Hugh Hefner's widow finally 'valued' in new love after 'emotionally abusive' marriage to Playboy boss

Crystal Hefner has candidly shared her journey to finding happiness and feeling "seen and heard" after leaving behind what she described as an "emotionally abusive" marriage with the late Hugh Hefner. Now 38, the ex-Playboy model is basking in the glow of a blossoming romance with Hawaiian adventure business owner James Ward. Crystal couldn't help but rave about her beau, saying: "With James, my feelings are valued, validated."

Her fresh start in love follows the passing of Hugh in 2017. Crystal, who was wed to the Playboy mogul for half a decade until his death, later confessed that she had "never been in love" with him and even labelled him "emotionally abusive" while promoting her tell-all book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.

As the Playboy mansion undergoes a massive makeover following years of neglect, Crystal's personal life is also getting a revamp.

Hugh Hefner's intimate life has been described as 'odd and robotic', with claims he was 'less sex-savvy than teenagers', reports the Mirror US.

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In her current chapter with James, Crystal feels truly acknowledged. She elaborated: "I'm nurturing the real me, my adventurous spirit, my inner child." In a heartfelt interview withPeople Magazine, Crystal divulged how transformative her new love has been. She stated: "I feel like I've become the person I always needed when I was growing up. I feel accepted and more myself than ever before."

Crystal and James sparked romance rumours in April after being introduced by pals. Opening up to the Daily Mail, the former Playmate shared, "I have met somebody who is wonderful, kind, caring, normal. It's everything. It is a beautiful relationship."

James, the owner of SeeThrough Sea in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, offers thrilling adventure and photography tours. Crystal's blossoming love life follows her candid revelations about her late husband while promoting her memoir in January.

Speaking to E! News, she reflected on her past marriage, saying, "In some ways that he treated me, I just felt, OK, this guy can't really be in love with me," and described the relationship as "emotionally abusive" and "It was emotionally abusive. It was very restrictive. I didn't realise how bad it was until I was away from it for a while."

She confessed that it took some time away to realise the extent of the issue.

She also highlighted a "really big power imbalance" and how she felt she had "lost" herself during their union. In a startling admission during her book interviews, Crystal claimed she had never truly been "in love" with Hugh.