Holly Madison is reflecting on her time living in the Playboy Mansion, dishing that the house could be \u201ca little bit scary\u201d at times.<\/p>\n
The reality TV star \u2014 who dated former Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner<\/a> from 2001 to 2008 \u2014 exclusively told Page Six that when she chose to live in the mansion she first \u201csaw it as a safe harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, of course, it turned out to be so much more complicated than that,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Madison, who was just 21 when she moved into the Playboy Mansion and began dating Hefner, said there are \u201ca lot of predatory people\u201d in the entertainment industry \u201cwho are looking for young women who aren\u2019t that sophisticated.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly Madison (pictured at a UFC event in Las Vegas in January 2026) said living in the Playboy Mansion could be \u201cscary.\u201d Zuffa LLC<\/p>\n Madison (pictured at a Playboy event in Las Vegas in 2010) used to be a Playboy model and dated Hugh Hefner from 2001 to 2008. WireImage<\/p>\n The best-selling author recalled being \u201caware of the dangers out there\u201d for young women and believing Hefner\u2019s home \u201cwould be a safe place to go.\u201d<\/p>\n During her years at the Playboy Mansion, Madison said she learned \u201chow people can turn on each other so quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very much an \u2018everybody out for themselves\u2019 kind of environment,\u201d she remembered.<\/p>\n These days, Madison is hosting the ID series \u201cLethally Blonde,\u201d which just returned for Season 2.<\/p>\n Madison (pictured with Hefner in 2007) said people used to stereotype her as a \u201cgold digger.\u201d WireImage<\/p>\n Madison said she can \u201crelate\u201d to the victims on her show, \u201cLethally Blonde\u201d (the poster of which is seen above). The show explores the stories of people who had showbiz aspirations before meeting tragic ends. Investigation Discovery<\/p>\n The true-crime series explores murder cases of people who had showbiz aspirations and had their stories end in tragedy.<\/p>\n Madison said she can \u201crelate\u201d to the victims\u2019 stories explored on the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think any time you\u2019re involved in sex work, or anything that\u2019s a more sexualized version of the entertainment industry, people can judge you and want to just write you off,\u201d she noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n Madison was just one of Hefner\u2019s lovers during their relationship<\/a>, with her in her 20s and him in his 70s and 80s.<\/p>\n He went on to marry Crystal Harris, who was 60 years his junior, in 2012, and they remained together until his death in 2017 at age 91<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Madison (seen here in a promotional photo for \u201cLethally Blonde\u201d) previously starred on the reality show \u201cThe Girls Next Door,\u201d which followed her life at the Playboy Mansion while dating Hefner. Investigation Discovery<\/p>\n Madison (pictured above with Hefner, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson on \u201cThe Girls Next Door\u201d) said she and her co-stars didn\u2019t get paid for the first season order. \u00a9E! Network\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Madison said she can relate to facing judgement because of people\u2019s preconceived stereotypes, reminiscing how many thought she was \u201ca gold digger out to steal all of [Hefner\u2019s] money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile living in a nice house is nice, it was never really like that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was more that I was fascinated by him.\u201d<\/p>\n Madison said she was interested in the \u201copportunities\u201d that \u201cbeing part of his world could provide,\u201d but she was \u201cnever that person who was trying to get married and steal money or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n That world was depicted on the reality series \u201cThe Girls Next Door,\u201d which ran from 2005 to 2009 and followed Hefner\u2019s girlfriends and their lives at the Playboy Mansion.<\/p>\n Madison (pictured in 2004 with Wilkinson, Marquardt and Hefner) said they never got residuals from \u201cThe Girls Next Door\u201d either. Getty Images<\/p>\n Madison (pictured in \u201cLethally Blonde\u201d) said she was \u201cfascinated\u201d by Hefner during their time together. Investigation Discovery<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cWe never got any residuals,\u201d Madison revealed of the show, referencing co-stars Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson.<\/p>\n She added,\u00a0\u201cIn fact, we didn\u2019t even get paid for the first season order.\u201d<\/p>\n Madison is now a mom of two \u2014\u00a0daughter Rainbow, 13,\u00a0and son Forest, 9 \u2014 both of whom she shares with ex-husband Pasquale Rotella, whom she was married to from 2013 to 2019.<\/p>\n Now at \u201cpeace\u201d with her Playboy past, the \u201cSharknado 3\u2033 star said the only thing that \u201cannoys\u201d her is when she makes headlines for talking about her sex life with Hefner<\/a>.<\/p>\n Madison (pictured at a Playboy event in Las Vegas in 2009) is now a mom of two and said she is at \u201cpeace\u201d with her Playboy past. WireImage<\/p>\n Madison (pictured in an Instagram photo in 2026) said because her kids are getting older, she needs to \u201cstop talking\u201d about her sex life with Hefner. hollymadison\/instagram<\/p>\n \u201cI just didn\u2019t really think anyone would care. And because my kids are getting a little bit older, I kind of have to stop talking about that,\u201d she told us. <\/p>\n