Featured Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, Playboy, Hugh Hefner
Gregory Robinson
Topics: Celebrity, Playboy, Hugh Hefner
Two former Playboy Playmates have spoken out about the 'trauma' of moving into the infamous mansion with Hugh Hefner.
Twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon, now 35, lived in the mansion with Hefner and other Playmates, claiming this lifestyle led them into a 'traumatic' time in their lives.
They began modelling aged 16 and dropped out of school ninth grade, and felt like they had to 'grow up fast' as they were raised by their paternal grandmother.
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"We had to take care of ourselves," Karissa told People.
Eventually the twins started working at Ker’s WingHouse, which Kristina compared to Hooters, and they were soon plastered on advertising material for the brand and a photographer sent their pictures to Playboy when they were 17.
After a successful test shoot in Miami, the twins became Playmates and as fans of the E! reality series Girls Next Door, they were over the moon.
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"We knew we were in, and we were so excited," Kristina shared. "Because we knew it would change our lives. This was changing everything for us."
But they said they struggled to settle in and form bonds with the other Playmates.
"We were literally just teenagers. We were all natural. We didn't have fake teeth. We didn't have fake boobs like the other girls or fake hair. We just walked around with natural faces over tan because we were always in the sun in Florida," Kristina recalled.
"We got a lot of jealousy from the other Playmates because we were twins. We were the first twins to each get our own months, which made Playboy history. We were the youngest Playmates and the youngest girlfriends."
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Karissa explained: "When we’re taking pictures, he would want to get in the middle of the twins to take a picture. Or he would be like, ‘Can you move the twins toward the front of the table? I want to sit next to them.’ So the girls started getting really jealous."
She noted: "It made Kristina cry. Kristina literally cried and wanted to leave the mansion when we were shooting. And I told her, ‘These girls are older. They know how to play the game better. But we’re pretty. We’re here. We’ve made it this far.’ And so we ended up staying and Kristina got through it, but there was so much bullying."
They stayed at the mansion for four years, an experience that ‘left a huge hole in both of our hearts and our spirits’, Karissa shared.
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She continued: "It really crumbled who we are, especially when [Hugh] took our religion away. Our believing in Jesus became a big problem, and losing that was just really big trauma that we dealt with. We had no family that was there to back us up like a lot of the girls."
When they moved out of the mansion, the twins faced substance abuse and loss.
"Everyone was saying we were going through our 'Anna Nicole phase'," Kristina noted. "We gained weight. There was alcohol and pills. We were really unhealthy and lost and, even at points, suicidal. We had no one. It was just us trying to figure it out after losing ourselves."
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After moving back home to Michigan, the twins were diagnosed with manic depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. They now prioritise their mental and physical health while still being 'the playful twins who did Playboy'.
"We always say Playboy will always be a part of our lives. We were Playboy fans and we still are Playboy fans. Even though it turned out to be very traumatic for us, there were also a lot of high points," Karissa said.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.