Hugh Hefner's widow makes shock decision eight YEARS after the controversial Playboy founder's death
On June 13, 2025, she filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to revert to her maiden name, Crystal Margaret Harris.
The filing, which was reviewed by People, indicates that she is seeking to resume the name she held before her marriage to Hugh Hefner.
No court hearing date was listed in the petition, but under California law, a legal name change typically requires public notice and a formal hearing before it can be finalized.
A lawyer representing Crystal declined to comment on the matter when approached by the outlet. Daily Mail has also reached out to Crystal's rep.
Crystal, now 39, was married to Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017.
In the years that followed, she continued to use the Hefner name in public, but recent actions suggest a clear shift toward redefining her personal identity.
Before marrying Hefner, Crystal gained recognition as a Playboy model and television personality under her birth name.
Since his passing, she has gradually stepped away from the spotlight to focus on a more private life centered around personal growth and healing.
In previous interviews, Crystal discussed the emotional challenges she faced during her time in the Playboy world and her journey toward self-discovery.
Speaking with NPR in January 2024, she recalled struggling with her identity after leaving the Playboy Mansion, describing the process as 'depressing and sad,' but ultimately empowering.
'I feel like I'm finally reclaiming myself and my power,' she said during the interview.
Crystal also shared that she purchased a farm in Hawaii, where she now enjoys a peaceful lifestyle focused on nature, simplicity, and freedom.
She expressed a desire to eventually marry again and start a family.
'I do hope to get married one day and have children,' she said to NPR.
In April 2024, Crystal became engaged to James Ward, who proposed at her Hawaii home with a six-carat, vintage mine-cut diamond ring.
The couple began dating earlier that year after being introduced by mutual friends.
It is not clear if she will change her name again to become Crystal Ward following the nuptials.
The same year as her engagement, Crystal released her memoir Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.
In her memoir, she detailed traumas she faced in the Playboy mansion including having a 6pm curfew, witnessing Hugh's alleged opiate addiction, and having to 'beg' for an allowance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
From Hollywood hunks to chart-topping music stars - can you guess the celebrities from their high school yearbook photos?
They might be rich, famous and some of the biggest names in Hollywood, but celebrities were also once just high school students with a dream to conquer the entertainment world. As Gwyneth Paltrow's yearbook snap recently hit the headlines amid reports that her teenage 'nightmare' was 'obesity,' according to a new bombshell biography, the old school photos of other big names have once again come into prominence. Nowadays they sport megawatt smiles, polished hair and designer clothing, but back when they were teenagers, some of the world's most famous stars owned dodgy haircuts, cheesy grins and a questionable fashion sense - and there's photos to prove it. Some of these stars have gone on to become huge Hollywood film stars, starring in the world's biggest blockbusters. While others have gone on to dominate the music industry, lighting up the charts with their distinctive voices. Meanwhile, others have raised eyebrows and made front-page news with the goings on in their private lives. Here, we take a look back at the humble beginnings and illustrious careers of some of showbiz's biggest stars, but can you guess who they are? An Academy Award winner who landed his big break in the early 90s on a medical television drama This 64-year-old Hollywood megastar has not only starred in some of the industry's biggest blockbusters, but he also writes, directs and produces them. Born on May 6, 1961 in Kentucky, this actor attended Augusta High School and has previously stated that he earned As and a B. He also played baseball and basketball. He went on to attend Northern Kentucky University from 1979 to 1981, majoring in broadcast journalism, and very briefly attended the University of Cincinnati, but did not graduate from either. As an actor, he rose to fame starring in the NBC medical drama ER from 1994 to 1999 and for his work on the series, he earned various award nominations including two Primetime Emmy nods. This handsome star has dated a slew of beauties - including Kelly Preston, Cameron Diaz and Elisabetta Canalis - and has been married to a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer since September 2014 with whom he shares seven-year-old twins. In terms of movies, he's racked up plenty of credits in films such as From Dusk Till Dawn, The Perfect Storm, Ocean's Eleven, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the 2005 thriller Syriana. It's none other than George Clooney! The O Brother, Where Art Thou? actor has an estimated net worth of about $500 million and often spends time at his Lake Como home with his wife, Amal Clooney, and their two children, Ella and Alexander. A multi-award winning Hollywood actor with one of the strongest marriages in showbiz