Gala Darling Loves Bridget Marquardt!
[ 22 April 2009 ]
I find Hugh Hefner totally fascinating. One of the most well-known figures in publishing, he has an enormous empire & built it from nothing. What is most interesting to a lot of us, though, is his lifestyle. A self-proclaimed man about town, he is known for bedding some of the world’s most desirable women — & at 83, is still surrounded by beautiful women at all times of the day.
When I was back in New Zealand last year, staying with my parents — who have cable television — I became totally infatuated with The Girls Next Door, a reality show based around life at the Playboy mansion & more specifically, Hef’s three live-in girlfriends. When I was done working for the day, my mother & I would congregate on the couch & watch a few episodes of The Girls Next Door. While at first I watched it out of morbid curiousity, the more I got into it the more I enjoyed it. It’s really a very fun show — Hef, Holly, Kendra & Bridget are all very personable & their lifestyle is pretty inspiring & very fun in all its extravagance.
However, times change, & late last year, news broke that all three of the girlfriends had moved out of the house & onto new things. Holly — Hef’s #1 girlfriend — had shacked up with Criss Angel (the gothic David Copperfield), Kendra was engaged to an NFL player, & Bridget had a new television show to work on: Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches.
I was recently extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to interview Bridget about her show & the changes she’s made in her life. I was really interested to hear about how the transition had been, from being one of Hef’s girlfriends living in the lap of luxury, to branching out as a single girl, on her own, carving out her own path.
We spoke on the phone & I instantly loved her. Bridget is so sweet, funny, uplifting & positive — & not a bimbo at all! You can download our interview below, but I also transcribed it so you can read it at work! I hope you enjoy it!
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to Bridget, the Travel Channel & Ingrid of Room 214 for making this all happen. Big kisses!
Gala Darling loves Bridget Marquardt (MP3)
(Right-click to download — for some reason the whole thing won’t load in Firefox!)
Gala: I’m sure it must have been a really magical time for you, living in the mansion & everything, & I’m sure it was a really strange adjustment & there was a big leap of faith when you left your previous life behind, so what I really wanted to know was what’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to you so far as a consequence of having branched out on your own?
Bridget: Well, definitely doing this Travel Channel show & having this opportunity with them, not only has it been the coolest opportunity but made it possible for me to branch out on my own. I’ve been at the mansion for 7 years, & when this opportunity came up & everybody was supportive & I knew it was going to be a go, I knew that that was kind of the beginning of the end for me & my life at the mansion. Nothing to do with my feelings towards Hef or any of the other girls, but I just knew that it was… I was looking for an opportunity that would branch me out on my own, & so this has been the most exciting thing to come along. & honestly, I have given 110% to it, & I haven’t been doing anything since because my whole life has been devoted to travelling around the last 7 months, even prior to moving out of the mansion, coming home between trips & packing really quick, putting everything in storage & continuing to travel, so it’s really all I’ve been doing for the last 7 months & since I’ve been out of the mansion.
Gala: Wow, okay. So what’s been the most challenging part of the transition that you’ve made?
Bridget: You know what, I feel like I haven’t even made the transition yet. (Static!!!) So that’s been the most challenging part, just trying to get all my stuff packed up & into storage! Other than that, I haven’t even really realised that I’ve moved out, because I’m homeless still, um, in a funny way, because I’ve been travelling so much that I haven’t had to find a house yet. I’ve been looking! Even before I left the mansion I was looking for like a condo or a cute little house in the Valley or something but I’ve been travelling so much I haven’t really had a chance to look, when I’m at home, just online, so I’ve been living hotel to hotel, or if there’s a few days open when I’m in L.A. I stay at a friend’s house, so it hasn’t really occured to me that I’m not living at the mansion any more. That’s still my physical address, I still go there & get all my mail & say hi to Mary & the butlers & the security & everyone, & I feel like they’re my big extended family, so the adjustment & the transition hasn’t really hit me yet. I don’t have another place that I call home yet.
Gala: Right. So how is it going living out of suitcases? Doesn’t that drive you crazy?! It drives me totally crazy.
Bridget: Really? I love it! I love staying in hotels, & I mean… re-packing the suitcases gets a little bit old & lugging them around everywhere gets a little bit hard, & I feel like I’ve been wearing the same clothes over & over again, just re-washing & packing the same stuff, ‘cause most of my stuff’s in storage for like the last four or five months now, but other than that I really like it! I’ve been buying a few new things along the way & taking from wardrobe!
Gala: So given that you’ve left the mansion — well, you know, theoretically left the mansion — what has your perception of the fan response been to that? Has there been an outpouring of support, have people been asking you a lot of questions… How has that been for you?
