Playboy Playmates: 45 most famous models who appeared in the magazine

Playboy Playmates: 45 most famous models who appeared in the magazine

Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine famous for publishing provocative content for decades. The magazine is also credited with discovering some of the world's most captivating models who later diversified their careers in the entertainment sector. As a result, numerous iconic singers and Hollywood films began their careers as Playboy Playmates.

Playboy Playmates
Victoria Silvstedt, Carmen Electra, and Marilyn Monroe are among the most famous Playboy Playmates. Photo: @victoriasilvstedtprosecco, @CarmenElectra, @MarilynMonroe on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Playboy magazine has been controversial since Hugh Hefner and his associates established it in 1953. For instance, the American religious community has vocally opposed the publication since 1974, claiming it encourages men to view women as objects and playthings. Playboy has also been banned partially and wholly in several countries, including China, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian countries.

Playboy Playmates and other celebrities who appeared in the magazine

Playboy magazine has featured numerous iconic models and played a significant role in launching and furthering their careers. Here is a list of list of Playboy Playmates featured in this article:

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RankingPlayboy model's name
1.Marilyn Monroe
2.Pamela Anderson
3.Anna Nicole Smith
4.Carmen Electra
5.Jenny McCarthy
6. Shannon Tweed
7.Cindy Crawford
8.Dita Von Teese
9.Jayne Mansfield
10.Barbi Benton
11.Victoria Silvstedt
12.Tiffany Fallon
13.Teri Weigel
14.Sara Jean Underwood
15.Hope Dworaczyk Smith

Most celebrities who posed for Playboy continued being household names in their own right even after they stopped working for the magazine. Below are famous women who posed for Playboy:

1. Marilyn Monroe — American

Playboy Playmates
When Playboy was first published, the inaugural issue featured photos of Marilyn Monroe without clothes. Photo: @MarilynMonroe on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Marilyn Monroe
  • Birthdate: 1 June 1926
  • Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Died: 4 August 1962
  • Place of demise: Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Age: 36 years (at time of death)

Marilyn Monroe was the first ever and one of the classic Playboy Playmates. She appeared on the cover of the debut issue in 1953. Decades after her death, actress Monroe is still recognized as one of the most iconic blonde bombshells in the global entertainment scene.

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Although her personal life was troubled, Marilyn Monroe paved the way for other models to bloom by working with the publication.

2. Pamela Anderson — Canadian

Playboy Playmates
Anderson made regular appearances on Playboy's cover, holding the record for the most Playboy covers by any individual. Photo: @pamelaandersonfoundation on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Pamela Denise Anderson
  • Birthdate: 1 July 1967
  • Age: 57 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Ladysmith, Canada

Canadian-American model Pamela Anderson rose to fame as the featured Playboy Playmate in February 1990 and for portraying "C.J." Parker on Baywatch.

3. Anna Nicole Smith — American

famous playboy centerfolds
Anna Nicole Smith modeled for Playboy and multiple fashion companies, including H&M and Guess. Photo: @annanicolesmithofficial on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Vickie Lynn Marshall
  • Birthdate: 28 November 1967
  • Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
  • Died: 8 February 2007
  • Place of demise: Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood, Florida, United States
  • Age: 39 years (at time of death)

Vickie Marshall (née Hogan), known professionally as Anna Nicole Smith, is among the famous Playboy centerfolds. She started her career as a magazine's centerfold in May 1992 and gained fame when she won the 1993 Playmate of the Year title. Having entered the spotlight with this feature, she modeled for multiple fashion companies, including H&M and Guess.

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4. Carmen Electra — American

Playboy Playmates
Carmen Electra felt honored to be considered a Playboy temptress. Photo: @carmenelectra on Instagram, @CarmenElectra on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Tara Leigh Patrick
  • Birthdate: 20 April 1972
  • Age: 52 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Sharonville, Ohio, United States

Carmen Electra, whose real name is Tara Leigh Patrick, is an American actress. She began her career as a singer after moving to Minneapolis, where she met Prince. He produced her self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 1993.

Singer Carmen Electra first featured on Playboy in 1996 and had four more features before relocating to Los Angeles. She revealed in a Fox News interview that she was honored to be considered a Playboy temptress.

