Hugh Hefner’s widow Crystal Hefner drew a huge social media following by posting photos of herself in provocative, revealing clothing. But now the 35 year old is trying something a little different.
The former Playmate shared on social media that her new aesthetic is a lot less revealing, a change she’s been shifting toward for the past five years. She even went through and deleted all the old images that don’t fit this new look. And while Hefner said she originally lost followers by making the change, slowly her numbers have been increasing again.
“After the last handful of years staying true to myself on social media, I feel that all the people here with me at this point actually care and are invested in my life in a positive way and for that I thank you,” the former Playboy bunny wrote.
”Over five years, my account has shifted from not always safe for work posts to my REAL safe for work life. The real me. I was living for other people before, to make others happy, suffering internally in the process.”
She went on to describe the shift and how it positively impacted her mental health.
“As most of you know, I grew my following during my ‘Playboy’ years. Certain photos grow followings fast. In short, sex sells,” Crystal continued.
“I don’t know whether I felt empowered by dressing scantily clad, showing cleavage, etc …or if I just felt it was expected of me or what… but now I can confidently and 100% proudly say, modesty is what empowers me these days, and because it feels so much better internally, it will probably be this way for the rest of my life.”
”I removed everything fake from my body and deleted all my old photos. I am more authentic, vulnerable and feel that I belong more to myself. I am mine.”
Next, Crystal explained how her followers started dropping every day, which was hard to take as other social media influencers with “scantily clad stuff” were still “growing exponentially.” But slowly, the former Playmate said she started attracting new followers who weren’t just interested in seeing sexy photos. As of now, Hefner has 3 million followers.
In conclusion, the “Girls Next Door” alum thanked fans for sticking with her in her new endeavors.
“I hope all of you can stay true to yourself and to what feels right for you as well, because there’s a certain power you get from that you can’t find anywhere else,” she said. “I love you.”
The Playboy founder proposed to Crystal in 2011 when he was 85 and she was 25. She called off the wedding days before the ceremony, but later changed her mind and they married at the end of 2012. Hugh died in 2017 at age 91.
Plenty of people questioned the couple’s 60 year age difference, but Crystal insisted that Hugh made her a better person. “When I first met Hef I was this kind of insecure college girl,” she told Fox News in 2018. “He taught me love. He taught me kindness. He gave me life. He really did. He opened my mind, my world, to all of these opportunities and experiences I would have never in my lifetime been able to have. Our relationship was very loving. He treated me so well and was so respectful and kind.”