“Laguna Beach” Alum Jen Bunney Says She Wasn’t Asked to Return for Reunion Special and Reveals Her Life Now (Exclusive)

**Former Laguna Beach Star Reflects on Life After Reality TV**

Jen Bunney, commonly known as Jen Dunphy, is best remembered for her brief time on MTV’s reality series “Laguna Beach,” where she was part of Lauren Conrad’s circle of friends. Recently, she opened up about her absence from the highly anticipated reunion special that aired on The Roku Channel.

Despite her familiarity with the show’s memorable moments and characters, Bunney revealed to PEOPLE that she was not invited to participate in the reunion, which featured other stars such as Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, and Lo Bosworth. Although she expressed curiosity about the reasons for not being included, Jen mentioned, “I don’t know. I can’t answer that question. I wasn’t in the room.” The Roku Channel did not provide any comment regarding her absence.

Reflecting on her journey since her teenage years, Bunney has moved away from the entertainment world and now thrives as a senior healthcare executive. She has earned a Doctorate in Public Health and explained her shift, saying, “I’ve gone in a little bit of a different direction. I’m not in entertainment. I’ve never been in entertainment. I’ve always been in medicine and healthcare.” This change represents a stark contrast to the fashion and beauty lines often pursued by her former co-stars, such as Conrad and Cavallari.

Now a mother of two boys, Shep and Holden, Jen moved her family back to Laguna Beach to be closer to her roots. She reminisced about her time on “Laguna Beach,” acknowledging its impact on her life but reaffirming her commitment to her career in healthcare. Despite her former connections within the entertainment circle, bunney noted, “You’re not going to find me with a fashion line.”

While she still lives near some of her old acquaintances, including Colletti and Conrad, Bunney does not maintain close contact with them. However, she shared, “I do bump into Stephen all the time just because we both live in the same area.” Although they have crossed paths occasionally, she noted that her friends and former co-stars have moved on with their lives, as have she.

Bunney has yet to watch the new reunion special, expressing no resentment but rather a busy lifestyle that makes it difficult to catch up with the show. “I’ve just been super busy… It’s not the first thing on my list,” she explained, indicating a full schedule that prioritises other responsibilities. Despite her ever-increasing workload, she doesn’t harbour any negative feelings around her time on the original show.

Interestingly, Bunney confessed that she has not watched all the episodes of “Laguna Beach.” Due to not having access to cable during her college years, she missed much of the series as it originally aired. Now, she finds herself too preoccupied to revisit those memories, joking that her children would likely find something more suitable than their mother’s reality TV past.

With her focus firmly rooted in public health, Bunney is using her platform and experiences for a greater purpose. The reunion may serve as a nostalgic trip for many, but for her, it represents a chapter that, while significant, is not the primary focus of her life today.

The reunion special, titled “The Reunion: Laguna Beach,” is currently available for streaming on The Roku Channel, inviting long-time fans to reconnect with their favourite characters from the show. However, for Bunney, the experience of reality TV remains a fond memory rather than a repeat engagement.