I "Needed a Break" From Hollywood

In a Monday appearance on Lopez Tonight, the 24-year-old reality star opened up about why she took six months out of the spotlight.

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"I needed a break after such a crazy six years of my life," she said. "And [from] being in L.A. and Hollywood… I've been with my puppies and my husband. It's low-key."

The ex-Hills star said even though much of her relationship hubby Spencer Pratt, 27, has played out on reality TV, she wouldn't recommend other young people to follow in her footsteps without reservations. "It's hard," she said. "[But] it's fun. I would never discourage any one from following their dreams and their passion, and obtaining any kind of success is great."

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So what's bringing Montag back into the public eye after this half-year hiatus? She's one of seven celebrities starring in VH1's new reality show Famous Food. She explained: "We started a restaurant from scratch. There's seven celebrities...We have to find wallpaper and decorate it, and [find] a menu -- and I found the chef!"

Other Famous Food contestants include Real Housewives of New Jersey's Danielle Staub and The Bachelor's Jake Pavelka.

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"We are all potential owners or whatever," she said. "And at the end, maybe one person might get chosen to be a partner in the restaurant, and then maybe no one will get chosen."

The show premieres this fall on VH1.