Ever since Brittany Cartwright's debut on Bravo in season 4 of Vanderpump Rules, viewers have watched her navigate life's ups and downs.
While fans saw high-highs (like her televised wedding to Jax Taylor), they also see low-lows, which have continued playing out in the spinoff, The Valley, which premiered in 2024.
In three seasons, Cartwright has showed it all -- from filing for divorce from Taylor to navigating co-parenting their 5-year-old son, Cruz. Now, Cartwright tells PEOPLE she's loving this new era of her life.
"It was definitely a fresh feeling for me," the reality star says of filming season 3 without Taylor, who announced his departure from The Valley to focus on his sobriety in July. "I've been on reality TV for over 10 years now, so this was the first season I've ever filmed without [him]."
"I was completely on my own for the first time, and that was really refreshing and made things a lot lighter and easier for me," Cartwright shares.
The Vanderpump Rules alum filed for divorce from Taylor in August 2024, after five years of marriage and nearly 10 years together. Though they are not yet officially divorced, the two finalized their custody agreement on March 10, 2026, and agreed to share joint legal and physical custody of Cruz.
"Co-parenting is not easy, but [Taylor] loves his son," Cartwright explains. "Cruz is going to come first, so the co-parenting stuff is actually okay."
And while she admits her relationship with Taylor is an "up-and-down battle" and will "take a long time to heal," Cartwright assures that Cruz remains their number one priority.
"[Cruz is] thriving. He's doing great, and that's all I can really say about it," she says. "I just try not to have drama in my life anymore and not have any toxic behavior around my son, and obviously, that has worked wonders for him."
Cruz made his first appearance on The Valley during season 1 and has continued to be featured from time to time. "I feel like he's the star of the show," Cartwright says. "Every scene he's been in so far has just been so sweet, so endearing, so beautiful."
Cartwright says she loves how this season has shown her son's growth and is grateful for her platform to raise awareness about autism. The reality star shared with PEOPLE in April 2025 that her son had been diagnosed with autism six months prior. "I think it's so important because I've shared his autism journey, and I don't want to hide that from the world," she shares. "I want to help as many other people as I can. I really love that I have a platform where I can show that."
And if Cruz is happy, she's happy. "Honestly, if Cruz was freaking out every time the cameras were around or something, I would feel different about it, but he loves the crew," she continues. "Every time the crew comes over... he sits on their laps while they’re filming."
"I'm glad the world gets to see how magical he is because he really is something very special," Cartwright adds.
Earlier this season, Cartwright introduced The Valley cast to her then-boyfriend, Brandon Hanson. Despite announcing their breakup nearly two months after their relationship became public, Cartwright says she is "so happy" fans got to see their relationship play out.
"It is strange to see Brandon on [The Valley] because that was such a short fling type of thing," she explains. "It is funny, but it is what it is. You live and you learn. I was just having fun at the time, and we're still friends."
Plus, she says, she grew from the experience.
"The way I handled [the breakup] was great, and I just feel like I've learned so much from my past relationships that it was just easy to navigate and like, 'Okay, this isn't what I need right now.'"
These days, Cartwright is "single as a Pringle" and "loving it."
"I've had time to heal and work on myself. I'm always going to keep working on myself," she says. "I deserve to be happy and get the butterflies."
Season 3 of The Valley is only six episodes in, and Cartwright teases there's more "fun" to come.
"[Audiences] are going to see a lot of fun, happy times," she notes. "We had a lot of really funny, hilarious moments that are coming up that I'm excited for the world to see, and very awesome trips, too, that we took. So there's a lot of good stuff coming."
"I love all my friends," Cartwright adds. "Everybody on the cast has a special place in my heart."
The Valley airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.