Holly Madison Believes Her Undiagnosed Autism Drew Her Into Life at the Playboy Mansion

Holly Madison, 45, believes her undiagnosed autism played a major role in why she ended up living at the Playboy Mansion — and falling for Hugh Hefner, who was more than 50 years her senior.

In a candid Page Six interview on Wednesday, October 16, the Former Girls Next Door star revealed she was officially diagnosed with high-functioning autism in 2023, after years of feeling different.

Madison said she’d always struggled with social connections, assuming it stemmed from growing up in “a really, really remote place in Alaska.”

The former Playboy Playmate explained that after her ex-husband, Pasquale Rotella, voiced concerns about her communication style, she underwent “a series of seven appointments” that confirmed her diagnosis.

She now believes her challenges made her more vulnerable to Hefner’s manipulation when she moved into the mansion at 21 years old.

“I thought, ‘Maybe I’m meant to be with an older man’ … it just felt like love,” Madison confessed to the outlet.

The mom of two — who co-hosts the Girls Next Level podcast with her former costar, Bridget Marquardt, 52 — says understanding her autism has helped her make peace with her past. She’ll next appear as ambassador at the 2025 Grant a Gift Gala in Las Vegas, benefiting children and young adults with autism.

“For much of my life, I struggled with social interactions, making eye contact and often felt different from those around me,” Madison said in a statement shared on the event’s website.