Former Playboy star Holly Madison revealed she was identified with high-functioning autism, bringing readability to lifelong social struggles she as soon as attributed to her Alaskan upbringing.
She believes her undiagnosed autism made her susceptible to Hugh Hefner, with whom she spent seven years on the Playboy Mansion.
Reflecting on their relationship, Holly Madison admitted she “hated” the group encounters however discovered non-public moments extra regular.
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Holly Madison Reveals Autism Analysis, Says It Brings Readability To Her Previous
Madison says her journey to the Playboy Mansion may need unfolded in a different way had she recognized she was autistic.
The 45-year-old former Playboy Playmate revealed that she was formally identified with high-functioning autism in 2023, a revelation that, slightly than stunning her, introduced a deep sense of readability and aid.
In an interview with Web page Six, Madison defined that she had “sure social difficulties and difficulties regarding individuals,” however had at all times attributed them to rising up remoted in a distant a part of Alaska.
It wasn’t till years later, throughout her marriage to Pasquale Rotella, with whom she shares two kids, that the potential of autism got here into focus.
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Rotella reportedly confided in Madison’s mom in regards to the difficulties he confronted making an attempt to emotionally join along with his spouse.
Her mom, in flip, shared that she had at all times suspected there was “one thing happening” about her daughter’s approach of regarding the world.
Following seven scientific evaluations, Madison lastly acquired affirmation that she is on the autism spectrum.
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The Former Playmate Says Undiagnosed Autism Made Her Extra Susceptible To Hugh Hefner’s Affect In Her 20s
Trying again, Madison believes her undiagnosed autism could have made her extra susceptible in her early 20s, and led her to “fall in love” with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who was greater than 50 years older than her.
She spent seven years residing on the Playboy Mansion alongside a number of different ladies, the place Hefner was recognized to count on fixed intimacy.
Reflecting on that chapter of her life, she defined, “I really feel like having the problem I did connecting with individuals for thus lengthy made me really feel like after I was assembly someone who was older and extra skilled and perhaps slightly bit higher at manipulating individuals, I believed, ‘Oh, wow, perhaps I am meant to be with an older man. Perhaps that is what it’s.’ It simply felt like love.”
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Her prognosis, she added, helps her higher perceive her mindset and motivations throughout that point.
“It undoubtedly sheds some mild on the place my emotions had been at and my motivations and why I had sure impressions about issues,” Madison famous.
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Holly Madison To Make First Main Public Look Since Autism Analysis
Although she insists she does not remorse her experiences, Madison admits that figuring out about her autism earlier may need modified how she dealt with sure conditions.
At the moment, as co-host of the “Ladies Subsequent Degree” podcast, she views her prognosis as an “fascinating” and vital a part of her private story.
Later this month, “The Ladies Subsequent Door” alum will make her first main public look since sharing her prognosis, serving because the occasion ambassador for the 2025 Grant a Reward Gala in Las Vegas.
The annual fundraiser helps kids and younger adults residing with autism and different neurodevelopmental issues by offering entry to important sources and care.
Regardless of her fame, Madison describes herself as a naturally introverted and personal particular person. Nonetheless, after studying about her prognosis, she felt a powerful sense of duty to make use of her platform to talk out and assist break down stereotypes, combat stigma, and advocate for higher companies for these on the spectrum.
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The Former Playmate Says She ‘Hated’ Group Intercourse At The Playboy Mansion: ‘It Was Disgusting’
Earlier in Could, Holly Madison revisited her relationship with Playboy founder Hefner, candidly admitting that she “hated” the group sexual encounters that always befell on the Playboy Mansion.
Talking on the “In Your Desires” podcast with host Owen Thiele, the 45-year-old supplied an unfiltered have a look at what actually went on behind closed doorways throughout her years as one in all Hefner’s girlfriends.
“It is a very totally different story between after we had been simply by ourselves than with everyone else within the room,” she defined. “All people else within the room, no. That was disgusting. I hated it. I made it very recognized I hated it.”
Regardless of their 53-year age distinction, Madison mentioned intimacy between her and Hefner felt surprisingly “regular” when it was non-public.
“If it was simply me and him, it was much more regular than you’d assume,” she defined.
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Holly Madison Accused Hugh Hefner Of Utilizing A Weird Technique To ‘Management’ The Playboy Ladies
In 2023, Madison made some daring claims in regards to the late Hefner, linked to his alleged dislike of pink lipstick.
Throughout an look on the “Forward of the Curve” podcast, she mentioned his aversion to the precise shade of lipstick being worn by the Playboy fashions, claiming that it was Hefner’s “management tactic,” and that she did not have a difficulty with it when she first entered the mansion.
“I believe it was a management tactic, but additionally, after I was model new, I wore pink lipstick out a few instances, and he did not say something about it,” Madison recalled, including, “as a result of whenever you had been the brand new woman within the group, you had been at all times handled effectively.”
Madison then introduced up a phrase she heard about being in a cult, stating, “Anyone mentioned, like, the upper up you might be in a cult, the more serious you are handled as a result of they need the brand new individuals to bond and really feel into it.”