5. Jenny McCarthy — American

Playboy Playmates
Jenny McCarthy was paid $100,000 when she won the Playboy Playmate of the Year title. Photo: @JennyMcCarthyOfficial on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Jennifer Ann McCarthy-Wahlberg
  • Birthdate: 1 November 1972
  • Age: 51 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Evergreen Park, Illinois, United States

Model Jennifer McCarthy was one of the best Playboy Playmates. She began her career in 1993 as the magazine's unclothed model for the October issue, which cost $20,000. The model later became a film star with extensive credits, including John Tucker Must Die and Scream 3.

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McCarthy was later named Playmate of the Year and paid $100,000. The model-turned-actress is also an author with multiple books about parenting. She has been criticized and was labeled an "anti-vaxxer" for opposing vaccines.

6. Shannon Tweed — Canadian

cutest Playboy Playmates
Shannon Tweed is identified with the genre of the adult thriller cinema. Photo: @The beautiful and The best, @celebsgallary on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Shannon Lee Tweed Simmons
  • Birthdate: 10 March 1957
  • Age: 67 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: St. John's, Canada

Canadian model Shannon Tweed was the Playmate of the Year in 1982. She has established a robust career in adult thriller films. She was the partner of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner sometime around 1982, leading to her living in the mansion for fourteen months.

The relationship coincided with her appearances as a Playmate and with her being named 1982 Playmate of the Year. Tweed first met her future husband, musician Gene Simmons, at Hefner's mansion.

7. Cindy Crawford — American

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hottest Playboy Playmates
Cindy Crawford was in numerous fashion campaigns, runways, and magazine covers, including Playboy. Photo: @CindyCrawford on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Cynthia Ann Crawford
  • Birthdate: 20 February 1966
  • Age: 58 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: DeKalb, Illinois, United States

American model Cynthia Ann Crawford was in numerous fashion campaigns, runways, and magazine covers in the 1980s and 1990s, including Playboy. She had two pictorials in the magazine, in 1988 and 1998. Crawford is featured in the docuseries The Super Models alongside Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista.

8. Dita Von Teese — American

Playboy Playmates
Playboy editors misspelled her surname as Von Teese, which she later adopted and became known as Dita Von Teese. Photo: @DitaVonTeese on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Heather Renée Sweet
  • Birthdate: 28 September 1972
  • Age: 52 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Rochester, Michigan, United States

Heather Renée Sweet adopted the stage name Dita after German actress Dita Parlo. While looking for a stage nickname, she picked Von Treese from the phonebook.

Renée was on the cover of Playboy in December 2002, and the editors misspelled her surname as Von Teese, which she later adopted and became known as Dita Von Teese. She is recognized as one of the hottest Playboy Playmates and was featured thrice before she made it to the cover.

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9. Jayne Mansfield — American

most beautiful Playboy Playmates
Jayne Mansfield appeared on Playboys several times and had a relatively brief acting career. Photo: @BeautyMansfield on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Jayne Mansfield
  • Birthdate: 19 April 1933
  • Birthplace: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Died: 29 June 1967
  • Place of demise: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
  • Age: 34 years (at time of death)

Mansfield was an American nightclub entertainer, singer, and actress. Playboy became a success partly because of early appearances from her, Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, and Anita Ekberg. In February 1955, Jayne Mansfield was the Playmate of the Month and appeared in the magazine several times.

10. Barbi Benton — American

hottest playboy playmates
Barbi Benton was in a relationship with Hugh Hefner and appeared in Playboy magazine six times. Photo: @IconicCool, @Top Star 2024 on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Barbara Lynn Klein
  • Birthdate: 28 January 1950
  • Age: 74 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Barbi Benton, born Barbara Lynn Klein, was one of the top Playboy Playmates. At 18, she was on Playboy’s entertainment show, Playboy After Dark. Benton was in a relationship with Hugh Hefner from 1969 to 1976 and appeared in the magazine six times. Barbi has since retired and settled with her husband, George Gradow, but she defends Hefner’s legacy as a man who empowered women.