This other Hollywood big hitter, 69, was born in Concord, California and attended Skyline High School, in Oakland, California, where he was an active member on the track team. He went on to study theatre at Chabot College in Hayward, California and after two years, he transferred to California State University, Sacramento. He started his acting career in 1980 by appearing low-budget slasher film He Knows You're Alone, and two years later he landed a role in television movie Mazes and Monsters. The star then went on to play the part of Kip Wilson on ABC show Bosom Buddies, where he coincidentally met his future wife Rita, whom he married in 1988. Having kicked off his film career, years later this person went on to star in some of Hollywood's greatest movies including Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Catch Me If You Can, Castway, Saving Private Ryan and The Terminal. You've guessed it, it's Tom Hanks. Tom has amassed a plethora of accolades throughout his illustrious career, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes and seven Emmys. Tom is happily married to Rita Wilson, with the pair having sons Chester, aka Chet, 34, and Truman, 29. The film star also has Colin, 47, and Elizabeth, 43, with first wife Samantha Lewes. A country music star with a very famous popstar daughter and an estimated net worth of $20 million This hugely successful country singer, songwriter and actor has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992. Born on August 25, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky, he started singing at the age of four, but attended Georgetown College on a baseball scholarship before changing to music. He dropped out of Georgetown during his junior year after realizing that he wanted to become a musician when attending a Neil Diamond concert, and set a 10-month goal to start a career. In the 1980s, he played in a band called Sly Dog, before signing a record contract with Mercury Nashville Records. Sly Dog was named after a one-eyed dog that this musician owned. A multi-platinum selling artist, this singer has scored a total of eight top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It is none other than Achy Breaky Heart hitmaker Billy Ray Cyrus, the father-of-six who is dad to Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus. He's been married a total of three times, with his most recent union to Australian singer Firerose lasting less than a year, with their divorce having been finalized in August of this year. He has recently embarked on a new relationship with actress and model Elizabeth Hurley, 60, with the couple having debuted their romance on Instagram in April after having met on the set of 2022's Christmas in Paradise. A screen siren with an equally famous husband and daughter This screen siren was born in Washington D.C and attended high school in Silver Spring, Maryland. She rose to fame through her appearance on NBC sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In between 1968–1970, while she made her screen debut in 1968 in a small role the western comedy The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. Just a year later, she landed both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress gong for her comedic role in Cactus Flower. This blonde bombshell went on to become one of the biggest female comedy stars in Hollywood, fames for roles in comedies including Private Benjamin, Overboard, Bird On A Wire, Death Becomes Her and The First Wives Club. In addition to her acting career, she has one of the strongest partnerships in Hollywood, having been in a relationship with a fellow film star since 1983 but the pair have famously never married. They initially crossed paths on the set of the 1968 film The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band when she was 21 and he was just 16. Meanwhile, her daughter, whom she shares with ex-husband Bill Hudson, has followed in her actress footsteps and has carved out a successful film career of her own. Yes, it's none other than Goldie Hawn! The popular actress has been happily in a relationship with Escape From New York Star Kurt Russell for 42 years. While she's mother to actress Kate Hudson, famed for her roles in Almost Famous, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Bride Wars and The Skeleton Key. Goldie is also mother to Oliver Hudson, whom she shares with ex Bill, while she and Kurt share actor and former ice hockey player son Wyatt Hawn Russell. An action movie star known for two hugely popular franchises and has just been nominated for his first Emmy The beloved A-lister, 83, was born in Chicago and was an active member of the Maine Township High School's social science club in Illinois. His voice was the first student voice broadcast on his high school's new radio station. He grew up to make screen debut in 1966 before landing supporting roles in films such as 1973's American Graffiti and The Conversation in 1974. However, he then achieved global success as he starred as Hans Solo in the hugely popular science fantasy franchise Star Wars, a role he played across five of the films. This wasn't his only iconic role as just a few years later, he starred as adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones, playing the part in five movies beginning with 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. While his film career has spanned 