TMZ spoke with Lena Griffin (pictured above left) -- mother of Miss January 2011(pictured above right) -- who tells us her daughter has NEVER been Hef's girlfriend -- adding, "the rumors that they are dating were just for publicity."
Lena explains -- "They met at a party a few years back, but they are JUST FRIENDS. That's what [Hef] means when he says Anna is his 'best girl'"
She adds, "It makes me feel so much better to know there is not any hanky-panky going on."
25-year-old Anna has been linked to the Playboy kingpin ever since his ex-fiancee Crystal Harris ditched him just 5 days before their wedding.
