek announced that he will be taking on his own pilot as well-which People shared is still untitled-that "will follow [him] as he mentors rookie house flippers and helps them renovate homes for a profit," using his own cash and expertise to do so.

There Will Be a New Digital Series To Go Along With The Show.

Called Christina on The Coast: Unfiltered, the digital series will take viewers behind the scenes of every aspect of the show as well as Christina's favorite designs, clips, and a few personal stories. The episodes will roll out a week after each episode, and will be available on the HGTV app, HGTV.com, HGTV's Youtube Channel, and on demand.

Watch the premiere of "Christina on the Coast" on May 23 9 p.m. on HGTV.

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