There comes a time where life can imitate art. Lindsay Lohan, one of the most notable actresses of the last 20 years and former tabloid teen queen may know this saying to be true; Lohan starred in the unforgettable teen movie, Mean Girls, which would go on to help define the modern era of high school comedies with its honest look at the so-called politics which often comes with cliques, cute boys, and the cutthroat culture of keeping up with the 'queen bee' at school.

Lohan's character Cady Heron is new to public school for the first time, and she is suddenly faced with the daunting task of figuring out her place at North Shore High. In one scene, Cady turns to the comfort of her inner-monologue where she sorts through navigating North Shore's cafeteria seating situation, which is extremely important and must not be altered or questioned because it symbolizes the 'sacred' organization of North Shore's social hierarchy. Cady compares the seating chart, which she is clued in to by her new friends, to the animal kingdom in the jungles of Africa, where she grew up. She tells herself once she is invited to eat lunch with The Plastics, the most popular group of girls in school, "I know how this would be solved in the animal world, but this is girl world..."

The concept of 'girl world' followed Lohan off-screen and into her real-life social circles, which were frequently covered in the tabloids of the time. Hollywood was full of 'It girls' in the mid-aughts whose every move were strategically analyzed, reminiscent of the reception The Plastics were given in Mean Girls, and Lohan was certainly a contender for 'queen bee.'

Lohan had notable friendships with Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Britney Spears, however, one particular friendship grabbed the attention of the gossip columns: Lohan's friendship with Nicole Richie. Richie rose to fame for her party-girl persona, which helped land her a role on The Simple Life, the reality series she starred alongside fellow Lohan gal pal Paris Hilton. On The Simple Life, Richie and Hilton were comically stripped of their luxurious lifestyles and were forced to confront their high-class status in real-world situations. Once cameras stopped rolling, Richie was free to live a life ruled by the Hollywood club scene alongside her fellow 'It girls,' seemingly free of consequence.

Related: 10 Celebs We Forgot Lindsay Lohan Used To Hang Out With In The 2000s

Anything But 'Simple': Inside Lindsay And Nicole's Friendship

Before Lohan and Richie knew it, the duo and their friendship were pushed into the spotlight when a photo was released featuring them leaving a nightclub together, and suddenly tabloids and gossip columns were curious: What was it like to be two of the most popular public figures of an era, with the perks of young Hollywood's glitz and glamour at their fingertips?

Everyone who was thought to be anyone within celebrity culture seemed to always be 'in the know' and present at the hottest events. Understandably, cliques were formed and certain celebs found themselves in chosen friend groups, and, just like Lohan's character in the hit film Mean Girls, the women of young Hollywood suddenly found themselves face-to-face with the universal 'rules' and experiences of a 'classic' high school popularity contest.

Richie and Lohan's friendship was bookended by many of their respective friendships. The duo were frequently seen hanging out in mutual circles.

Richie's co-star on The Simple Life, Paris Hilton, was also fond of letting loose and having a good time, while also climbing up the so-called social hierarchy of the Hollywood party scene. Hilton and Lohan frequently found themselves at the same parties and hanging out with the same people, and as it can happen, tensions escalated, and drama among the elite circle surfaced; One infamous clip from the era of It-girls features Lindsay calling Paris an unflattering name, and quickly taking it back, claiming she and Paris were friends.

Related: The Simple Life: 20 Secrets Producers Still Don't Want Us To Know

Are Nicole And Lindsay Still Friends?

Whether Lohan's rocky relationship with Hilton had any effect on her friendship with Hilton's once longtime BFF is unknown, but over fifteen years later, it seems Lohan might have earned herself an entry in Richie's hypothetical 'burn book' a la Mean Girls' head Plastic, Regina George.

Figuring out the dish on one of Hollywood's golden eras is quite the hot topic for popular culture lovers, and the gals who were once standing in line at nightclubs like Le Deux, have been consulted over the years in interviews in an effort to find out what really happened with these once fierce friendships!

The world knows Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton once had a feud that almost ended their relationship for good, but the duo eventually made up and are still in contact today. However, when Richie was asked about the duo's mutual friend Lindsay, Richie had a less than flattering update to deliver on their friendship status: She didn't want to go into the details surrounding the end of their once frequent club outings, implying she and Lohan did not end on good terms.

Related: Inside Hilary Duff And Lindsay Lohan's 2004 Drama

Nicole Richie's friendship with Lindsay Lohan may not have survived off of a dance floor circa 2005, but their brief friendship helped encapsulate an era of time some may argue could never be replicated, but at least fans will always remnants from the era of their friendship any time they see a Juicy Couture tracksuit!

Next: Are Amanda Bynes And Lindsay Lohan Still Friends?