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11. Victoria Silvstedt — Swedish

classic playboy playmates
Silvstedt has since appeared in various Playboy magazines, including Playboy Special Editions and Playboy Videos. Photo: @victoriasilvstedtprosecco on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Karin Victoria Silvstedt
  • Birthdate: 19 September 1974
  • Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Skelleftehamn, Sweden

Victoria Silvstedt, a Swedish runway and fashion model, was crowned Miss World Sweden in 1993 and represented Sweden in the 1993 Miss World Pageant, finishing in the top ten.

Shortly after, Victoria Silvstedt worked with fashion brands, including Valentino and Armani. Hugh Hefner invited her to do a photoshoot for Playboy in Los Angeles. She became the December 1996 Playmate of the Month and was chosen as the 1997 Playmate of the Year.

12. Tiffany Fallon — American

Playboy Playmates
Stephen Wayda photographed Tiffany Fallon for Playboy. Photo: @TiffanyFallonFanPage on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Tiffany Fallon
  • Birthdate: 1 May 1974
  • Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

The Irish-American model was photographed by Stephen Wayda for Playboy in 2004 and was named Playmate of the Month for December. Tiffany Fallon was also named Playmate of the Year for 2005. The model was crowned Miss Georgia in 2001 and came in third for Miss USA in 2001. She retired from modeling and lived in Brentwood, Tennessee.

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13. Teri Weigel — American

Playboy Playmates
Teri Weigel's transition into adult cinema resulted in Playboy terminating their engagement with her. Photo: @Barry Brecheisen on Getty Images, @iowatheaters.andclubs on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Teri Weigel
  • Birthdate: 24 February 1962
  • Age: 62 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Actress Teri Weigel started modeling on the cover of the November 1985 issue and was the Playboy Playmate for April 1986. She also appeared in several Playboy videos.

Weigel transitioned into minor roles in mainstream movies before becoming an adult film star in 1991. Her transition into adult cinema resulted in Playboy terminating their engagement with her.

14. Sara Jean Underwood — American

Playboy Playmates
She started her modeling career with Playboy. Photo: @saraunderwood on Instagram, @Top Star 2024 on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Sara Jean Underwood
  • Birthdate: 26 March 1984
  • Age: 40 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States

Sara Jean is an actress, adult model, and television host known for hosting Attack of the Show! She started modeling with her October 2005 Playboy feature. Sara Jean was chosen as the Playmate of the Month for the July 2006 issue and later became Playmate of the Year in 2007. Underwood appeared in several episodes of The Girl Next Door on E!.

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15. Hope Dworaczyk Smith — American

best playboy centerfolds
Hope Smith has worked as a runway model, toured for labels such as Versace, and hosted and co-produced Inside Fashion in Canada on the E! channel. Photo: @RealHopeD on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Hope Dworaczyk Smith
  • Birthdate: 21 November 1984
  • Age: 39 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Port Lavaca, Texas, United States

American model Hope Smith was among the best Playboy centerfolds. She began modeling at age 16 when she competed in the Miss Texas Teen USA competition. Dworaczyk was Playboy Playmate of the Month for April 2009 and later became the 2010 Playmate of the Year. Stephen Wayda photographed her 2009 centerfold pictorial.

16. Brande Roderick — American

Playboy Playmates
Brande is known for appearing in the Baywatch TV series and Playboy magazine. Photo: @BrandeRoderick on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Brande Nicole Roderick
  • Birthdate: 13 June 1974
  • Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Novato, California, United States

American model Brande Roderick is known for appearing in the Baywatch TV series and Playboy magazine. In April 2000, she was selected as Playmate of the Month and became Playmate of the Year in 2001.

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17. Madonna — American

Playboy Playmates
Madonna's photos in Penthouse and Playboy magazines caused a media uproar, but she remained "unapologetic and defiant." Photo: @madonna on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Madonna Louise Ciccone
  • Birthdate: 16 August 1958
  • Age: 66 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Bay City, Michigan, United States

The entire persona of singer Madonna has revolved around embracing her sexuality. So, in July 1985, it was no surprise when Penthouse and Playboy magazines published photos of her unclothed.

The images were taken when Madonna Ciccone moonlighted as an art model in 1978. She was paid as little as $25 a session, but the photographs were sold for up to $100,000.

