She left Los Angeles behind, gave up beauty procedures, and moved to a quiet mountain home. Far away from fame and glamor, she began to reconnect with herself and embrace the natural aging process. It was a drastic change, but it allowed her to focus on her well-being and redefine what aging meant to her.

Her journey in show business began early. Born in Los Angeles, she got her start in acting as a toddler, appearing in commercials. At nine years old, she landed the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie,” which became a hit series.

The show depicted the trials and adventures of the Ingalls family in the nineteenth-century Midwest. Premiering in the mid-1970s, it became a staple of American television. The fame she garnered from the show opened doors to a dazzling Hollywood life.

She would remain a regular on the Hollywood scene for decades, even appearing on “Dancing with the Stars,” at the age of 47. Reflecting on her childhood in the industry, she once said, “I had an incredible time growing up.”

By the ’80s, she was a familiar face at red-carpet events, mingling with top stars and dating notable figures like Billy Idol and Rob Lowe. Her personal life also made headlines, starting with her marriage to actor and director Bo Brinkman in 1988. The couple had a son together, but their relationship was rocky, ending in divorce in 1994.

It was a whirlwind experience, filled with the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. As she got older, though, she faced new challenges. Hollywood’s beauty standards became harder to keep up with, pushing her to take steps she would later regret.

In her younger years, the young actress felt the pressure to keep up with Hollywood’s idea of beauty. Wanting to fit in, she turned to cosmetic enhancements in an attempt to look younger, opting for breast implants, fillers, and regular Botox injections.

For a while, it seemed like part of the job. However, the procedures began to take a toll on her both physically and mentally. “I looked at myself in the mirror several years back,” she shared in an interview. “I had overfilled my face and my lips. My forehead didn’t move.”

She realized she was trying too hard to fit into Hollywood’s narrow definition of youth, even though it no longer felt right to her. “I was stuck,” she admitted. It wasn’t just the physical changes that bothered her — it was the feeling of being disconnected from her true self.

A New Beginning in Michigan

In 2013, Melissa Gilbert married her third husband, actor Timothy Busfield. The couple wanted a life away from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood, opting instead for the simplicity and slower pace of the Midwest.

The shift away from the constant spotlight gave her the freedom to embrace the aging process naturally. “I had to leave Los Angeles to do that – not Hollywood – Los Angeles specifically,” she explained.

In Michigan, she took a major step in this new direction by halting all cosmetic procedures. By 2015, she decided to remove her breast implants, a choice she described as liberating. She also stopped dyeing her trademark red hair, allowing her natural gray to shine.

Gilbert now finds aging to be a remarkable experience. While she acknowledges the challenges, such as aching ankles and drier skin, she emphasizes that “aging is not for sissies, but it is certainly better than the alternative.”

She embraced the idea of aging, finding joy in the natural process rather than fighting against it. “Yes, I’m aging, but it’s not a curse — it’s a blessing,” she said. Her time in Michigan marked a turning point, allowing her to reset and focus on what truly mattered to her.

After five peaceful years in Michigan, Gilbert and Busfield decided to continue their journey toward a simpler life by moving to New York. In 2018, they found a rustic cottage on 14 acres in the Catskill Mountains, a place that was far from glamorous but full of potential.

The couple lovingly named their new home “The Cabbage.” It was a fixer-upper, requiring significant work before it could be livable, but that didn’t deter them.

The move to the Catskills represented a continuation of their commitment to live authentically and embrace a slower, more natural way of life. Gilbert’s connection to her new surroundings deepened as she began growing her own food, raising chickens, and embracing a self-sustained lifestyle.

Life in the Catskills brought Gilbert a new kind of joy, rooted in simplicity and self-sufficiency. Her days are not what she was used to in Hollywood, but they are filled with activities that connect her to nature and her home.

Launching Modern Prairie — A Brand for Mature Women

In 2021, Gilbert co-founded Modern Prairie, a lifestyle brand created specifically for mature women. The idea behind it was to offer a supportive space where women could celebrate aging, share their stories, and learn from one another, focusing on health, wellness, and creativity.

The goal, she explained, is to “support one another as we go through all the incredible changes we are experiencing at this phase in our lives, both physically and emotionally.”

“I finally found my feet as a woman, fully, 100 percent strong in my own knowledge and my own accomplishments,” she said proudly. Her brand’s message is a continuation of the lifestyle she’s adopted in the Catskills, about simplicity, self-acceptance, and joy.

Gilbert has often spoken about how her relationship with Busfield has been a crucial part of her journey. The couple’s move to their cottage in the Catskills brought them closer than ever. “I think as I’ve aged, we’ve just fallen more and more in love with one another, which is such an extraordinary gift,” she shared.

Despite being a grandmother, Gilbert hasn’t given up acting and has some projects lined up. “It just never ends, and I am thoroughly enjoying my life,” she said, beaming.