Playmate

A Playmate is a female model featured in Playboy magazine main article and centerfold poster, often displaying nudity. A playmate, always 18 years or older, is chosen every month to be the Playmate of the month. In the end of the year, one of the twelve is nominated Playmate of the year. Sometimes Playboy's editors choose a special anniversary playmate to celebrate a milestone year of the magazine. The article about the playmate of the month includes, besides the nudity photographs, a short interview on the woman's likes and dislikes, as well as a short biography. Playmates are paid US$ 25,000 and the playmate of the year receives an additional US$ 100,000 plus a car. As of December 2002, 589 women had appeared in Playboy as playmates.

The magazine's philosophy is to choose women that look like the girl next door, meaning not a fashionable star, but the average woman. Due to this, the playmates are women of every social strata, from different professions, countries and backgrounds. Readers are encouraged to send pictures of their girlfriends and wives, or their own art work. The Playboy photographers and Hugh Hefner then decide who is the lucky candidate. The playmate of the year is chosen personally by Hugh Hefner, who takes in account the readers poll.

The first playmate of the month appeared in the January 1954 edition and was Margie Harrison. However, the concept of centerfold poster appeared only in March 1956 and featured Marian Stafford. Despite the nudity displayed by all playmates, the first time a playmate's pubic hairs were included in a picture was only on January 1971, a fact that caused enormous controversy.

Normally a woman only features as playmate once, but sometimes the honour is given two or three times. Margaret Scott and Janet Pilgrim are record holders (three times each in the 1950s). Twins appeared together as playmates in some editions and the Dahm triplets featured on the December 1998 issue.

Famous playmates

Note: Marilyn Monroe was Sweetheart of the Month, not playmate