Bridget: Everyone’s been really supportive, the fanbase about Girls Next Door is sad that that whole — they feel like it’s the end of an era, & are really sad about that — but as far as the most part, I’ve been really supported & encouraged. People are really happy for me, that I have this opportunity & they’ve been supportive of the show, & a lot of the Girls Next Door fans are watching it & happy for it, & it’s been funny because everywhere I used to go… I mean, Girls Next Door is syndicated in 170 countries or something ridiculous like that, everywhere I go I’m recognised, even in Thailand & Australia & just everywhere, even Costa Rica, especially Costa Rica! In fact, Costa Rica, every time I was in my hotel room, Girls Next Door was on! It was weird, like they run marathons of it constantly! & everyone used to know me as the girl from the mansion, one of the Playboy girls, a girl next door, whatever, but now I’m finding that everywhere I go people are coming up to me going, “Oh are you doing that beaches show?! I’m so excited for your beaches show! I love your beaches show!” Even when I got to — I’m staying at the Beverly Wilshire right now for the upfronts today, & when I walked into the hotel this guy in a business suit & everything goes, “Bridget, Bridget!” & I turned around & thought, ‘What, what?!’ to the lady who was escorting me to my room, & he goes, “Oh my god, I just wanted to let you know — BIG fan of your new Beaches show, big fan, wasn’t a big fan of Girls Next Door, wasn’t really my thing, but I love your Beaches show.” & people are starting to come up to me, not even bringing up Girls Next Door or the mansion or any of that, & just saying, “Are you shooting your Beaches show? I love your Beaches show! I love your Travel Channel show!”, & now I feel like I’m starting to get to be known for the Beaches show & the Travel Channel & not just Playboy, Girls Next Door, which is really exciting for me because it’s more personal & individual.
Gala: Yeah, that’s really cool, & I think that’s a really positive indication that obviously people are ready for you to make that transition & they’re accepting it & you’re really going to make a name for yourself, which is really great.
Bridget: Yeah, I’m hoping that, I’m pushing it that way, I’m giving it all I’ve got & it’s really exciting for me. I think part of the reason too is from the start of Girls Next Door, I always said that this is what I wanted to do, right from the very beginning, even before we started Girls Next Door I was taking classes in — I have a Masters degree in Communications — & then I was taking broadcast journalism classes at UCLA, through the extension program, & when Girls Next Door started, & press or whoever would ask, “So where do you see yourself in five years? Where do you want this to lead?”, I would always say, “I really want to host my own show, something travel-related or something spooky-related, & they’d be like, “Oh, cool, whatever”, you know, but here I am, it’s not even 5 years later & I’m doing it! & I put that out there kind of during the whole show, any time we’d do interviews, & they’d be like, “Where do you want to go? What are your ambitions? Tell us about school, why was it upsetting for you to miss that test?”, that kind of thing, during Girls Next Door interviews, I’d always talk about how career was so important to me & school is so important to me & how I really wanted to host my own show. So I feel like this was kind of a good arc for me, because the fans kind of went through all of that with me, & now they actually see it come to fruition.
Gala: Well that’s very cool & very inspiring, because it reminds people that they can actually live out their dreams & do what they really want to do.
Bridget: Oh that’s the number one thing I tell people — I don’t get a chance to go & speak very often but I did get to go speak at the University of Pittsburgh, & I just told them that education is so important, because it allows you to be able to follow your dreams, even if what you went to school for isn’t exactly what you want to do or what you end up doing, you always have that to fall back on, it’s something nobody can take away from you. So just follow your dreams! Get your education & just follow your dreams!
Gala: Yeah, definitely. So I know you had a regular spot, was it on Sirius FM?
Bridget: Yeah! It was Sirius radio, 198, I had a live radio show every Friday, a morning show, I had so much fun. I really enjoy doing radio, but due to my schedule now I’m not able to do it any more. But they still talk to me & they were like, “Any time you want to come back, like when your schedule frees up, when you want to come back, want to do a show, we’d love to have you, you can talk about anything you want, we’d just love to have you back!” So I mean it was about the lifestyle & what was going on at the mansion all week, even what we were serving for dinners, & what movies we were watching, & that kind of thing, but if I went back we could come up with a whole new format, which would be kind of fun.
Gala: That’s awesome. Okay, so tell me how Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches came about. Was it your idea? Or was it a whole lot of crazy late-night planning sessions with a bunch of people…? How did that come to fruition?
