Brianna LaPaglia Reveals What Has Been the 'Most Rewarding' Part of Her Breakup from Zach Bryan

Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia opened up about the "most rewarding" part of her breakup with Zach Bryan, despite the painful experience.

The 25-year-old podcaster opened up more about the impact of her breakup with the country singer, 28, after she shared her experience with emotional abuse in her cover interview with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit on Jan. 15.

Related: Brianna LaPaglia Makes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Debut Following Zach Bryan Split: 'My Favorite F--- You'

She revealed hundreds of women reached out to her for advice on leaving their own emotionally abusive relationships, which eventually influenced the shift in the content she shared online.

"During the hardest time of my life, it’s probably been one of the most rewarding things that has ever happened to me, to be able to help people in a way that I feel is a lot more meaningful than what my old content was,” she explained. “I know posting silly stuff and having fun videos for people to watch is also helpful, and it helps people get out of the reality, but to actually change lives with coming forward and being able to give people a shoulder to lean on, or a person to cry to, it’s just out of this world.”

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LaPaglia and Bryan met in May 2023 and began dating shortly after that. In October 2024, Bryan confirmed their breakup on Instagram and LaPaglia shared that she was "blindsided" by the announcement and took a break from the internet. She later opened up about the emotional abuse she suffered from in her relationship with the country star on the BFFs Podcast in November and described it as "the hardest year of my life."

But despite the emotional toll, LaPaglia is ready to move forward and spoke about "reconnecting with herself" again after her relationship with Bryan.

"When I walk into a room, I want to talk to everyone," she said. "When the relationship first started, that became a problem for him; I was talking too much or I was being too much, and maybe the spotlight was not on him enough. That’s how he made me feel: 'Oh, I need to dim myself down.' ”

But after the breakup, she shared that she found herself "sparking up a conversation [with strangers]" again. “I’m in the bodega, talking to the bodega guy for 20 minutes too long now," she shared. "I’m finally talking to my hairdresser again, where I used to just sit in the chair."

Related: Grace O'Malley Still Believes She and Brianna LaPaglia Will 'Figure Out' Their Friendship: 'I Still Love Her'

"I’m finding that little spark of life back in myself now that one person that felt like a doom cloud over me at all times is gone,” she added.

LaPaglia also noted that the new year will be a "blank slate" for her and referred to it as “Chapter 25,” hoping people who hear her story also feel "inspired" and "emboldened."

“I hope when I end up offline that I can leave a legacy that shows you can always stay true to who you are and be successful and you don’t have to change yourself for anyone," she explained. "If you stay true to who you are and your morals and your beliefs, you’ll always come out on top.”

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