18. Drew Barrymore — American

Playboy Playmates
Drew Barrymore regretted appearing unclothed on the cover of Playboy. Photo: @DrewBarrymore on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Drew Blythe Barrymore
  • Birthdate: 22 February 1975
  • Age: 49 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Culver City, California, United States

American actress Drew Barrymore chose to show off some skin on the 1995 Playboy cover. Soon after, her godfather, Steven Spielberg, gave her a quilt for her 20th birthday with a note that read, "Cover yourself up."

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Enclosed in the quilt were copies of her Playboy pictures, which Spielberg's art department had altered so that she appeared fully clothed. The actress turned her life around and resolved never to let her own child make the same choice.

19. Lindsay Lohan — American

Playboy Playmates
Playboy editor Hugh Hefner said Lindsay Lohan's issue was a breaking sales record. Photo: @LindsayLohan on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Lindsay Dee Lohan
  • Birthdate: 2 July 1986
  • Age: 38 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States

Actress Lindsay Lohan has always managed to snag headlines despite a waning film career. One of her most memorable moments was in the January-February 2012 issue of Playboy magazine, in an editorial mirroring Marilyn Monroe's unclothed photo session from the magazine's first issue.

20. Chelsea Handler — American

Playboy Playmates
Chelsea Handler often receives press coverage for her parody and "thirsty" images on Instagram. Photo: @chelseahandler on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Chelsea Joy Handler
  • Birthdate: 25 February 1975
  • Age: 49 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Livingston, New Jersey, United States

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The American stand-up comedian has never shied away from showing off some skin. In 2009, she posed unclothed for the May issue of Allure magazine. That same year, Chelsea Handler appeared on one of the two covers for the December edition of Playboy. Inside the magazine, Handler posed for an unclothed pictorial.

21. Brooke Shields — American

Playboy Playmates
Brooke Shields already had years of modeling experience when she made the cover of Playboy. Photo: @BrookeShields on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Brooke Christa Shields
  • Birthdate: 31 May 1965
  • Age: 59 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Actress Brooke Shields already had years of modeling experience when she made the cover of Playboy at age 21 in 1986. Brooke began her career as a child model starting at the age of 11 months. She gained widespread notoriety at age 12 for her leading role in the Pretty Baby film, in which she appeared in nude scenes shot when she was 11.

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22. Geri Halliwell — English

Playboy Playmates
Geri Halliwell's nude photo resurfaced on Playboy shortly before leaving the Spice Girls pop group. Photo: @gerihalliwell on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Geraldine Estelle Halliwell-Horner
  • Birthdate: 6 August 1972
  • Age: 52 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Watford, United Kingdom

Geri Halliwell, alias Ginger Spice, was yet another celebrity to end up in Playboy without knowing about it. At 19, she appeared as a Page 3 girl in The Sun. Following her rise to fame, nude photos of Ginger Spice were republished in several magazines, such as Playboy and Penthouse, in 1998, shortly before leaving the pop group.

23. Kate Moss — English

Playboy Playmates
Kate Moss certainly made a statement for Playboy's 60th anniversary. Photo: @gerihalliwell on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Katherine Ann Moss
  • Birthdate: 16 January 1974
  • Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Croydon, United Kingdom

Actress Kate Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her to fashion icon status. Kate graced the 60th-anniversary issue of Playboy in December 2013, wearing the iconic bunny outfit for a mammoth 18-page spread.

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24. Shannen Doherty — American

Playboy Playmates
Shannen Doherty posed unclothed for Playboy before she left Beverly Hills. Photo: @DohertyShannenFans on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Shannen Maria Doherty
  • Birthdate: 12 April 1971
  • Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
  • Died: 13 July 2024
  • Place of demise: Malibu, California, United States
  • Age: 53 years (at time of death)

Shannen Doherty was a good girl on camera and an entirely different person off-camera. Before leaving Beverly Hills, Shannen Doherty posed unclothed for Playboy in December 1993, followed by a spread in March 1994. She posed for the magazine again in December 2003 and was featured in a 10-page pictorial.