Bridget: You know I wish it was totally my idea, it was my ideal job to begin with & like I said, I was putting it out there from the very beginning. But I didn’t really have any way of making that come true other than just going to school & trying out different opportunities, but what happened was the executive producer of Girls Next Door, Kevin Burns, was doing some other shows for the Travel Channel — they weren’t hosted shows, they were just like Food Paradise kind of things, & then they came to him & said, “We really want to do a show about amazing beaches all over the world, & we want somebody kind of sexy to host it” — they were thinking maybe a Playmate or something — & Kevin was like, “Well, what about Bridget? She’d be perfect & that’s really what she wants to do.” & they were kind of like, “Well, what about Girls Next Door? Can we get her?”, & he was like, “Well, I kind of have a pull with Girls Next Door!”, you know, because he’s the executive producer for it, so he set up the initial meetings, & we met, & we hit it off great, it was with Michael Klein & Charlie Parsons & I thought they were great. & before they even left the mansion I was already emailing them my ideas of places I thought we should go & things I thought we should do, & later they said that that’s when they knew they had the right person, that I was emailing them all my ideas before they even walked out the door!
Gala: Yeah, that’s fantastic! So have you just finished filming the first season?
Bridget: We aren’t completely done yet. There’s 13 episodes, 12 original locations. We’ve completed 11 of them, & on Monday I leave for Morocco, which will be the final original location, then I come back & in-studio the 13th episode, which will be the best of.
Gala: Wow, okay, so have you been to 12 different countries for each thing, or… ?
Bridget: Well, not entirely different countries but 12 different areas or regions. We did Southern California was our first one, then we went to Spain & Croatia, & then Turks Caicos & Jamaica, Australia & Thailand, Florida & Mexico, Hawaii, & I just got back from Costa Rica the other night. & on Monday I leave for Morocco. & I think that’s probably all 11 of them.
Gala: Okay, so my final question is as an amazing, independent woman, what would be your advice to other women who are recently single & wanting to strike out & do their own thing? What would you say to them?
Bridget: Oh… That the sky’s the limit, & you just have to set your mind to it. I mean, know what you want & love what you do, like think of what you would enjoy doing every single day, that it wouldn’t necessarily feel like work. I mean, any time you do something that’s in your career, there’s times where it’s going to be stressful or it’s going to be work, but if there’s something that you love so much, that every day doesn’t feel like work, & follow your dreams! The sky really is the limit. & if it means going & taking a few classes, or doing a few things for free, or at a low end to get your foot in the door, just go for it! Do it!
Gala: That’s fantastic advice. Alright, well thank you so much for your time!
Bridget: You’re welcome! Thank you!
Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches airs on Thursdays at 10pm EST on the Travel Channel. If you’ve never seen it before, you can get sneak peeks on Youtube!
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ahhh! i just watched her show for the first time this past weekend. it looked like a lot of fun! they were in thailand, i believe.
I love Girls Next Door. Good trashy TV. I’ve bookmarked this to listen to on my drive home. Thanks Gala!
Oh wow! That’s awesome you got to interview her, Gala! I’ve been watching the girls next door for a few years now, and Bridget has always been my favorite. Not only is she Beautiful, but she’s SO SMART and personable. Not to mention I have similar ambitions to her!
The show is SO fun! I try not to miss it!
Thanks for sharing this with us! :)
Caitlin — She really is, I think it’s kind of weird how a lot of us have preconceived notions about what she might be like based on the fact that she’s blonde & who her boyfriend was — which she proves totally wrong! She’s super-lovely & really ambitious, which I love!
I love reading iCiNG, but I did not enjoy this article. I don’t think Bridget offered anything intelligent or insightful to say. That’s disappointing, seeing as most of your interview subjects usually do. I don’t think praising this Girls Next Door Lifestyle and a man who was multiple girlfriends is a positive choice to make either. I’m not trying to be rude here, honestly. I love your website and all that it stands for, I just don’t see how this fits. :/
Elizabeth — That’s okay, I’m not offended ;> One thing that is important to me is trying new things & breaking stuff up, so this interview was one of the ways in which I did that. Not everything is going to appeal to everyone & I’m comfortable with that! Hopefully the next article will stoke your fire a little more!
this is such a coincidence. my friend is having a playboy mansion themed party this saturday and i’m completely stumped for an outfit. although i know the norm is lingerie and bunny ears that’s not really me in anyway and i think i’d feel pretty uncomfortable. i want to dress up but i don’t want to feel self conscious and awkward all night. what do you think gala?
ps.here, in london, the girls next door is called girls of the playboy mansion and i lurvee it, Bridget being my absolute favourite. xx
Maya — Dress up like Hef!!!!! Full coverage! Silk bathrobe & a pipe! I’d make it a bubble pipe for ultra-fun points… ;D & yes, it’s called Girls of the Playboy Mansion in NZ too!
Wow, that’s an incredible opportunity that you got there.
