A cloud of, well, Cloud by Ariana Grande practically announces her arrival.
No one really recognizes me, Madison says.
As the woman walks away, her teen daughter asks: Who is that?
Madison, of course, is the former star of the foundational E!
It has been downloaded 25 million times.
But when I left the show, I was on my own.
It was up to me to make lemons out of lemonade.
I dont get any credit for that.
Madisons interests, however, have always stretched far beyond the Bunny.
In recent years, shes amassed a mighty audience as aninfluencerand content creatorwith a penchant for the geeky.
To set up our visit and interview, Madison corresponds with me from a Disney-princess-themed Gmail address.
Its literally wired into my brain to love Disney, she says.
These days, she comes to Disneyland about once a month, mostly just to shop and eat.
But Madison has been a welcome addition to the mini economy of Disney content creators.
She was into Disney way beforeGirls Next Doorand honestly before there were even Disney influencers.
Besides, are the two empires really that different?
Hef used to compare himself to Walt Disney sometimes.
Im afraid of humans, she says with a laugh.
It was an appealing proposition for a college student who worked at Hooters to pay rent.
(She studied psychology and theater at Loyola Marymount University.)
Which wasnt really the case when I was there.
(Playboy did not respond to Bustle’s request for comment.)
Once we get off the ride, we pass a pink wall and Madisons content-creator brain gets to work.
Its weird this pink door hasnt become an influencer thing, she says, giggling.
I should start it but its bad lighting.
She found a certain relief in being on the other side of the camera.
I was also worried like, Am I going to get in trouble with Hef at the mansion?
She used to love coming here as a kid to rest in the shade.
Its early September when we visit Disneyland,so pumpkins are already dotting the park.
Madison doesnt decorate her house for the season.
Because it always looks like its Halloween, she says, laughing.
Noises and voices you cant explain.
Different apparitions, caught on camera.
Doors opening in the middle of the night.
Weird shadow creatures at the base of her property.
When the kids are with her, she is fully in mom mode.
I wont let anybody else edit it, she explains.
Marquardt says Madison has always had that quiet work ethic.
(Hollys World, about her life leading a Vegas burlesque show, ran on E!
for two seasons.)
Shes also very private.
But nothings too big.
Of all the jobs shes had, Madison identifies most with her writing.
I used to want to be a writer when I was little, she says.
It was the first thing I ever wanted to do.
(InSecrets of Playboylast year, shecompared the mansion to a cultand described rampant nonconsensual photography and videos.)
I already felt like I was public enemy No.
Im just so tired of having to be fake, she continues.
And because I just thought that was the nice thing to do.
As Madison worked on her books and became a mother, she also decided to leave show business.
I was like, I dont want to be in the public eye.
I dont want to talk about Playboy ever again.
I dont want people to think of me like that.
And I felt like I had to totally hide, she says.
Madison figured the public would come calling eventually.
I remember the producer of the show was trying to get me to do a reunion back in 2012.
And Im like, Its too early!
Weve only been off the show for three years!
(Dont hold your breath for that reunion she and Wilkinsondont have much of a relationship.)
I always knew it took like 15 to 20 years for things to fully come back around.
did not respond to Bustle’s request for comment.)
Everything changed during the pandemic, when Madison started posting on YouTube and TikTok.
I really felt like I was connecting with people and having fun with it.
So I just kept doing it.
And now I dont really care so much about getting respect.
I just care about being authentic.
Rodriguez and her friends recently discoveredThe Girls Next Doorand have become obsessed with it.
you’ve got the option to look like that and still be smart.
The younger generation, she says, theyre more open to listening to people.
Shes planning to document her journey on YouTube.
We finally make it to the Haunted Mansion,and Madisons excitement is palpable.
Dang, the line is so short!
she says, sounding more animated than she has all day.
We dont actually get to see the Tightrope Girl painting because sigh theNightmare Before Christmasoverlay is up.
(Foiled again!)
Madison seems different on this ride.
Looser, more relaxed.
Less concerned with being a gracious tour guide.
Just a woman having a little fun.
Perhaps that sounds a bit too on the nose.
But when I ask Madison about whats next on her career wishlist, she demurs.
I cant suspend my disbelief or get invested in any way.
She pauses to think about it, darting her eyes to the side.
I totally feel like theres something out there, she says.
She perks back up.
When I really want to do something, Im really good at accomplishing it and making it happen.
Photographs by Pavielle Garcia
Photo Director: Alex Pollack
SVP Fashion: Tiffany Reid
SVP Creative: Karen Hibbert