25. Sharon Stone — American

Playboy Playmates
Sharon Stone appeared twice on the cover of Playboy. Photo: @patrickgildeahairdressing, @moviestarssps on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Sharon Vonne Stone
  • Birthdate: 10 March 1958
  • Age: 66 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States

Actress Sharon Stone first appeared on Playboy in July 1990 to promote Total Recall, two years before baring it all again for the Christmas issue in 1992. She also graced the June/July 1986 cover of French Vogue to coincide with the release of Total Recall.

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26. Mariah Carey — American

Playboy Playmates
Mariah Carey was not completely unclothed in Playboy but showed off plenty of skin. Photo: @mariahcarey on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Mariah Carey
  • Birthdate: 27 March 1969
  • Age: 55 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Huntington, New York, United States

Singer Mariah Carey appeared on Playboy in March 2007. While she didn't go completely unclothed, the singer showed off plenty of skin. The American singer is known for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register.

27. Charlize Theron — South African

Playboy Playmates
Charlize Theron unsuccessfully sued Playboy magazine for publishing them without her consent. Photo: @charlizetheron on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Charlize Theron
  • Birthdate: 7 August 1975
  • Age: 49 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Benoni, South Africa

Actress Charlize Theron appeared on the cover of a Playboy issue in 1999, prior to her Oscar-winning career and blockbuster headliner days. The photos were taken several years earlier when she was an unknown model. Charlize Theron unsuccessfully sued the magazine for publishing them without her consent.

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28. Denise Richards — American

Playboy Playmates
Denise Richards posed for Playboy unclothed five months after giving birth. Photo: @DeniseRichardsOfficial on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Denise Lee Richards
  • Birthdate: 17 February 1971
  • Age: 53 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Downers Grove, Illinois, United States

American actress Denise Richards rose to prominence with roles in the science fiction film Starship Troopers (1997), the thriller film Wild Things (1998), and the spy film The World Is Not Enough (1999).

She made waves in December 2004 when she posed for Playboy unclothed, five months after giving birth. The actress also posed semi-unclothed for the July 2006 issue of Jane magazine to raise money for the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation.

29. Anna Faris — American

Playboy Playmates
Anna Faris posed for the magazine to promote The House Bunny film. Photo: @AnnaFarisFans on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Anna Kay Faris
  • Birthdate: 29 November 1976
  • Age: 47 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States

American actress Anna Faris rose to prominence with the lead part of Cindy Campbell in the Scary Movie (2000-2006) film series. She posed for the magazine in 2008 to promote The House Bunny film in which she played a Playboy Bunny.

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30. Olivia Munn — American

Playboy Playmates
Olivia Munn was working her way as a television host when she was featured as the cover girl for Playboy. Photo: @gentlebeauties, @IconicCool on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Lisa Olivia Munn
  • Birthdate: 3 July 1980
  • Age: 44 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Actress Olivia Munn appeared on the September 2006 cover of Foam magazine, in the August issue of Men's Edge magazine, and in the November issue of Complex before Playboy decided to have her grace their cover in February 2007.

She also worked her way up as a television host and was the desire of gamers worldwide when she was featured as the cover girl for Playboy's July/August 2009 issue.

31. Jessica Alba — American

Playboy Playmates
Hugh Hefner wrote Jessica Alba a personal apology when Playboy published her photo without her knowledge. Photo: @JessicaAlba on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Jessica Marie Alba
  • Birthdate: 28 April 1981
  • Age: 43 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Pomona, California, United States

Playboy published a photo of Jessica Alba on its cover in 2006 without her knowledge after the actress refused to do a photo shoot for the magazine. Hugh Hefner himself wrote her a personal apology, which she accepted.

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32. Paris Hilton — American

Playboy Playmates
Paris Hilton did not consent to be published in Playboy. Photo: @ParisHilton on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Paris Whitney Hilton
  • Birthdate: 17 February 1981
  • Age: 43 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

American media personality Paris Hilton found herself on the Playboy cover in 2005 without her approval. Her friendship with Hefner was enough to let the matter slide.