I love Girls Next Door. I too originally watched it out of morbid curiosity but I grew to love it. I love Holly the most, but Bridgette is so sweet and adorable. I’m happy for her.
Soooo jealous. Girls Next Door is kinda my secret addiction and Bridget is definitely my fave! She’s so adorable and still subtly commands respect. I could never actually imagine her with Hef, though. Maybe that’s why I respected her? (No offense to Hef, but the age thing is still a little creepy to me).
Plus her boyfriend is pretty attractive!
I’m slightly confused: your mum has cable TV? Wouldn’t that be Sky, ie satellite TV?
I love the way you can take someone who at first glance seems like such a bimbo, and get inspiration from her! Awesome.
Mermaid — I love Holly too, she’s so gorgeous.
Kate — I can’t picture any of them sleeping with him…
Nadine — Oh geez, cable, satellite, Sky, it’s all the same to me!
yey, i love your hef idea, especially the bubble pipe. thankyou so much. i’ll try to send you a picture. xx
Wow I really loved the interview. I always thought Bridget seemed like the most genuine and down to earth of the three, and this really solidified my love for her even more!! I have only seen the episode where she went to Australia, but I love how she connects to a much younger audience. Though I have always watched the Travel Channel, I think that her show will really bring in a younger crowd and will show them the benefits of being curious and the excitement in traveling.
What a fun interview! I’ve been obsessed with Girls Next Door too, so it’s interesting to hear Bridget talk about moving out.
The two of you have a lot in common, what with you both being International Playgirls of travel and mystery!! :)
NOWAYNOWAYNOWAY!
Gala, I’m not even joking when I ask:
‘Are you a psychic?!’
I’ve had an infatuation with all them girls and that show for about a year now. I bought the first season to see what it was all about. At first ,yeah, I was like… this is kinda dirty! Like an 83 yr old and 3 20 somthing year olds but then it became seemingly interesting! So yesterday I rushed out to purchsae the second season and the lady looked at me abit weird and went ‘haha, Girls of The Playboy Mansion?? Why?! They’re just a group of Bimbo’s and Slut’s looking for fortune with a dirty old man’
Needless to say, I corrected her then and there. Bridget Marquardt is so… natural! Out of all thoe girls, She inspired me the most. Gala, thanks again for the amazing articles. I really, really enjoy getting so… ‘wrapped up’ in your articles! I’m kinda scared that you read my mind…or mabe we all think the same things at the same time? Haha Or maybe its a GalaDarling bond you and all your responders share (L) hehehehe =] anyway.. I was just about to get out of bed and begin watching The Girls Next Door =] iluiluilu! X x x x p.s when I grow up, I want to be JUST like you!
Thanks for taking the time to transcribe!
I’m not an auditory person at all at ALL, & it’s great to find out what was said without having to listen.
I completely agree with Elizabeth. I used to be 100% interested in what you wrote about and your blog would be the first thing I checked everyday when I logged onto my computer. Lately I am losing interest. I feel it has become much less interesting and informative and more full of fluff and trash.
sorry.
I’m glad you got to interview Bridget. I’ve long since admired her for her peppy quirkiness and, most importantly in my eyes, she loves Halloween. She doesn’t just take an interest in it…she LOVES it to the extreme.
As for her former lifestyle, I say to each their own. It’s interesting to learn about things you never knew before or might never experience, or want to experience depending on the person.
Wow! This is so weird. I just clicked on this site and as it opened the theme from “Girls Next Door” started paying on my TV. I’m watching the show and reading the interview. Very odd!
Thanks for sharing this. It’s great! :) Bridget sounds really upbeat and positive (just like she is on GND) and that’s great. I love the positivity!
positivelypresent.typepad.com
Haha! My parents have cable too & watching Girls of the Playboy Mansion was my secret favourite! I loved that show – however I cannot get cable myself b/c then I wouldn’t go to work, eat, clean the house etc b/c I would be totally engrossed in tv shows!!
I like that the girls gain fame/success initially b/c they are linked to Hugh and that they are then able to springboard from that and create their own identity & future. It sort of removes the ‘oh, she is just successful b/c she is linked to
insert male name‘ thing – we can be wholly successful in our own right! Good interview!Gala I was wondering .. are you announcing on Icing when the first Love & Sequins is being released & what the topic will be?
This is not what i normally expect from Icing but i appreciate something different as well.
Gala, I love your blog, but I must agree with Elizabeth on this one. I do understand that you are trying to bring the broadest perspective to your posting here, and attempting to show us that “girls like that” are not necassarily the stereotypical blonde bimbos that many assume them to be. This is an admirable thing to do.
