A real star-struck moment with Kristin Cavallari

Former “Laguna Beach” reality TV star Kristin Cavallari came home Sunday to promote her new book, “Balancing in Heels.”

About 50 people — mostly young women — dressed up to meet the author at Laguna Beach Books in booties, skinny jeans or tight skirts. Here’s how a typical exchange went:

Cavallari, clearly trying to make everyone feel welcome, usually started with, “Hi,” big smile, “how are you?”

Nine times out of 10, the gushing response was, “You’re so pretty!” Followed by a giggle or nervous laugh.

To which Cavallari would always reply, reaching for the $25 book, “You’re so sweet.”

It was, without question, girl talk. Hair and outfits were the two most common topics.

And that’s really the point of Cavallari’s book — to provide her fans with fashion, health and exercise tips. She also offers some insights into juggling a busy life as a mom, wife and businesswoman.

The whole package was unnerving for some.

Corrie Kohlrus and her friend drove up from San Diego, where both of their husbands are deployed.

“Why am I shaking right now?” said Kohlrus, trying to take a picture with her phone. One of Cavallari’s staff had to assist her with the photo.

There were a few non-20-something women in line, including Laguna’s Pam Knudsen, who works at the Blue Bell Foundation for Cats.

She was a little embarrassed, I think, when I spotted her in line, admitting that she probably did not fit the demographic. But she enjoyed the guilty pleasure of the spin-off “The Hills” during its heyday, so she was curious to see the TV beauty in person.

“I thought it would be something fun to do,” Knudsen said. “I watched that TV show, and I just thought I’d get a kick out of it. Plus, I wanted to see her growth. I read where she had become pretty accomplished, and I thought it would be interesting to see her in person.”

Knudsen said during her wait in line that she couldn’t help but chat it up with some of those around her, include a mom and daughter.

“The mom was saying to me that she really wanted her daughter to meet Kristin because of the fact that her daughter was currently going to Laguna Beach High, and I think she was looking at Kristin like a role model,” Knudsen said. “She was on this reality TV show, and now look at what she’s done.”

Knudsen knows how to scale her admiration. For her, you can’t overlook the obvious.

“It should be light fun,” she said. “It’s a reality TV star. You probably can’t get too serious with that, right?”

Doubtless, there is a bit of an asterisk to the hero worship.

Setting aside for a minute Cavallari specifically, the notion that young people should have reality TV stars as role models is debatable. It’s probably less about the role model and more about the Hollywoodness of it.

Everyone gets a little star-struck from time to time. It’s why we have red carpets and dozens of award shows.

And when that star is from your hometown and here in the flesh — perfectly smooth, radiant flesh — yes, of course we go.

We hug and take selfies and act like we know these people.

We know them because they were one of us once. In Season 2, Episode 7, they acted the same way we would have acted. And bad girls stick together.

To prove my point, it was near the end of the signing when one young woman shuffled up to the table.

She got her book signed but opted out of the photo opp. As she was walking away, Cavallari asked, somewhat incredulously, “Do you want a picture?”

The woman turned back and said, “No, I’m hungover.”

“My hair …” she added, letting her words trail off.

And with that, we had a wrap on the best reality TV moment of the afternoon.

DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.