33. Azealia Banks — American

Playboy Playmates
Azealia Banks' photos for Playboy were appropriately revealing. Photo: @azealiabanksforever on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Azealia Amanda Banks
  • Birthdate: 31 May 1991
  • Age: 33 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States

Azealia Banks' 2015 photo shoot with Playboy was appropriately revealing. The controversial Harlem rapper began to release music through Myspace in 2008 before signing to XL Recordings at age 18. Azealia Banks subsequently signed with Interscope and Polydor Records before separating in 2013.

34. Kim Kardashian — American

famous Playboy Playmates
Kim Kardashian was on the cover of Playboy magazine’s Romanian issue, promoting a pictorial titled "Poezia Unui Fund Bombat." Photo: @KimKardashian on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Kimberly Noel Kardashian
  • Birthdate: 21 October 1980
  • Age: 43 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

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Kim is one of the most famous Playboy models. She was featured unclothed in the December 2007 issue of the magazine. She was later on the cover of the magazine's Romanian issue. Kim Kardashian tried acting and dancing and was a Dancing With the Stars contestant in 2008. However, she found success as a socialite, businesswoman, and reality TV personality.

35. Denise Matthews — Canadian

Playboy Playmates
Denise Matthews became an evangelist and renounced her career in the secular world. Photo: @Denise Matthews, @denisematthewsestate on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Denise Katherine Matthews
  • Birthdate: 12 April 1971
  • Birthplace: Niagara Falls, Canada
  • Died: 15 February 2016
  • Place of demise: Fremont, California, United States
  • Age: 57 years (at time of death)

Denise Matthews, known professionally as Vanity, was the lead singer of the female trio Vanity 6, created by the musician Prince. She also appeared nude in the April 1988 issue of Playboy magazine and played diverse roles on numerous TV programs.

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Later, Denise Matthews became an evangelist and renounced her career as Vanity in the 1990s. She dedicated the rest of her life full-time to Christ, speaking at churches worldwide.

36. Barbara Carrera — American

Playboy Playmates
Amanda Beard posed for Playboy twice. Photo: @Barbara Carrera on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Barbara Carrera
  • Birthdate: 31 December 1945
  • Age: 78 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: San Carlos, Nicaragua

Amanda moved to the United States to live with her father at 15 and began a career as a model at the Eileen Ford agency at 17. Amanda Beard has appeared on the pages and covers of magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and has twice posed for Playboy (July 1977 and March 1982).

37. Farrah Fawcett — American

famous playboy centerfolds
Farrah Fawcett caused a major stir by posing semi-nude for Playboy. Photo: @Farrahfawcettmemoriesofanangel on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Farrah Leni Fawcett
  • Birthdate: 2 February 1947
  • Birthplace: Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
  • Died: 25 June 2009
  • Place of demise: Santa Monica, California, United States
  • Age: 62 years (at time of death)

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American actress Farrah Fawcett was a four-time Primetime Emmy Award and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee. She caused a major stir by posing semi-nude in the December 1995 issue. At age 50, she appeared in a pictorial for the July 1997 issue, which also became a top seller.

38. Diora Baird — American

Playboy Playmates
Diora Baird's nude photos that were published by Playboy, one of the era's best magazines, made her a star. Photo: @Celebrity Hose, @Pretty.Older.Celebs1 on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Diora Lynn Baird
  • Birthdate: 6 April 1983
  • Age: 41 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States

Diora Baird, famous for being stunningly beautiful and enthusiastic, posed naked for the cover of the August 2005 issue. She turned to Playboy, one of the era's best pictorials, hoping she would be a star. After Diora Baird modeled for Playboys, she was signed to Elite Model Management in Miami and earned acting roles.

39. Tricia Helfer — Canadian

Playboy Playmates
Tricia Helfer's Playboy issue was a big sale because the actress was already famous. Photo: @officialtriciahelfer on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Tricia Janine Helfer
  • Birthdate: 11 April 1974
  • Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Donalda, Canada

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Actress Tricia Helfer is known for portraying Number Six in the science fiction series Battlestar Galactica. She was also featured as the cover model for the February 2007 issue of Playboy. Geeks everywhere rejoiced in 2007 when they spotted their favorite Battlestar Galactica humanoid cylon on the cover.