However….sadly, despite any other qualities that these women may posess, one must ask wether they would be where they are now if it wasn’t for the fact that they fitted in nicely to that superficial stereotype in the first place? After all, I don’t recall ever hearing of say, a short tubby redhead with glasses and buck teeth living in the playboy mansion….
I have nothing against these women.They are who they are. But don’t women like this already receive enough attention? Do they really need the extra promotion?Arent we already bombarded enough with this very blonde, very blue-eyed, very silicone enhanced, very white, very western ideal of the so called “beautiful” woman?
What about all the amazing, talented, creative, visionary, eccentric, wise, intelligent women out there (and they ARE out there!)that DONT have huge tits and yellow hair, that deserve so much more credit than they receive?! Why arent they deserving of equal amounts of admiration? They shouldn’t need to feel that they must bleach their hair and pad their bras to oblivion to get noticed!
Sorry to whine,and I know this article was well intentioned, but the reason i read your blog is that it usually makes me feel inspired and uplifted. Not today though. I just feel depressed again now.
simi — Well, I think that since I usually profile women who are not at all blonde or big-boobied, writing about Bridget is totally the exception rather than the rule here. But there are a lot of women who look like that, & that’s totally fine! I would like to think that I don’t discriminate on anyone based on how they look. This works as much in reverse as it does the other way — brunette, blonde, skinny, big, young, old, whatever. Know what I mean?
I also happen to be with Elizabeth and Simi on this one . . .She really didn’t have anything insightful to say (mostly cliches) and it seems like most of her opportunities were because of men, from Hugh Hefner to the Kevin who got her on the show. I think you’re far more of an independent inspiration than this woman. :/
What’s everybody’s problem with this? Bridget seems sweet and well-spoken. To judge her for being blonde and busom-y is just as bad as someone blonde and busom-y judging you! No matter what you think of her, she is still an educated, successful business person (as her post-Hef life seems to be going to the best, career-wise).
Yes, it’s important to be smart and well-rounded, but to judge Bridget for her life choices is something no one would ever dare do to another person Gala has profiled. I believe the message of iCiNG is to promote positivity, happiness, and an open mind- NOT to promote one type of womanhood or to push one kind of lifestyle. Bridget may not appear to be anything like some of Gala’s other friends/interviewees, but she still has every right to our respect, without judgment.
I also enjoyed the Girls Next Door show and have always found Bridget to be a mold breaker at the Playboy mansion. Obviously not with her looks (who cares about those anyways?) but with the fact that she’s educated, goal oriented, and very passionate about her dreams of working in the communications field. I was very surprised to see this interview here but I don’t think it’s bad- just something new.
kfly loves gala darling!
I too have noticed the shift here on iCiNG but I don’t see it as a negative thing at all. After all, this started out as a fashion blog, but the reason most of us love her site so much isn’t just because of her killer style sense, it’s because of her positivity and the fabulously inspiring way she lives her life. I mean this 100% without exaggeration in the least: The encouragement and love Gala has poured into this site has literally changed my life so I certainly don’t agree that these changes are “trash” or “fluff” at all~ to me it’s the constant evolution of this site that makes it so wonderful. Keep it up, Gala!
Amen, kristen. I understand what everyone is saying here, but I’m kind of turned off by folks citing Bridget’s appearance at all. Yes, she fits into a visual mould, and yes, that has worked to her advantage. But that doesn’t make her any less of a human being who has found her passion and is actively pursuing it, and that is what is inspiring, and that is what the entire interview was about…
Gala profiles woman who are positive, enjoy life and have a lesson or two to offer us. Regardless of looks, ‘cookie cutter’ beauty or not.
Just because Bridget happens to be beautiful, busty and blonde doesn’t mean she’s any less of a role model. I can only speculate that is she were 20 pounds overweight, frizzy hair and had terrible skin there would be no criticism.
You may or may not agree with her lifestyle choices but you can’t deny she has a lot to offer. I could only hope that my children grow up with the same passion for enjoying life that both Bridget and Gala seem to share.
Bridget is not denying the role Girls of the Playboy Mansion served in securing her new project. In fact, I think she entirely credits it to them? That does not mean she is not an intelligent and inspiring woman. It means she takes advantages of opportunities as they are made available to her. If she didn’t take advantage of the exposure living in the mansion and the show gave her – then she would deserve no respect.
Gala, you are ‘copping it sweet’ lately. You’re clearly making a go of a project that you love and are doing so well with. It provides you with the advantage of being able to travel with your work and live out your dreams(And I’d say the dreams of many other young people!). Your content might constantly evolve and not always be to everyone’s taste but I see a blog as an extension of ones self. Why should you bend a twist your perspectives of what’s inspiring to suit others? Surely THAT’S not inspiring! Continue to do what you do best.
