Holly Madison experienced some "dicey moments" en route to achieving fame and success.

The 44-year-old star - who is a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine - has admitted that her success hasn't come easily.

She told E! News: "I was 19 when I moved to Los Angeles and didn't know anybody.

"There's some dicey moments when you're trying to make it in the entertainment industry. I definitely made some fear-based decisions."

Holly was diagnosed with autism last summer, and she believes that it's played a significant role in some of her life choices.

The blonde beauty shared: "I think feeling like I could be in love with an older man, part of that was because I hadn't really connected with boys my own age my whole life. Being on a different social wavelength than other people can happen when you're on the spectrum.

"But I didn't know that at the time and I thought, 'Well, maybe I'm just destined to be with somebody older!'"

Despite this, Holly doesn't live with too many regrets.

She said: "I learned so much, and I feel like my purpose here on Earth is to share my story and help open people's minds to different perspectives."

Meanwhile, Holly recently admitted that entering the Playboy Mansion for the first time felt like a "dream come true".

The reality star was working as a waitress at the risque restaurant chain Hooters when she received an invite to the mansion

Holly told Life and Style magazine: "I was a college student, I worked at Hooters in Santa Monica, and all the women that worked there wanted to go to these parties, and only a few of them were lucky enough to get invited. So, when my roommate and I finally got invited, it felt like a dream come true."