40. Kiana Tom — American

famous playboy centerfolds
Kiana Tom posed nude for Playboy when she felt it was the right time in her career and felt her body was in the best shape. Photo: @KianaTomwwwkianacom on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Kiana Tom
  • Birthdate: 14 March 1965
  • Age: 59 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Hawaii, United States

Fitness expert Kiana Tom hosted a popular exercise program called Kiana Tom's Flex Appeal on ESPN in the mid- and late-'90s, and many people who watched it were mesmerized by her beauty. Her edition was published in May 2002 and is one of the least subtle the magazine has ever run.

41. Charisma Carpenter — American

Playboy Playmates
Charisma Carpenter posed nude for Playboy but does not view herself as a sex symbol. Photo: @CharismaCarpenterOfficial on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Charisma Carpenter
  • Birthdate: 23 July 1970
  • Age: 54 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

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Actress Charisma Carpenter gained fans after playing Cordelia Chase in the supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel. Playboy didn't know her run on Angel was wrapping up when they published her photos on the cover and in a ten-page nude pictorial of the June 2004 issue.

42. Aubrey O'Day — American

famous playboy centerfolds
Aubrey O'Day posed for Playboy amid rumors of her being ousted from her music group. Photo: @CharismaCarpenterOfficial on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Aubrey Morgan O'Day
  • Birthdate: 11 February 1984
  • Age: 40 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Actress Aubrey O'Day was a member of the girl group Danity Kane. At the height of the drama surrounding her firing from the group in 2008, Aubrey posed unclothed for Playboy's March 2009 issue, making people forget about Danity Kane and focus on her. The group reunited in 2013 before a second disbandment.

43. Garcelle Beauvais — Haitian

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Playboy Playmates
Garcelle Beauvais appeared in Playboy at the age of 40 years. Photo: @garcelleb on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Garcelle Beauvais
  • Birthdate: 26 November 1966
  • Age: 57 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Saint-Marc, Haiti

Beauvais was a successful model for several years before landing the role of Fancy Monroe on The Jamie Foxx Show, which made her famous. Her role ran from 1996 to 2001. She went on to be a regular on NYPD Blue, and at the age of 40, Garcelle Beauvais appeared in Playboy.

44. Nicole "Coco" Austin — American

Playboy Playmates
Nicole Marrow's star was on the rise when she began working for events and parties at the Playboy Mansion. Photo: @Coco on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Nicole Natalie Marrow
  • Birthdate: 17 March 1979
  • Age: 45 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, United States

Nicole Marrow is commonly known as Coco Austin, Coco, Coco Marie Austin, Coco Marie, and Coco-T. Her star was rising when she began working for events and parties at the Playboy Mansion in 2001. Eventually, Nicole Marrow was featured in a layout in the March 2008 issue of Playboy magazine.

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45. Sherilyn Fenn — American

famous playboy centerfolds
Playboy did a shoot with Fenn when she was the femme fatale on TV's hottest show. Photo: @AlvinJohnsonPhotography, @welcometotwinpeaks on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Sherilyn Fenn
  • Birthdate: 1 February 1965
  • Age: 59 years (as of 2024)
  • Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

American actress Sherilyn Fenn was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy for playing Audrey Horne on Twin Peaks. Playboy did a shoot with her in December 1990 in the middle of Twin Peaks' run. At the time, she was the femme fatale on TV's hottest show.

List of Playmates of the Year

Here is a list of models who were chosen as Playboy Playmate of the Year for the American edition of Playboy magazine:

YearPlayboy Playmate of the Year
1953Marilyn Monroe
1960Ellen Stratton
1961Linda Gamble
1962Christa Speck
1963June Cochran
1964Donna Michelle
1965Jo Collins
1966Allison Parks
1967Lisa Baker
1968Angela Dorian
1969Connie Kreski
1970Claudia Jennings
19781Sharon Clark
1972Liv Lindeland
1973Marilyn Cole
1974Cyndi Wood
1975Marilyn Lange
1976Lillian Müller
1977Patti McGuire
1978Debra Jo Fondren