I think Bridget is an amazing young lady who could teach a lot to those of us who struggle to see the positive in things.
No, wemay not all have the option to cruise the world for beautiful beaches, but if any of her positive attitude could rub off onto us in our day-to-day lives, well, then it’s had a positive effect :)
Awesome interview, Gala. Your accent is 100% adorable and I’ve gained so much respect for Bridget.
Unfortunately, I only recently became interested in the show. I prematurely dismissed it as “staged garbage” (I’m not a fan of reality (or lack thereof) television) and avoided the show until catching a mini marathon airing on E! late one night. After those 3 hours of escapades/sexcapdes, I was hooked.
Hmmmm… I may have to hop on the negative nelly train here!
There’s no question that I’m a total Gala-fan, and I’m really interested in a more subversive idea of what Playboy means for women. (As opposed to the idea that all blonde tan women are the enemy.) In fact I think the Playboy mentality has done a lot of interesting things for masculinity in our culture, and helped give men the right to be single and fun-loving and not have to submit to a live of 9-5, bringing home the bacon for the wife and kids.
But I too was really struck with disappointment to see such an article. I don’t see anything inspiring about Bridget or the Girls Next Door. It is a guilty pleasure show! Those ladies, while they may be educated, ambitious and talented in their own right, performed on that show as completely submissive, shallow bimbos. They might have had the opportunity to collaborate on creative projects like calenders and such, but the overall vibe of the show is, “Look at this rich old guy and these bangin’ scantily clad young ladies, isn’t this a hoot!” I’m totally for women embracing their sexuality —the neo-burlesque movement, for example— but there is definitely something about the Girls Next Door that is a tad seedy. Even if it’s the intention, it doesn’t come across as powerful ambitious women being successful on their own terms — it comes across as vapid golddiggers doing all they can to be wacky and sexy enough to stay on the air.
Maybe I would change my tune if I were in your position and I actually met this people, but I bet you’ve met more than a handful of far more interesting and articulate women (blonde, brunette, fat, thin, who cares?) you could have chosen to interview.
Well put Molly B.! My thoughts exactly.
Also, I fail to see what’s inspiring about this interview: all she’s saying is just “I loved my life befoire, I love my life now”. No tips on how to achieve your goals, no creative process insight, nothing on how the show really works… The shallowest of the shallow.
Gala I love your blog but I feel similar to Molly B on this one.
Bridget does seem like an interesting ambitious person so I don’t mind reading about her.
The thing that bothers me is I feel like the playboy mansion girls are basically high profile call girls, they are letting someone use their body so they can get money and fame. I prefer to see women being ambitious high achievers that don’t feel the need to sell themselves like that.
Bridget might be an interesting person but I don’t think she should be seen as a good example.
Well put, Molly B.
In my opinion, the girls of the playboy mansion was indeed a ‘guilty pleasure’ show, and I will freely admit that I enjoyed watching it too! And I would even go so far as to say that the girls on the show appear to have good business minds and know what they are doing. After all, they have managed to get this successful by doing…what, exactly??
But I would also say that I fail to see how I could be inspired by this woman, or at least by what she has said in this interview. It was a fun, fluffy interaction with a novelty character. She was polite, and yes she was positive. But it was nothing more than that. I wouldn’t take anything that she said to heart.
I agree with Molly B. It all seems very fun but I think essentially Hugh Hefner’s whole lifestyle is a relic from warped 50s thinking about the role of women. And the girls might be cool but being so dependant on a man means they aren’t great role models. I’m surprised by this post really, but i love a lot of what you write!
Good article, Gala!
I always loved Girls Next Door and Bridget was my favorite. She always seemed so sweet and genuine and fun to be around. I watch the Travel Channel a lot but I’ve yet to catch her show. I’ll be sure to look out for next time it’s on.
i respect everyone’s opinion 100%, but i think something that gala mentioned earlier is getting overlooked: this is NOT the norm for her. she doesn’t usually interview people who are blonde and busty, whatever miss marquardt is catagorised as. and so what if she is blonde and busty? so what if she’s been on a reality show? i don’t think i am one to judge.
again, i totally understand all the feminist outcries about this, but i think that if gala never changed things up, people would say that her blog is samey and boring. now, when she has one article that’s a little different from the rest, many are shocked and upset. no matter what it does or doesn’t “promote”, it’s an opportunity she ran into. does this mean that gala is now ONLY going to blog about reality TV and beaches? not necessarily.
besides, as far as “promoting” this lifestyle…two of gala’s most popular articles are “I Want to be…a Lingerie Designer!” and “How to Perform a Striptease”. they’re popular for a reason! and no one had any qualms about those….
gala, i love your site and i thought the article was fine. no matter what “changes” your blog goes through, i find it interesting and enjoyable nonetheless.
