Reality TV personality turned pop singer Heidi Montag is best known as a regular cast member on the MTV show The Hills. Born in Colorado in 1986, Montag first came to the public's attention after she appeared in several episodes of season two of the MTV reality series Laguna Beach. Focused on the lives of several high-school students growing up in the elite California beach town of show's title, Laguna Beach was a hit and later spawned cast member Lauren Conrad's own 2006 post-high-school reality show, The Hills. Detailing Conrad's life in Los Angeles while attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and working at Teen Vogue magazine, The Hills also showcased Montag, with whom Conrad shared an apartment at the time. Essentially the show's co-star, Montag dropped out of college and nabbed an internship at events promoter Bolthouse Productions — all of which was plot fodder for the series. However, it was Montag's relationship with cast member Spencer Pratt during season two of The Hills that drew the most attention.
Conrad took an immediate dislike to Pratt, who responded in kind. The ill will caused a major breakdown in Conrad's friendship with Montag and culminated in Montag moving out of their shared apartment at the end of season two. The rift brought high ratings to the series and divided viewers along such fan-oriented alliances as "Team Lauren" and "Team Heidi." Subsequently, in season three of The Hills — whether with her approval or not — Montag was arguably cast as a villain and Conrad's nemesis along with boyfriend Pratt. Season three also showcased Montag and Pratt's impending nuptials, which never came to fruition. Ironically, at season's end Montag moved out of Pratt's apartment, leaving the couple's future in question. Outside of The Hills, Montag is often the subject of the tabloid speculation and admitted in 2007 to having both rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. An aspiring vocalist, Montag has had several songs "leaked" online and released the single "Higher" through iTunes in 2008. Although she never finished design school, Montag is also releasing a fashion line through Anchor Blue Clothing called Heidiwood, available in stores in April of 2008.