## The Shadows of the Mansion: Twins Reflect on Their Playboy Experience
At just 19 years old, Karissa and Kristina Shannon, identical twins, found their lives dramatically altered when they moved into Hugh Hefner’s iconic Playboy mansion. Now, at age 35, the former playmates are sharing a candid account of their time within those walls—a period marked by both high points and significant trauma that ultimately led to addiction and a long journey toward healing.
“‘Playboy’ will always be a part of our lives,” Karissa Shannon told *People* magazine. “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.”
A Whirlwind of Jealousy
The twins quickly discovered that their arrival at the mansion wasn’t met with universal acceptance. As Florida natives, they faced intense jealousy from other playmates due to Hefner’s evident favoritism.
“We got a lot of jealousy from the other playmates because we were twins,” Kristina explained. “We were the first twins to each get our own months, which made *Playboy* history. We were the youngest playmates and the youngest girlfriends.”
Karissa recounted instances where Hefner would specifically request their presence: “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.”
The constant attention took its toll on Kristina, who experienced significant emotional distress. “It made Kristina cry. She literally cried and wanted to leave the mansion when we were shooting,” Karissa revealed. “There was so much bullying.”
Loss of Self and Spiritual Identity
Their four-year stay at the Playboy Mansion left a profound mark on both sisters. “It really crumbled who we are,” Karissa stated, adding that Hefner’s attempts to suppress their religious beliefs were particularly damaging. “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.”
Navigating Individuality and Addiction
Following their departure from the mansion, the twins faced further challenges, including periods of intense individuality—a common experience for twins, especially in their early twenties. However, this quest for self-discovery quickly spiraled into unhealthy habits.
“Everyone was saying we were going through our ‘Anna Nicole phase,'” Kristina admitted. “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.”
A Return Home and a Path to Healing
Reaching a breaking point, the sisters made a pivotal decision: to return to their home state of Michigan. “We drove the whole way without stopping until we got to Michigan,” Karissa recalled. The change in environment proved crucial.
They received diagnoses for manic depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. “Being outside the city helped us slow down.”
Finding solace in their faith, the twins focused on personal transformation through prayer and self-care. “We were totally just ready to be selfish for the first time,” Karissa said. “And we were all about God and praying constantly to Jesus.”
A Renewed Focus on Wellness
Today, the sisters have embraced a lifestyle centered around mental and physical health.
- Daily meditation
- Home-cooked, organic meals
- Alkaline water consumption
- Organic bedding
“We’re still the playful twins who did *Playboy*, but we care about other things now,” Kristina concluded. “We are all about organics… We went in our hearts, we went through our healing era, which took years. I didn’t think we would ever come out of it. But Michigan changed us. We love being in Michigan and then going to L.A. or Vegas for work.”
