Sister Wives’ Christine Brown on Learning a Big Lesson and Finally Taking a ‘Deep Breath’ After Leaving Kody (Exclusive)

The TLC star tells PEOPLE she felt “so much freedom and so much happiness” after her split from Kody Brown in November 2021

Christine Brown is opening up about the aftermath of her split from ex Kody Brown.

The 51-year-old Sister Wives star tells PEOPLE that she had an epiphany after the couple announced their split in November 2021.

“I thought we were open. I thought we knew everything, and I thought that we understood how big this world was,” she says of herself and fellow sister wife Janelle Brown. “But once I left, I was really like, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s a whole world out here, I feel like I can take a deep breath. And there’s possibilities and there’s amazing stuff on the other side of polygamy.’”

She continues: “For me, because I felt so much freedom and so much happiness and so much joy not living it anymore.”

On Sunday’s episode of the TLC series, Christine and friends — including Janelle — gathered to mark her and Kody’s “ex-anniversary.” However, she was surprised to receive a call from her ex during the meal.

“Weird, it’s Kody of all people,” she shares. “I have no idea why Kody’s calling me, no idea… Am I going to take the call? Ugh, no.”

In a confessional, Kody revealed he was calling to find a time to get together with the couple’s youngest child Truely, 13, while Christine was visiting. (The pair are also parents to daughters Aspyn, 28, Mykelti, 27, Gwendlyn, 21, Ysabel, 20, and son Paedon, 25.)

After the surprise phone call, Christine — who wed David Woolley on Oct. 7 —  reflected on moving forward with her life despite it being “hard to leave a marriage.”

“It sure feels good on the other side. I’m a big fan of divorce. If you’re thinking about it, I say go for it,” she admitted. “Do it! You’re already miserable… It might be terrible advice but I’m not a therapist or a psychiatrist of anything. I just know how it feels on the other side and it’s awesome.”

Though this was filmed before her wedding, Christine wasted no time embracing her new life. After Woolley popped the question in April, the pair got married on Oct. 7 in Moab, Utah, in front of 330 guests.

“It’s a fairytale,” Christine told PEOPLE exclusively of their nuptials. “It’s everything I never thought I would have. I get to walk down the aisle to David, him just looking at me the way that he does, it’s a dream come true.”

“We have so many things in common,” she added. “It’s just easy. I found someone who is everything I’ve been looking for, who is a true partner, and someone who just wants to be with me and loves me for me.”