Kendra Wilkinson, best known for her time as one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends on The Girls Next Door, has recently opened up about a personal struggle she’s been dealing with for years—her complicated relationship with sex.
At 39, the former Playboy star revealed that therapy has played a crucial role in helping her recognize and work through some of the unhealthy thoughts she’s had around intimacy.
In an appearance on the Amy & T.J. podcast, Kendra admitted, “I still struggle with my relationships and my views on sex.”
She shared that therapy helped her realize that her perspectives on sex weren’t always healthy, noting that a therapist once told her she might have “a little bit of a sex problem.”
Impact of Her Playboy Past
Kendra was prompted to reflect on her past when podcast hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes asked her how her time in the Playboy Mansion at the young age of 18 shaped her long-term views on relationships.
Being thrust into such a unique and often controversial environment at a formative age had lasting effects on her perception of love and intimacy.
She explained, “You know, it’s just unhealthy thoughts.”
She further clarified that not necessarily wanting marriage or the traditional family life wasn’t inherently unhealthy; it was simply the way she was viewing relationships that needed work.
“Some people want to be single, others want to be married… I’m more of a fun, idea-type person,” she said.
Reflecting on Marriage and Family Life
Looking back at her life, Kendra admitted that her marriage to former NFL player Hank Baskett, with whom she shares two children, was one of the happiest periods of her life.
“Those were the happiest days of my entire life,” she revealed.
However, when their marriage ended in 2018, it took a toll on her.
“When those days came to an end, I crumbled so hard, and it almost killed me,” Kendra confessed.
She shared how she left the Playboy Mansion at 23, got pregnant, and married Hank shortly after, starting her life as a wife and mother.
She described this period as “the golden years” of her life, reflecting on how she was eager to leave the Mansion behind and embrace family life. “I was ready to start a family.
I wanted to be a soccer mom, a softball mom, a basketball mom,” she said.
The Breakdown of Her Marriage
Despite the positive memories, Kendra was candid about the breakdown of her marriage.
When asked why the relationship ended, she explained that over time, it became irreparable due to “too many mistakes” and differing views on love and marriage.
“It takes two people in a relationship, and when one person changes their mind on love and marriage, that’s how easy it is for it to fall apart,” she said, acknowledging that the separation was painful for her.
“I will always want my family back together… ‘til the day I die.”
However, Kendra also expressed gratitude for Hank’s role as a father to their children.
“Even though we’re divorced, he’s the most amazing father to my kids.
I know I chose right with him,” she said, making it clear that despite their split, she holds no ill will toward him.
Finding Peace Through Therapy
After six years of therapy, Kendra says she’s finally in a better place. “I’m now living in a state of peace of mind.
I’m on good meds and in a really good place,” she shared.
It’s clear that Kendra is still on a journey of self-discovery and healing, but she seems to have found a sense of calm after years of personal challenges.