She also admitted to her fans that she believes her massive following on social media during her heyday was because of her racy photos: “Certain photos grow followings fast. In short, sex sells.”
So what exactly is this personal transformation she’s undergone? Here are a few facts about her journey.
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She met Hugh Hefner at 22 – and he was 60 years older than her
Crystal married Hugh, 60 years her senior, on New Year’s Eve in 2012 at the age of 26 – four years after first meeting him at his infamous Halloween party. She was named Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in December 2009 and, a year later on Christmas Eve, they announced their engagement. However, she called it off in June 2011, five days before their planned wedding, blaming it on cold feet. The couple reconciled in June 2012.
After his passing, Crystal told People magazine that Hugh gave her direction and taught her kindness: “He changed my life, he saved my life. He made me feel loved every single day.”
Crystal has also appeared in E!’s reality series The Girls Next Door and remains the vice-president of the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation.
She was left out of Hugh Hefner’s will … but still got millions
After Hugh’s passing, it was revealed that Crystal was excluded from his will, but he did not leave her with nothing. In 2013, Hugh bought her a US$5 million West Hollywood mansion and, apparently, she also received $7 million in cash, according to Distractify. The house, built in 1937, boasts a stunning Mediterranean vibe after it was remodelled, US Weekly reported.
“At the mansion, I was fitting into someone else’s life. I wanted to make sure [the house] reflects my current life but also my past, which is the reason I have this beautiful home today,” she said, according to US Magazine.
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In keeping Hugh’s memory alive, the house also pays tribute to him with old photographs and a rabbit door knocker. In 2018, Crystal listed her house for US$7.2 million.
Her breast implants caused health problems
In 2016, Crystal revealed that she had removed her breast implants because they were “slowly poisoning her” and causing debilitating illnesses. She had previously been diagnosed with Lyme disease but then realised, with help from her fans, that her breast augmentation might have caused her health problems.
“I found a breast implant illness website and Facebook group with almost 3,000 members. My symptoms matched theirs,” she said, according to The Daily Mail.
After getting surgery, she announced that she felt immediate relief. She has also written about her illness and recovery on her personal blog.
She has travelled to 33 countries and owns a farm
After Hugh’s passing, Crystal overcame her grief and travelled the world for three years. In an interview with OK! Magazine, she shared that, “I’ve visited 33 countries in the past few years. That’s all slowed down now, but it helped me find myself.”
On Instagram, she has amassed three million followers and often shares her travel experiences with fans. On January 15, she revealed on her Instagram Stories that she had bought a farm in Hawaii. “Signing the deed on a property today. Probably one of the most soul calming, happy and aligned purchases I’ve ever made,” she posted with the hashtag #Welcometothefarm.
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Her new beau is a famous reality TV star
The new love of her life is TV personality Ryan Malaty, 32, the Egyptian-American who rose to fame after appearing on Are You The One? reality show. The two were spotted holidaying in Mexico last year and he has appeared on her numerous Instagram posts since then.
The last one saw Crystal and Malaty adorably posing next to each other with hashtags like #couple and #newbeginnings confirming their official status. “I am more authentic, vulnerable and feel that I belong more to myself. I am mine,” said Crystal in her latest post.