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YearPlayboy Playmate of the Year
1979Monique St. Pierre
1980Dorothy Stratten
1981Terri Welles
1982Shannon Tweed
1983Marianne Gravatte
1984Barbara Edwards
1985Karen Velez
1986Kathy Shower
1987Donna Edmondson
1988India Allen
1989Kimberley Conrad
1990Reneé Tenison
1991Lisa Matthews
1992Corinna Harney
1993Anna Nicole Smith
1994Jenny McCarthy
1995Julie Lynn Cialini
1996Stacy Sanches
1997Victoria Silvstedt
1998Karen McDougal

YearPlayboy Playmate of the Year
1999Heather Kozar
2000Jodi Ann Paterson
2001Brande Roderick
2002Dalene Kurtis
2003Christina Santiago
2004Carmella DeCesare
2005Tiffany Fallon
2006Kara Monaco
2007Sara Jean Underwood
2008Jayde Nicole
2009Ida Ljungqvist
2010Hope Dworaczyk
2011Claire Sinclair
2012Jaclyn Swedberg
2013Raquel Pomplun
2014Kennedy Summers
2015Dani Mathers
2016Eugena Washington
2017Brook Power
2018Nina Daniele
2019Jordan Emanuel
2020Vendela, Megan Moore, Miki Hamano, Fo Porter, Abigail O'Neill, Yoli Lara
2020Teela LaRoux, Geena Rocero, Sophie O'Neil, Hilda Dias Pimentel, Gillian Chan, Jordy Murray

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Playboy did not have a Playmate of the Year between 1954 and 1959. Meanwhile, the twelve models who won the title in 2020 were Vendela, Megan Moore, Miki Hamano, Fo Porter, Abigail O'Neill, Yoli Lara, Teela LaRoux, Geena Rocero, Sophie O'Neil, Hilda Dias Pimentel, Gillian Chan, and Jordy Murray.

Who was the first celebrity to pose for Playboy?

When Playboy was first published in 1953, the inaugural issue featured nude photos of Marilyn Monroe. It was notably left undated because the magazine's founder, Hugh Hefner, didn't know if there would be a second issue.

Who was the last celebrity to pose for Playboy?

Pamela Anderson, the 2015 Playboy cover model, was the last person to pose nude for the magazine, closing a more than 60-year tradition that had seen women ranging from Madonna to Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford strip off for the glossy men's publication.

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Who was the last Playboy Playmate of the Year winner?

Jordan Emanuel was the last Playmate of the Year in 2019. The magazine stopped crowning its models the Playmate of the Year title afterward. All the twelve Playboy models of the year 2020 were honored with the Playmate of the Year title. None else has been given this crown since then.

How much do celebrities get paid to pose for Playboy?

The magazine typically pays its models more than the standard $25,000, and celebrities in Playboy who pose nude are paid hundreds of thousands up to millions of US Dollars.

Beautiful women have graced Playboy magazine's pages since its first issue in 1953, with some winning the Playboy Playmate of the Month or Year titles. The models became symbols of beauty, sensuality, and empowerment as their photos inspired generations of women to embrace their forms of self-expression.

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30 tallest actresses in the world: women of impressive stature

Legit.ng published a list of the most attractive female models under 25. In the fashion world, fresh faces and vibrant talent illuminate the runways, grace magazine covers, and redefine beauty standards. Young faces in the fashion industry are the faces of change, challenging industry norms and championing inclusivity and authenticity in fashion.

Read more about the top female models in the world below 25. These rising stars set the industry ablaze with their charisma, style, and unparalleled runway presence. From their meteoric rise to their groundbreaking campaigns, these models represent a new generation of beauty, diversity, and empowerment.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Peris Walubengo avatar

Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 3 years of experience in writing informational and entertainment articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi (class of 2019). She joined Legit.ng in April 2022. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies and video game reviews, culture & traveling. In 2023, Peris finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: perisrodah254@gmail.com.

Wilbroda Onyango avatar

Wilbroda Onyango (Lifestyle writer) Wilbroda Onyango is a content creator and writer with over 4 years of experience. She has worked as an entertainment journalist, creating content across over 5 African countries, most notably for Zalebs.com, Young, Gifted & Blacc, and Africa New Media Group. Wilbroda joined Legit.com as a writer in June 2022, covering celebrity biographies, guides and listicles for Ask Legit. In 2023, Wilbroda finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: akinyionyango@yahoo.com