Crystal Hefner is serious about reclaiming her true identity. The ex-Playboy bunny, who was married to Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his demise in 2017 at the age of 91, has taken a decisive step towards legally changing her surname back to her maiden name, Harris. Court documents, dated June 13 and submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, reveal her intentions, as reported by various outlets.
At 39, Crystal, now opting for the moniker Crystal Margaret Harris, articulated her reason in the filing, according to Us Weekly: "I am a widow, and I am reclaiming my maiden name." She has openly discussed her aspiration to revert to her original surname before, informing E! News in January 2024 that her "next step is undeniably to revert to my birth last name, marking a final stride towards being my authentic self."
Recently, she elaborated on her desire to detach herself from the late Playboy founder's name in a heartfelt Instagram post. "I've been endeavoring for an eternity to persuade Instagram to allow me to revert my username to my genuine name, my original identity that I felt disconnected from for far too long," she penned on June 13, the very day the legal papers were filed. "It was altered for me without forethought, without ceremony. It happened swiftly, as soon as Hef's secretary had the marriage certificate in hand."
She further shared, "I was clueless about the legal process of name change. I simply... transformed into someone else overnight." Engaged to marine biologist James Ward, the model clarified that although she embraced the Hefner name for a period, she has since realized that her achievements were independent of its recognition.
"I accomplished feats under the Hefner name. I earned eight figures, launched ventures, and discovered a sense of confidence. However, the truth is, none of that was ever about the name; it was about me," she wrote. "And now, I yearn for my name back—Crystal Margaret Harris. Not because I'm ashamed of who I once was, but because I've finally come to know who I truly am."