Molly B, Elizabeth, simi, I totally agree. I would also like to address Katie and Kristen’s comments. No one is judging Bridget because she’s blond and beautiful; rather, we are saying that we’re tired of that standard of beauty being blasted at us from everywhere. I am a woman of color, and this issue particularly hits me. Pick up any high-end fashion magazine – how many darker skinned models do you see? One or two if you’re lucky, and they’re usually given the “token minority” role. Gala, how about doing an article on your friend Jazzi?
Again, I feel Ms. Bridget perpetuates a role that we as a society need to shy away from: that women are sexualized objects for men. That’s what she started out as at Playboy—even if she did enjoy herself and feel liberated, her entire role was to be a submissive, sexual object for an older man whose entire business is promoting this idea. I feel like there are too much of these women already out there, and while they certainly shouldn’t be shunned or ignored, we should be elevating other women who haven’t been in the spotlight because they aren’t skinny, white, or overtly sexual. I’m not saying sexuality is a bad thing, just that we keeping seeing one small (and, in my opinion, damaging) aspect of it.
Also, miss sixty, I am so glad that you pointed out that most of this woman’s opportunities come from men. Even if she did do something with her life, I feel we need to show girls that we don’t need to rely on men help us carve our own way in the world. This might be why many people aren’t finding what she has to say inspiring: we’ve heard it all before. I’m sorry to say it, but Bridget doesn’t really offer anything new to the table.
Dear Gala,Me again!
Please, my intention is not to offend you, and i sincerely apologise if that was the case. I think my point is being misinterpreted. I have nothing against a woman having big boobs or blonde hair! It’s every womans right to look however they like! You don’t need to defend the fact that most of the women you profile don’t fit into this mold: your many and varied posts are WHY I like your blog! The point i am trying to make is that these women, DESPITE the fact they may be smart,friendly funny,etc, are only given the opportunity as being seen as something other than a sex object AFTER they acquired fame and fortune by happily being portrayed as…a sex object!!!!. Is it only me that is seeing the irony here??
We do live in a very patriarchal world, and,yes, sex sells. Ultimately, many women use their bodies as a tool for success, money or fame.I personally hate the fact that a womans body can be used as currency. I find it neither inspiring nor empowering, but instead further evidence that people are still of the view that a woman must still somehow please a man before she is allowed to be seen as a person in her own right. This mentality is so tirelessly shoved in our faces via the media ad nauseum, while the women choosing more creative paths take a backseat.
Would a man need to have sex with a famous woman as a stepping stone in his career? .
I do realise this post is something completely different from your usual style,and was only supposed to provide entertainment to your readers. I guess I just don’t think I need to hear yet ANOTHER “ ex playboy bunny” story when it’s in my damn face enough already. Sorry, it’s just how i feel.
P.S. Autumn is making my exact point, just far more eloquently than i was able to!
Gia G.: My complain is not that the interview was with a busty blonde Playmate. It’s just that the interview was boring and that I didn’t learn a single thing reading it. Which is totally not the case with the two sexy articles you mentioned!
I was re-reading the comments, and while I completely respect and understand what many of the readers were saying (Molly B., Autumn, etc), we have to keep in mind that Bridget, as well as other busty blondes—or for that matter, people who work for Playboy—are not the only examples of women using their sexuality to their advantage. Maybe I’m a completely different kind of feminist, but I believe that though she was involved with Playboy, she is no less of a role model. Keep in mind, she is not like most of the other models-she has repeatedly said that she is NOT enhanced, which is clear by the natural shape and fall of her breasts, and she is one of the many who are educated. I don’t think that the choice to show your body that you love is wrong, and as a model, I can say that I have chosen to show different parts of myself NOT to get ahead in my career, but because I have nothing against the beauty of nudity. Also, may I point out that one of the most popular role models and feminine icons right now, Dita Von Teese, also uses her powerful sexuality to her advantage? For God’s sake, she technically “strips” for a living, and has also been in Playboy!
I have a feeling that if this article had been on someone, like Dita Von Teese, there would have been far less of an outcry. I realize she appeals to many of our lifestyles a little more than Bridget, but we have to realize that many women today choose to show off their bodies. This does not mean that they are trashy or unintelligent. They are not being forced to take off their clothes. We also should not group together all Playboy models/girlfriends, as they’re all different. There are many more out there just like Bridget, who deserve equal respect and recognition.
She’s gorgeous and comes across well – that isn’t the problem. The issue is that this ‘interview’ comes off pretty much like an advertisement with pretty much no substance :/
You guys are intense! ;D
I think really what this whole thing proves is that there is NO content which is going to satisfy ALL people, & that’s okay.
