Cristal Camden
Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend credits the publisher with saving her life. In this photo, Playboy founder and Editor-in-Chief Hugh Hefner (2nd L) and two of his girlfriends, Bridget Marquardt (L) and Kendra Wilkinson (3rd L), along with Playboy Playmate Cristal Camden (R), react as they watch a fashion show to introduce Roberto Cavalli-designed Playboy Bunny costumes during a party for the fourth anniversary of the Palms Casino Resort November 5, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A week after his death, a former girlfriend of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner shared how the publisher helped save her life. Model Cristal Camden said Hefner encouraged her to seek help for a potentially deadly eating disorder and paid for her eight months in treatment.

In a video obtained by TMZ, Camden, 36, said that she developed bulimia at age 16. It began as “coping mechanism” to manage what was happening around her at the time, though she did not elaborate further.

Camden — who appeared in several episodes of Playmate reality series “The Girls Next Door” — said she met Hefner after moving to Los Angeles, and the two began dating in 2003. She called the time she was linked to the publishing magnate a “wonderful experience” and said she enjoyed her time with both Hefner and the other women in his orbit, describing the relationships as “like family.”

The two later ended their relationship, at which time Camden moved into the Playmate Mansion. She said that at the time she was still battling her eating disorder. Hefner caught wind of her struggle and stepped in.

“It was one day after movie night. [Hefner] pulled me aside, and he said ‘Can I talk to you?’” Camden recalled. “He said, ‘So I heard about how you’re suffering.’ He went on to say, ‘I don’t want you to suffer. I want you to be happy and I want you to be healthy, and I want you to be around. I want you to be around for a long time. I want you to be around so you can have a long life and be happy, and also for selfish reasons because I want you here.’”

Hefner reportedly sent Camden to treatment for her bulimia. She credits the Playboy founder with supporting her and extending kindness that motivated her to seek help. According to TMZ, Hefner paid for eight months of treatment before she returned to the Playmate House.

“If Hef hadn’t pushed me and really been supportive and those loving, kind words that really motivated me to go to treatment, I think I’d probably still be suffering, to be honest with you,” she said. “Maybe not even here.”

Hefner died Sept. 27 at the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills, California. According to his death certificate, Hefner died of natural causes after going into cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, Crystal Harris, 31, as well as by his children Cooper Hefner, 26, Marston Hefner, 27, David Hefner, 62, and Christie Hefner, 64.

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