70 years, he continues to shine, having just landed his first-ever Emmy Award nomination for his performance as Dr. Paul Rhoades in the second season of Apple TV+ series Shrinking - just two days after celebrating his 83rd birthday. The Chicago-born grandfather-of-three made history as the second oldest nominee in that category after The Kominsky Method actor Alan Arkin scored a nod at age 86 in 2020. Meanwhile, in his private life, he's married to an actress, 60, best known for playing the titular character in Fox series Ally McBeal. The couple met at the 59th Golden Globes in 2002 – but it wasn't exactly love at first sight when Harrison sidled up to her table. Speaking to The Times last April, the actress admitted she was initially underwhelmed when Harrison endeavored to introduce himself 'because I had never seen Star Wars, which I know sounds really crazy.' Yes, it's Harrison Ford, who has been married to Calista Flockhart for 15 years. The Hollywood stars wed in 2010 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one year after Harrison proposed. An actress and talk show host known for her turbulent marriage to her Hollywood star husband The actress was born in Baltimore and famously went to Baltimore School for the Arts with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, where the pair were inseparable. She started off her acting career in 1990 with an appearance in an episode of True colours, going on to appear in TV shows Doogie Howser, M.D and 21 Jump Street before getting her big break in 1991 on the sitcom A Different World. Her career then saw her star in films such as Menace II Society, The Nutty Professor, Set It Off, Scream 2 and The Matrix Reloaded. In recent years, she's also had success as a talk show host thanks to her Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk, for which she bagged a Daytime Emmy Award. Notably, she's married to another Hollywood star, with her Oscar-winning spouse starting out as a rapper before landing a famous sitcom role that then kicked off his huge acting career. The prominent Hollywood couple married in 1997 and share two children together, Willow, 24, and Jaden, 27. In recent years, the pair have been plagued with marital troubles. In 2020, the actress confessed to the world that she'd been unfaithful to her husband with singer August Alsina in 2016 in an on-air interview that left her spouse 'humiliated'. While during an appearance on the Today Show in October 2023, she told Hoda Kotb that they made the decision to separate seven years earlier, after feeling 'exhausted with trying' to work on their marriage. 'I think we were both still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be,' she explained of what caused them to drift apart. In her memoir book, Worthy, she described the separation as a 'divorce,' but clarified they never filed any paperwork. That's right, it's Jada Pinkett Smith, married to Men In Black and Independence Day star Will Smith. Reality star and businesswoman worth over $1billion with an Instagram following of a whopping 356 million The reality star and business woman, 44, was born in Los Angeles and attended Roman Catholic all-girls Marymount High School. Her younger years already saw her having a brush with fame, with her late Armenian lawyer father famously representing O.J Simpson in his murder trial, while her step-father was an Olympian. While she became known for her friendship and job as a stylist for socialite Paris Hilton, it was her 2003 sex tape (released in 2007) with then-boyfriend Ray J that catapulted her to fame. Instead of shying away from the spotlight, she capitalised on her popularity, with her and her family going on to star in their eponymous reality show that thrust them all into the limelight. With the help of her 'momager' mother, she and her siblings went on to carve out a successful reality TV career with various spin-offs, while they also launched their business empire with various enterprises in fashion and beauty. Emerging as the breakout star of the famous family, this media personality also became known for her high-profile relationships and marriages, with one union to a basketball player lasting just 72 days. While her marriage to a controversial rapper, with whom she shares four children, is still making headlines three years after their divorce. Of course, it's the one and only Kim Kardashian. Almost 20 years after first soaring to fame, Kim continues to be one of the most famous names on the planet, with a net worth of over $1 billion dollars and millions of social media followers. And she's not done with expanding her career yet, having recently graduated law school while she's beginning to build an impressive acting portfolio with roles in projects such as CSI: NY, American Horror Story,Paw Patrol: The Movie and All's Fair.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sia sparks romance rumours with Netflix star Harry Jowsey as they're spotted holding hands after cosy dinner date
