Christa B. Allen Shares Update After Revealing She Escaped Alleged Cult Leader (Exclusive)

Christa B. Allen is sharing an update one month after revealing she once dated an alleged cult leader. 

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the 2025 Inspiration Awards Benefitting Step Up in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 29, the 33-year-old actress admits she’s “feeling better than ever.”

Allen notes it was important for her to publicly share her story, saying, “Women speaking up about what they’ve been through helps other women. I’m really happy to be in the position I’m in now.”

“Sometimes things going really wrong in your life, or everything being burnt to the ground, is the perfect starting point to build something new and beautiful,” she adds. 

The Revenge alum initially opened up about her past relationship with an alleged cult leader in an Aug. 28 TikTok. In the clip, she is twirling around while Chappel Roan’s “Subway” plays in the background, with the repeated lyrics, “She got away.”

Over the video, Allen wrote, “How it feels rebuilding your life after being in love with a charismatic wealthy cult leader who burned it to the ground.”

“Let me be very clear: nobody can burn down your life unless you give them access to it. That’s the part I’ve had to own,” the caption reads. “So I’ve sat with the hardest questions: why did I trust him? Why did I hand over my power? Why did I silence my own inner knowing?”

“The truth is, he was selling fairytales and from luxurious penthouses and private jets, I foolishly bought in,” she continues. “What I learned is that even if you spend every waking moment with someone — studying, eating, traveling, working, building, dreaming — you still may not KNOW them. Especially when you’re dealing with someone who lies as easily as they breathe.”

“That realization shattered me, but it also forced me to rebuild from the ground up. And fire is also cleansing,” Allen concluded.

Allen did not identify her ex, and the TikTok has since been deleted. 

Since posting the TikTok, Allen says she is focusing on moving forward and rebuilding her life. The actress tells PEOPLE she is seeking more film roles that “light her up,” building her own platform and supporting other creators. 

“I work with talent who have a really strong, powerful message, usually related to God in some way,” she says. “I love to speak to their communities about their love for God, so supporting them is really special.”

As for a potential Revenge reboot, Allen teased that she would “love to be a part of it. “

She continues, “I’m a storyteller at the end of the day, and that’s all I want to do is tell great stories that connect people.” 

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Allen starred in the ABC thriller series as Charlotte Clarke, alongside Madeleine Stowe, Emily VanCamp, Gabriel Mann and Josh Bowman. She is also known for playing 13-year-old Jenna Rink in the romantic comedy 13 Going on 30, alongside Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo.