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It was 2006, MTV’s “TRL” was still happening, and Hayden Panettiere and “Laguna Beach”‘s Stephen Colletti were a hot item. Only 17 when their romance began (Colletti is three years older), Panettiere was Colletti’s first high-profile girlfriend outside the realm of reality TV, per E! News. Following their breakup over one year later, the “Heroes” alum told Seventeen (via E!) that “this is the time I need to be with myself.” Without delving into the specifics of their relationship, Panettiere elaborated that “it takes such a secure person to be with someone like me — it takes so much confidence; it takes so much trust.”
Calling it quits with Panettiere in September 2007, Colletti was spotted hanging with another famous ex later that month, per TMZ. Seen partying with Lauren Conrad, Colletti dated his fellow reality star right before Panettiere from 2004 to 2005, per Life & Style. Although his relationship with Conrad always seemingly overlapped with his and Kristin Cavallari’s, the two remained friends through the years.
As for Colletti and Panettiere, it sounded like she wasn’t ready for a committed relationship just yet. “The more you learn to be okay with yourself and know yourself, the easier it is to love somebody and allow them to love you,” Panettiere told Seventeen of taking time to work on herself. However, she didn’t stay single for long after breaking up with Colletti.