HARRY Jowsey and pop megastar Sia proved to be an unlikely pairing as they strolled hand-in-hand after dinner in Los Angeles. The Too Hot To Handle star, 28, and the Elastic Heart songstress, 49, beamed as they walked through the Ca Del Sole restaurant car park together. 6 6 6 Harry clutched the hand of the singer as they spoke animatedly, with Sia giggling as she looked up at him, locked in the conversation. The pair's flirty exchange came ahead of them joining a group of celeb pals at Katy Perry's Lifetimes concert. Sia, a longtime collaborator of Katy Perry, has been single since announcing her divorce in March this year - citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split from her second husband. Meanwhile Harry has famed for his womanizing – finding fame on Too Hot To Handle in 2020 and being connected to a string of women since. Notably he's dated his Too Hot To Handle co-stars Francesca Farago and Georgia Hassarati, and his Perfect Match co-star Jessica Vestal. He was also rumoured to be dating his Dancing With The Stars partner Rylee Arnold when he competed in 2023. However, he later shut that down, admitting to having a secret romance during the time he was on the show (believed to be Jessica) that was derailed as a result of the speculation. Leaning into his reputation, Harry has since launched podcast Boyfriend Material, where he discusses where he's going wrong in romance, and is now set to take centre stage in a new Netflix series. After trying his luck on Heartbreak Island, Too Hot To Handle and Perfect Match, Harry is now looking for a wife in newly announced Let's Marry Harry. Speaking to Netflix's TUDUM about the series, Harry said: "Having a show of my own is incredible, but also having my family at Netflix stop at no end to help me find the love of my life is the most amazing feeling." Perfect Match fans rage at 'undeserving' winners in 'rigged' finale & praise footage that exposes 'toxic' Harry Jowsey He later defended the show on his Instagram, saying in a video: "Another dating show for Harry Jowsey? God forbid a man wants to find his soulmate." So will Sia play into his quest to find a perfect woman? Or is the lothario winning her over with his charm? Either way, it seems like the reality star is unstoppable right now. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Morgan Wallen calls out 'side chicks' after Coldplay kiss cam CEO chaos
Morgan Wallen took a cheeky dig at audience members with 'side chicks' during his latest show - days after a CEO was caught cozying up to his colleague on a Coldplay concert Kiss Cam. Andrew Byron, CEO of the billion-dollar AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston's Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot during Coldplay's gig there on Tuesday night. They rapidly covered their faces, with Byron diving out of view and Cabot turning her back to the camera, but their reaction caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who joked: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' The clip went instantly viral and Byron was placed on leave this Friday before the company announced his resignation on Saturday. Public records suggest both Byron, 50, and Cabot, 56, are married - but that they live at different addresses to each of their spouses' registered abodes. As the awkward moment exploded across the Internet, Morgan, 32, appeared to make a sly reference to it at his own Friday night show in Glendale, Arizona. 'Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you're safe here,' he said in fan footage posted to TikTok, before quipping: 'I don't condone cheating…anymore.' The next morning, Astronomer issued a statement announcing that Byron had resigned from the billion-dollar company. 'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the statement said. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will stay on as interim CEO. 'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.' Byron and Cabot were caught red-faced as the kiss-cam at a Coldplay concert in Boston panned to the CEO with his arms wrapped his subordinate on Tuesday. The pair immediately ducked and turned from the cameras after realizing their faces were on the big screen. Astronomer acknowledge the awkward situation in the statement announcing Byron's resignation. 'Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,' the statement read. 'While awareness of our company may have changed over night our product and our work for our customers have not'. The couple have gained infamy since the moment went viral. Statement: Astronomer announced the CEO's resignation on Saturday following an internal investigation that put Byron and Cabot on leave on Friday At the time Coldplay front man Chris Martin, cracked a joke which stirred rumors over the couple's awkward reaction. 'Oh, look at these two! Oh, what? Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy,' Chris said to the crowd. Speculation of the suspected affair became the talk of the Internet, and Daily Mail confirmed that Cabot is in fact currently married to another CEO. Massachusetts property documents dated in January confirmed that Cabot is currently married to Andrew Cabot, the chief executive of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based booze maker. It is unclear exactly when the pair tied the knot, but the documents confirm that Cabot was married at the time of selling a $1.8m property in Watertown, Mass, earlier this year. Privateer Rum's website lists Andrew Cabot as its CEO and COO of the company, and public documents show that he has been married at least twice before, in 1993 and 2014. Byron is also married, with his wife Megan Byron, removing his last name from her social media accounts shortly after the exchange with Chris Martin went viral.
