Def FX, Playboy’s Fiona Horne defends Hugh Hefner’s legacy

 Def FX singer and two-time Playboy model Fiona Horne has defended Hugh Hefner’s legacy.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Fiona, who famously fled Hollywood to live a charmed Caribbean lifestyle, praised Hefner, who passed away Wednesday.

‘There are differing opinions about Hef, but I only ever knew him to be a very charming, kind and intelligent man,’ she penned in an email from her St. Croix home.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Def FX and two-time Playboy model Fiona Horne defended Hugh Hefner's legacy

‘It was a privilege to know him’: Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Def FX and two-time Playboy model Fiona Horne defended Hugh Hefner’s legacy

Fiona, 51, now works as a commercial pilot in the region and braved the aftermath of two catastrophic hurricanes to speak to Daily Mail Australia.

In a message littered with praise, she wrote: ‘He featured me twice in Playboy – on the cover and as guest celebrity when I was 33 and when I was 40.’

‘I liked that he celebrated the attractiveness of women past their 20’s.’

'Charming': 'There are differing opinions about Hef, but I only ever knew him to be a very charming, kind and intelligent man,' she penned in an email from her Virgin Islands home

‘Charming’: ‘There are differing opinions about Hef, but I only ever knew him to be a very charming, kind and intelligent man,’ she penned in an email from her Virgin Islands home

Despite the fact Hefner was battling sickness in his final years, Fiona revealed he still made sure to reach out and congratulate her on her big career change in 2013.

‘He told me he was proud of me when I told him I was getting my pilots license,’ she said.

The picture Fiona painted of Hefner was far from the ‘misogynist’ Casanova that others have maintained, even after his passing at age 91.

'He celebrated the attractiveness of women past their 20's': 'In a message littered with praise, she wrote: 'He featured me twice in Playboy - on the cover and as guest celebrity when I was 33 and when I was 40'

‘He celebrated the attractiveness of women past their 20’s’: ‘In a message littered with praise, she wrote: ‘He featured me twice in Playboy – on the cover and as guest celebrity when I was 33 and when I was 40’

Instead, the former Def FX star shared stories of movie nights at the Playboy mansion.

‘I loved being invited over for Friday night movies at the Mansion,’ she said. 

The personality revealed that as soon as dinner in the infamous Holmby Hills, California mansion had wrapped, Hefner would gleefully call out ‘Movie time!’ 

 'He told me he was proud of me': Despite the fact Hefner was battling sickness in his final years, Fiona revealed he still made sure to reach out and congratulate her after she fled Hollywood for the Caribbean in 2013, where she's now a commercial pilot

 ‘He told me he was proud of me’: Despite the fact Hefner was battling sickness in his final years, Fiona revealed he still made sure to reach out and congratulate her after she fled Hollywood for the Caribbean in 2013, where she’s now a commercial pilot

Fond farewell: The picture Fiona painted of Hefner was far from the 'misogynist' Casanova that many others have maintained, even after his passing at age 91

Fond farewell: The picture Fiona painted of Hefner was far from the ‘misogynist’ Casanova that many others have maintained, even after his passing at age 91

Fiona continued: ‘He was a classic movie buff and would pay to have original reels of movies like Chicago painstakingly restored and then show them on an old projector in his lounge room.’

‘We would all head into the lounge room (and) he would sit there in his silk robe and read handwritten notes from a yellow note pad.’

‘Fascinating little known details about the making of that nights film and it’s stars,’ she added.

'I loved being invited over for Friday night movies': Instead, the former Def FX star shared stories of movie nights at the Playboy mansion 

‘I loved being invited over for Friday night movies’: Instead, the former Def FX star shared stories of movie nights at the Playboy mansion 

'He was a classic movie buff': 'He would pay to have original reels of movies like Chicago painstakingly restored and then show them on an old projector in his lounge room,' she said

‘He was a classic movie buff’: ‘He would pay to have original reels of movies like Chicago painstakingly restored and then show them on an old projector in his lounge room,’ she said

Fiona has fond memories of those nights, and was truly flattered by Hefner’s genuine interest in her as a person.

‘He always smiled when he saw me and no matter how many people were clamoring for his attention, he would make a point of saying, “how are you Fiona?”‘

She signed-off: ‘He was a personable and generous man. It was a privilege to know him’

Winning smile: Fiona beamed: 'He always smiled when he saw me and no matter how many people were clamoring for his attention, he would make a point of saying, "how are you Fiona?"'

Winning smile: Fiona beamed: ‘He always smiled when he saw me and no matter how many people were clamoring for his attention, he would make a point of saying, “how are you Fiona?”‘

An honour: She signed-off: 'He was a personable and generous man. It was a privilege to know him'

An honour: She signed-off: ‘He was a personable and generous man. It was a privilege to know him’

Fiona rose to fame in 1991, as a member of rock band Def FX, who disbanded in 1997.

In addition to appearances in Playboy and FHM, she went on to become a ‘white witch,’ publishing several books on witchcraft. 

Hefner passed away in his Holmby Hills mansion on Wednesday evening, surrounded by loved ones – he was 91. 

Def Fx: Fiona rose to fame in 1991, as a member of rock band Def FX, who disbanded in 1997. In the 2000s, she made appearances two appearances in Playboy

Def Fx: Fiona rose to fame in 1991, as a member of rock band Def FX, who disbanded in 1997. In the 2000s, she made appearances two appearances in Playboy

Rest in peace: Hefner passed away in his Holmby Hills mansion on Wednesday evening, surrounded by loved ones - he was 91

Rest in peace: Hefner passed away in his Holmby Hills mansion on Wednesday evening, surrounded by loved ones – he was 91

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