Melissa Gilbert, star of 'Little House on the Prairie,' had to relocate to age gracefully.

Melissa Gilbert, who captivated viewers nationwide as Laura Ingalls Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie," recognized when it was necessary to relocate from Los Angeles.

The actress, who gained fame as a child star and was known for dating high-profile celebrities in the '80s, participated in "Dancing with the Stars" at the age of 47.

Over the years, the actress became increasingly fixated on maintaining a youthful appearance. Now, at the age of 60, she has established a lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie, that empowers older women and celebrates their beauty.

"Gilbert recounted to Planet Chronicle Digital how he looked at himself in the mirror several years ago and did not recognize who he was. He was living in Los Angeles and had overfilled his face and lips. His forehead didn't move, and he was still dyeing his hair red. He was driving a Mustang convertible and was a size two in an unhealthy way. He looked like a frozen version of his younger self, and that's not who he was."

"Gilbert confessed that he felt stuck and resisted it. He then thought to himself, "It's time to grow old," and he knew he had to leave Los Angeles, not Hollywood, to do so."

In 2013, after getting married, Gilbert and her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, relocated to his home state of Michigan.

They lived there for five years. She felt free to finally age.

"I removed my breast implants because I wanted to be the best, healthiest version of myself without feeling pressured to look a certain way. It paid off in a huge way," she explained.

"I have fully embraced my identity as a woman, feeling confident and empowered in my own knowledge and achievements. As a result, everything has become easier. Additionally, I no longer need to spend time in a mirror, dermatologist's chair, or hair chair, giving me more free time to pursue other interests."

Gilbert attributed her acceptance of aging to her "supportive spouse."

"As she grew older, she and her partner fell deeper in love, which was an incredible blessing. She attributed this to many reasons, including the fact that she felt more comfortable in her own skin as she had gone through menopause at that age."

She added, "I love that we are together now at this point in our lives."

In 2019, Busfield and Gilbert bought a rustic cottage on 14 acres in the Catskill Mountains. She stated that life is "incredibly fulfilling" today.

"I was stuck. I could feel myself fighting it. And I said to myself, ‘It’s time to age.’ I had to leave Los Angeles to do that – not Hollywood – Los Angeles specifically." — Melissa Gilbert

"Gilbert exclaimed, 'It's amazing! I love being this age. Although there are some downsides, such as morning ankle pain and drier skin, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Aging may not be easy, but it's definitely preferable to the alternative. And I've never felt better in my skin!'"

"I have nine extraordinary grandchildren and spend my days communicating and supporting the community of Modern Prairie. I am creatively fulfilled in the creation of these products and the growth of this company."

The objective of Modern Prairie is to "assist one another in navigating the various transformations we are undergoing during this period, both physically and emotionally."

Modern Prairie is launching a special collection in November, featuring purple, the official color of pancreatic cancer awareness, with all proceeds supporting PanCAN.

Michael Landon, the star of 'Little House', was determined about his health: daughter.

The death of Michael Landon, who played patriarch Charles Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie," at age 54 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three months after publicly announcing his diagnosis in 1991, is a cause that hits close to home for Gilbert.

Patrick Swayze, Gilbert's longtime friend, died in 2009 at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer.

Despite not actively raising awareness about the disease, Gilbert is still passionate about acting. She recently joined the cast of Hallmark's "When Calls the Heart" and is currently working on a project in development at Lifetime.

"I can't imagine my life without 'Half Pint' inside of me. She's the driving force behind everything I do, even though she sometimes gets me into a bit of trouble. Despite my youthful spirit, I have a wise old brain."