I really wish I had had more time to sit down & talk to Bridget, because unfortunately in a 15 minute interview you can only scratch the surface. I think that if I had, some of you who have expressed negative opinions about this piece might have seen something different. But that’s the way it goes sometimes.
I have to say that I am really impressed with the way that you’re all expressing your opinions in such a mature way. So thank you for that!
I enjoyed this. Not everyone wants to chat politics or feminism all the time, and as much as these things interest me, I do not want to read about them all the time either. Sometimes I really do want to read about sexy beaches, because hello? Sexy beaches!
I feel that people are often just as guilty of judging girls like Bridget, who follow a more mainstream beauty aesthetic, than say the girls at SuicideGirls.com. Both of them are in the exact same line of work, yet the SG girls get praised for pushing the boundaries and showing ‘real beauty’. I think both the models at Playboy and SG are clever, smart, interesting women and neither should be judged just because they fit into a certain ‘look’.
Gala is certainly not promoting any type of look here either, she is merely showcasing another successful, strong woman with both brains and beauty and I see nothing wrong with that. I also feel that Bridget was probably told that this interview was for promotional reasons, to spread the word about her show. She’s different from a lot of the people Gala usually showcases as she will have people literally organising her life for her, right down to this interview.
I for one enjoyed the interview and think Bridget is cute, funny and smart- definitely someone who could inspire me.
Just to clarify, Rebecbec — I didn’t say that Playboy was perpetuating anything “warped”... I was pointing out that I’m actually interested in the positive effects of Hefner’s single-guy manifesto. I’m totally for women having the ability to embrace sex-related jobs, from sex columnist to model to stripper to prostitution…. So it’s not the sexual aspect of Bridget’s career that bothers me at all.
Gala, I think it’s safe to say both you and your readers are generally thought to have an alt-chick bent, so I’m sure you’re not surprised with the mixed feedback. The difference between the neo-burlesque artists (Dita Von Teese, Molly Crabapple, etc.) you’ve promoted and Playboy bunnies goes far deeper than hair color and skin tone. But this is not a political blog, and it’s not your duty to only showcase altgirls. If I was in your position and had the opportunity to interview someone famous and successful I’d probably do it no matter who it was! My disappointment was in the fact that while you said that she is inspiring and all these things, you didn’t really prove it enough for some of us to get over the blonde-bimbo stereotype and see what you see in her. Maybe that’s the fault of the 15-min interview, as you said.
If nothing else you really provided a perfect vehicle for discussion. I’ve had many-an argument with people in real life when I try to explain that sexuality and intelligence do not have to be inversely proportional. My beef here is that to me Bridget is perpetuating, rather than challenging, this idea.
Sorry to go on, I’m really sweet on this topic! It’s so interesting to see the differences in opinion, and exciting discussions like this are a big reason why I visit Icing every day. :)
Oh wow. This is a fabulous discussion. Just my two cents tacked on.
I think, that yes GND is a guilty pleasure, but honestly, who needs seriousness and politics all day? Gala does give us articles that are how-tos and inspiration and yes, most of her interviews delve deeper into a person than this one, but this is fun! I loved driving home in traffic and just listening to Bridget talk about how she loved her life. Is it going to permanently affect my life? nah, but it was a nice distraction from driving.
Also, I think we need to stop looking at stereotypical sexuality as an enemy. Coming from a neo-burlesque background, I feel like we as women are more than required to take back our own sexuality. And yes, in mainstream media, sometimes that means taking it from men’s opportunities, but that doesn’t mean that once poised in the right position one has to perpetuate or subvert it. Bridget seems like she just is the way she is, and that’ great. It’s not how I live my life, but I love that she’s able to live off that for now.
Okay, I’m done now. Thanks for the dialogue ladies and Gala. You never cease to keep me thinking and wondering.
Because of my job, I attend the largest Halloween Show in the United States (ya, it’s awesome!).
For two years, we have had the Playboy costume license with the company I represent and Bridgette came and signed autographs in our booth.
She was extremely sweet, polite and excited to be there (as much as one can be for work). She spent one full day walking the show for fun and then came back the next day to do the promotion thing. In fact, one of the Girls Next Door episodes shows part of the Halloween show that was in Chicago that year.
I’m glad someone else gets a little enjoyment from her bubbly personality. I can’t say I respect her choices…but that’s what they are…hers.
I loved meeting her and she gladly took pictures with us and gave out extra signed things to those of us who work for the company she was there to help.
It’s my wish to get close to Bridget! Girl Next Door is such a lovely show!
I wish Bridget all the best with her new show. Girls next door was such fun and my all time best.