Crystal Harris

Crystal Harris is an American model, singer and Playmate. She was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009. On December 24, 2010, she became engaged to Hugh Hefner (then age 84), to become his third wife. Harris broke off the engagement on June 14, 2011, five days before their planned wedding.

Early life

Harris' parents were British entertainers, who were working at the England-themed amusement park in Lake Havasu City, Arizona when she was born. After Crystal's birth they returned to England, before returning for good to the United States and settling in San Diego, California, where she and her two elder sisters grew up. Harris was first exposed to the entertainment industry through her late father, Ray Harris, who was a singer and songwriter.

Harris attended La Jolla High School and San Diego State University, majoring in psychology, where she started modelling. It was during this period that she came to the attention of the Playboy organization.

Career

Harris met Hugh Hefner on Halloween 2008. She was attending a party at the Playboy mansion, to which she had been invited by a friend. She then appeared as "Co-Ed of the week" on Playboy.com magazine in the week of October 30, 2008, under the name Crystal Carter. From late 2009, Harris has appeared in E!'s The Girls Next Door.

In April 2010 Harris signed a recording contract with Organica Music Group, a label run by producer Michael Blakey. Her debut single "Club Queen" was released on June 14, 2011. She appeared in an episode of The Hills in season 2.

Personal life

In January 2009 she started dating Hugh Hefner, joining the Shannon Twins after his previous number one girlfriend, Holly Madison, left him. This was to be the third marriage for Hefner. Harris broke off their engagement on June 14, 2011, five days before their planned wedding. In anticipation of the wedding, the July issue of Playboy, which reached store shelves and customer's homes within days of the wedding date, featured Harris on the cover and a photo spread as well. The headline on the cover read "Introducing Mrs. Crystal Hefner.