Karissa and Kristina Shannon bravely reveal the painful trauma they survived inside Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles

It’s been a long road to healing for Karissa and Kristina Shannon, and now, for the first time in years, they’re finally ready to talk about it.

In a deeply emotional new interview, the former Playboy twins are pulling back the curtain on what really happened behind the gates of the Playboy Mansion — and how close they came to losing themselves entirely.

Haunted by the Fear of Becoming Another Tragedy

Karissa and Kristina admitted that, at their lowest points, they were terrified they would end up like Anna Nicole Smith.

Smith, another former Playmate, died tragically at just 39 years old from drug intoxication.

The twins saw their own lives spiraling in a similar way after leaving the mansion — struggling with addiction, depression, and deep emotional pain.

Kristina recalled, “People would say we were going through our ‘Anna Nicole phase.’

We gained weight, leaned on alcohol and pills, and honestly, we were suicidal at times. We felt totally alone.”

From Dream to Nightmare Inside the Mansion

Back in 2008, the twins were just 19 when they moved into Hugh Hefner’s notorious mansion and began a relationship with him.

What seemed like a glamorous dream quickly turned into something darker.

“We were teenagers,” Karissa pointed out. “We didn’t know anything about hair, makeup, or that Hollywood lifestyle. It was a huge culture shock.”

Kristina added that while they had been fans of the Girls Next Door reality show, what they experienced behind closed doors was nothing like what was shown on TV.

Battling Jealousy and Isolation

Life inside the mansion wasn’t just about lavish parties and luxury.

The twins faced jealousy from the other Playmates — especially because Hefner gave them special attention.

Karissa explained, “He would always want the twins front and center.

He loved being photographed between us, and that just stirred up more resentment.”

The bullying took a toll, with Kristina often crying from the tension.

But they felt trapped by the obligations tied to being Hefner’s girlfriends and the reality TV commitments.

Carrying Deep Wounds Into Adulthood

When they finally left the mansion in their early 20s, the emotional damage stayed with them.

The twins later revealed painful memories, including catching chlamydia and Karissa secretly getting an abortion after becoming pregnant by Hefner.

Karissa reflected, “Playboy left a huge hole in our hearts and spirits.

We even lost our connection to our faith, and that hurt deeply. We had no family support like some of the other girls did.”

Starting Over in Michigan

Desperate for a fresh start, the twins left Los Angeles behind and moved to Michigan — a move they credit with saving their lives.

“Michigan changed us,” Kristina said. “We didn’t think we’d ever come out of that dark place, but we did.

Now we love living quietly in Michigan and just traveling to L.A. or Vegas for work.”

They admitted they’ve been hiding from the public eye since their raw confessions in the 2022 Secrets of Playboy docuseries, where they detailed heartbreaking incidents, including being forced into a threesome with Hefner on their 19th birthday.

Opening Up About Assault and Control

In the docuseries, Karissa didn’t hold back, describing her experiences with Hefner as non-consensual and manipulative.

“Every time it happened, it felt like assault. It was like he had a cult-level control over us,” she said.

Kristina echoed the sentiment, comparing the mansion to a prison where the girls slowly lost their sense of self.

Fighting PTSD and Finding Strength

After leaving, both sisters were diagnosed with PTSD and sought therapy to begin healing.

Karissa admitted that some wounds may never fully close.

“That part of us that was taken — it’s probably always going to be there,” she said.

Kristina also opened up about struggles with relationships since then, explaining, “We can’t emotionally connect like we used to. It’s been really hard.”

Finding Healing and Protecting Their Peace

Now, three years later, the Shannon twins are finally finding light at the end of the tunnel.

“We’re healing, listening to ourselves, and keeping God first,” Karissa shared.

“We’ve transformed our mental health, and you can physically see the change. It all starts from within.”

The twins say they’re excited for the future — determined to work hard, have fun, and fiercely protect their peace moving forward.