Dirty Diamonds: The Repurposed Life of a Playboy Icon and Cosby Survivor

by Victoria Valentino, Marissa F. Cohen (Editor)

Victoria Valentino, Playboy’s Miss September 1963, one of the Top 100
Centerfolds of the 20th Century’s memoir, Dirty Diamonds takes you inside her
transformative journey as one of the most media-visible Bill Cosby survivors.
We join her throughout the trials and his release; the Sisterhood formed and its
inspirational solidarity opening the floodgates of the #MeToo Movement. In
2014 she first publicly revealed her secret encounter with Bill Cosby and began
an unexpected journey of speaking truth to power, changing laws that would
impact rape culture in our society as we know it. She reflects on her childhood
of domestic abuse, sexual assault and multiple rapes of both body and soul, to
her celebrity as a Playboy Centerfold and Bunny in the first Playboy Club on
the Sunset Strip. While it is celebrity driven, her subsequent sex trafficking
horror, abuse and her journey of healing throughout the rebellious Sixties during
the Viet Nam War, the Civil Rights movement, the Hippy movement, protesting,
acting, dancing, songwriting, folksinging as a single young mother of a racially
mixed son brailling her way through prejudice and rejection is a step back into
iconic times. On the verge of a successful record deal, she suffered the
unspeakable devastation of her little son’s death followed within weeks by
Cosby’s assault. Her survival in itself is astonishing but her determination to not
only survive but to thrive and find deeper meaning in the tragedies of her life is
nothing short of remarkable. It is inspirational. This is a woman’s journey from
objectification to self-actualization. Victoria has taken her tragedies and
repurposed her life through many trials and incarnations finding lessons of
wisdom to impart along the way. Throughout her eight years of sexual assault
activism Victoria has become a muse for many; a recognized public speaker and
advocate for change in our culture. She charges us with the responsibility of
standing tall , “Chin up! Shoulders back!” and speaking our own truths,
following our own Yellow Brick Road home to our authentic selves. Victoria
asks of us all, the never-ending question, “What is the worth of a woman?”

460 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2022

Reviews

[Eirik Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a powerful memoir that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring, I highly recommend Dirty Diamonds: The Repurposed Life of a Playboy Icon and Cosby Survivor by Victoria Valentino. It’s not just about the high-profile Bill Cosby case (though that’s part of her story), but more about her journey through immense personal tragedies, like the loss of her son, and how she transformed her life after years of abuse and exploitation.

Valentino was a Playboy Playmate in the 1960s, but Dirty Diamonds dives deep into her experiences of reclaiming her voice after being silenced for so long. The book is a testament to resilience, healing, and self-discovery. If you’re into survivor stories or narratives about overcoming trauma, this memoir is a must-read. It’s raw, honest, and incredibly moving.

Links for references:
https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Diamonds...
https://www.victoriavalentino.com/

Credit: Victoria Valentino - Survivor