Holly Madison says living in the Playboy Mansion was ''a lot scarier'' than she'd expected.

The blonde beauty first moved in with Hugh Hefner and his numerous girlfriends when she was just 21-years-old and didn't move out until she was 28 but she's now insisted the gated home in Beverly Hills is a much scarier place than people may think.

Holly, now 35, said: ''The first night I had spent at the Playboy Mansion was definitely very eye-opening. It was clear that there was certain things expected of you. It was clear that there was a definite routine going on, and it was very bizarre. It definitely wasn't what I expected it to be, it was a lot scarier. I was offered prescription drugs.

''I don't know what people think goes on in the bedroom, but it was always very much the same, and intimidating, and not something that I liked. It was a miserable part of my life.''

The 'Girls Next Door' star - who now has two-year-old daughter Rainbow with husband Pasquale Rotella - also claimed Hugh encouraged her and his other girlfriends to be critical towards one another.

She told Us Weekly: ''There was a lot of politics inside the mansion. Very catty, very competitive, a kind of scary place to live. He just encourage it because it made him feel special. Looking back, I see that he was the orchestrator of the whole thing.''

Holly's comments come as her book 'Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny', in which she has candidly opened up on her life with Hef, is released this week making several damaging accusations against him and the other girls.

The 89-year-old magazine mogul - who has sons Cooper and Marston with second wife Kimberley Conrad and daughter Christie, 62, and son David, 59, with first wife Millie Williams - has since hit back accusing Holly of trying to ''rewrite history''.

Hugh - who is now married to 29-year-old Crystal Harris - said: ''Over the course of my life I've had more than my fair share of romantic relationships with wonderful women. Many moved on to live happy, healthy and productive lives, and I'm pleased to say remain dear friends today. Sadly, there are a few who have chosen to rewrite history in an attempt to stay in the spotlight. I guess, as the old saying goes, You can't win 'em all!''