Holly Madison was drawn to the glitz and glamour of the Playboy Mansion.
After meeting a friend of Hugh Hefner’s while working as a Hooters waitress, she started attending the famous pad for parties.
She continued to enjoy events at the mansion as a 20-year-old student and eventually decided she wanted to live there.
Between 2001 and 2009, she was one of Hef’s “girlfriends” and seen as his #1 Girl.
But far from feeling like his favourite, the small town Oregon girl says her life became a “twisted world”.
In her memoirs, Down The Rabbit Hole, Holly claims she was pressured into drug-fuelled orgies that left her feeling suicidal.
The explosive bestseller, which is now being adapted into a TV show starring Samara Weaving, claims Hefner encouraged his “girlfriends” to participate in bi-weekly orgies with him.
Speaking about the first time she slept with the Playboy mogul, she recalled: “Ceiling-high piles of videotapes, stuffed animals, art and gifts littered the room.
“It was like an episode of Hoarders. But perhaps in his case it would be more appropriately titled Whore-ders.
“Two huge television screens projecting graphic porn lit up the otherwise dark bed.
“In the middle, a very pale man was tending to his own business (if you’re catching my thinly veiled innuendo) and puffing on a joint before passing it around to the nearest blonde.
“The girlfriends, in various stages of undress, were sitting in a semi-circle at the edge of the bed — some kneeling, some standing, some lying down.”
The debauched romps weren’t the only reason why Holly’s mental state began to spiral.
In her book, she claims to have been cut off from the outside world and constrained by a 9pm curfew.
She also accused the Playboy businessman of putting her down with insults and playing her off against backstabbing bunnies.
Holly felt so lost she considered ending her own life.
She said: “I just couldn’t take my misery anymore. Of course my family would be devastated, but I rarely saw them enough for my absence to make a difference.”
Thankfully, Holly found the strength to quit the Playboy mansion.
Starring in a reality show called The Girls Next Door gave her the platform to earn her own money.
She was able to save up enough to leave Hefner – and then went on to share her story.
Holly said: “The only thing greater than my need to escape was my desire to share my experience.”
While critics of Holly’s book describe it as “one sided”, the former Playboy resident’s story is similar to other women’s.
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Even though Kendra Wilkinson argued Holly wasn’t “in fear” in the mansion, she did recall similar experiences to her Girls Next Door co-star.
She described having sex with the Playboy owner when she was just 18-years-old and he was 78.
In her book, she admitted: “I had to be very drunk or smoke lots of weed to survive those nights – there was no way around it.
“At about the minute mark, I pulled away and it was done. It was like a job. Clock in, clock out. It’s not like I enjoyed having sex with him.”
Meanwhile, ex Playmate Carla Howe previously spoke about the former mansion owner’s strict rules and 9pm curfew.
She told the Mirror : Carla: “When you’re here you have to be in by the 9pm curfew. You’re not allowed to invite any friends up to see you.
“You’re definitely not allowed male visitors. If you break the rules you get banned. Once you’re out, you’re out, you can’t come back.”
If you are impacted by any of the issues raised in this story there is support to help you.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.