This Interview: Holly Madison, one of the E! Playboy “Girls Next Door“.

Written by Joshua Martin

Socialite Life: What was your first encounter with celebrity gossip, and what was it?
Holly: The first time it happened. It was in a tabloid, and it was actually a positive story. It was about how Hef and I met, and how we fell in love, and how they said that I was really good for Hef and I didn’t have a hidden agenda like some of his other girlfriends. So all the other girlfriends got pissed and said I submitted it myself. The funny part is, I don’t even have those kind of contacts now, much less then before the show.

SL: What was your families and friends reaction?
Holly: Because the first article was so really positive, they were happy to see it. They were like “Hey we saw you in the globe” or whatever it was. Hopefully it says positive like that.

SL: Being the closest to Hugh Hefner do you find yourself more of a target than the other girls?
Holly: I think at first, when Hef had 7 girlfriends I stood out more because I was the closest to him, so I was the only one they could pick out of a crowd. Now that we’re on a TV show though, I think Kendra is the one that is the most exposed to tabloids. She’s working more and hanging out with other people more, I’m more of a homebody and I like it that way.

SL: Do you and the girls, or you and Hef talk about celebrity gossip?
Holly: Oh, absolutely. If something comes out on us, we talk about it. Hef gets us a bunch of copies for or scrapbook. Everything is pretty much an open book. Since this is all so new to us, we talk about all of it.

More of Joshua Martin’s exclusive interview with Holly Madison after the jump.

SL: With the big celebrity parties and guests at the Mansion. Have you ever found yourself laughing at the gossip that could get out, or that has gotten out?
Holly: If anyone ever exposes anything that goes on at the parties, I get upset. The mansion is a haven, celebrities and really beautiful women around town come here to be themselves, and not worry about things being published. Hef has his own photographer; we really don’t allow photographers into parties.

SL: But there has to be something hilarious, you do see a lot go on at the mansion, right?
Holly: Yeah it’s just kinda funny to see certain famous people come here, and maybe some of them are really good looking, and have trouble getting someone’s attention. Some might be more mellow and do well. Then there are some guys who only come to the parties in old man masks because all the beautiful women here would mob them, and want to get the guy.

SL: What’s the most ridiculous rumor you’ve heard about yourself?
Holly: I’ve heard some pretty funny things indirectly. Through friends and stuff. An Ex-girlfriend said I picked out a dumb Christmas gift for her one-year. They try to talk about that like it’s scandalous. There is one ex-girlfriend out there that is trying to make a scandal out of the fact I used to work at hooters. It’s like come on, it’s a restaurant. If that’s the biggest scandal you can find on me, that’s pretty funny.

SL: Do you keep up with celebrity gossip?
Holly: Hef being a publisher, he gets all the magazines. So, you know, we have the weeklies here. So sometimes I’ll flip through them, but gossip gets so repetitive. They really print the same thing about the same celebrities over and over. But, I don’t get on the websites much, except now for this one.

SL: Tell me about this Season of Girls Next Door on E? What should we expect?
Holly: This season is much better than the last season. One thing I love about it is they follow us on our first trip to Europe. Hef has been there before, but none of us girls have ever been. Next week is a playmate of the year slumber party, and we all get really crazy. This season is more real. Everyone on the show knows what works and is really interested in us just being ourselves.

SL: Do you have any other projects we can expect you in?
Holly: Nothing I can talk a lot about. We’re going to do phase two of the jewelry line, and we’re doing a workout video that’s coming out this fall, hopefully. We’re also getting with playboy’s clothing licensees and designing our own unique sets of workout clothes, so I’m excited for that.

SL: Do you keep well in touch with your fans?
Holly: Yeah I just got done doing a live fan chat, and those are going really well. I also check my MySpace everyday They give me great feedback of what they like about the show, or what they’d like to see me in. It gives me a lot of positive energy. I read every single comment I get. I don’t check my MySpace inbox, it’s just too full. I do, read every comment and respond back to a few of them. I really like keeping in touch with my fans.

SL: Well, that’s all I have to ask. Thank you so much for your time Holly!
Holly: No, That was great! Thanks Josh!

“The Girls Next Door” airs Sunday nights at 10/9c on E!