This week's featured photo is a breathtaking shot of some of my favorite Playboy twins, the recent Misses December 2003, Sarah and Deisy Teles. The minute I heard the news that these brilliant Brazilian twins would be Playmates, it excited me to the point where I wished for a dynamic posing style similar to the Bernaola twins of 2000. Great chemistry makes great duos, and Sarah and Deisy were no different.
This shot is from their portfolio series, and depicts them taking an outdoor beachside shower. I loved the premise of the sudsy set, since it allowed both girls to really play off each other and feed off of the intense sexual aura by touching each other and lathering each other down. The result was a shot like this one. I always love it when two girls go back to back and almost show a 360-degree view of their bodies, and these twins have almost identical bodies with awesome features. The girls grind up against each other in this pictorial in a pseudo-sexual pose, while Sarah's soaped-up ass is front-and-center. The sense of pleasure in Deisy's facial expression is very awesome, and it's just an overall natural shot full of passion. Beautiful!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
CGOM Movers and Shakers
The Cyber Girl year comes to an end with all of the monthly contenders in for the final race. The Cyber Girl of the Year is an especially important race, since the winner shows us her goods for an entire year, month-by-month in extensive pictorials. We're getting Breann McGregor right now, and we have to unfortunately endure her monotony and lack of variety month after month. Maybe next year we can do better, folks?
That's why I urge you all to vote for CGOY, including regular Playmate voting. The year closed out with Brie Anna, a lovely girl. I'm on the verge of working on a Cyber Girl review of candidates for CGOY 2008, so stay tuned for a complete review and ranking of the contenders for this crucial award.
In the meantime, let's run down the next couple of months and the pictorials that I think will win these CGOW's their monthly nominations for the next race. These girls, in my opinion, should be immediate contenders for CGOY 2009, so let's get an early start on the new year!
January 2008 - Meghan Allen
I mentioned Meghan a while back when her striking beauty caused me to notice her over Francessca DeMarco in September. Meghan is awesomely proportioned, has gorgeous hair, and incredible, piercing eyes. She might look like a prototypical blond girl at first, but look closer and she's really quite nice to look at. I'm just itching to see next month when we find out the winner... and the thought of Meghan in a whole series of month-long pictorials makes me want to ring in the new year with hope. She'd be a great contender for CGOY 2009, also. Look at this shot and I dare you to tell me otherwise!
Other Scores:
Angi Mari Yangas - B
Francessca DeMarco - B+
Maryann Murray - C
Consensus... A-
Meghan Allen
Cyber Girl of the Week
September 2007
February 2008 - Caitlin Ferguson
Caitlin came out on top for me in a tough to call race in October, where she went neck-and-neck with Melany Denyse, a brunette cutie with a fantastic body. But it was Miss Ferguson's whimsical look, pretty face, and great posing style which garner her major points for the narrow win. Neither of these two girls are real CGOY contenders, but Caitlin pulled out a narrow victory in my mind. Her pictorial was just plain hotter, and her sexy outfit was really a sight to see. She knows how to strike some pouty poses, as well, really working the camera with her slim figure. While it's obvious that Melany had the better body, it's easy to figure out what I prize most in my Playboy girls, and that's talent over physique any day.
Other Scores:
Debbi Davids - B-
Amanda Hanshaw - C+
Sara Stokes - C
Melany Denyse - B+
Consensus... B+
Caitlin Ferguson
Cyber Girl of the Week
October 2007
March 2008 - Trina Marie
I've said it once and I'll say it again: Trina Marie has one of the most impressive CGOW pictorials I've ever seen. The buzz says it true: fans are crazy about Trina, a San Mateo, CA audition candidate who's apparently been picked for a great opportunity. Watch out, everybody, this one's a keeper. Not only should Trina most definitely be Cyber Girl of the Month for March, but perhaps she should be CGOY for 2009. Yes, she's that good from just her first, and unless she really finds some way to misallocate all of her wonderful talent, she just might be a shoo-in after her monthly pictorials come out. You may remember me giving Trina's pictorial rave reviews when it came out in this article. I'm still crossing my fingers that she gets the pick with her radiant beauty and awesome skills. She's got some worrisome competition from April Ireland, and it's the only thing that could stand in her way. Problem is, we're going to have to wait until March to find out.
Other Scores:
Amanda Batt - C-
April Ireland - B+
Kristy Joe - C+
Consensus... A
Trina Marie
Cyber Girl of the Week
November 2007
April 2008 - Adrianna Kroplewska
The girls of December look like a great bunch with beauty and grace, but it was Adrianna who really dazzled me the most. Sure, there's another entrant left to be discovered for next week, but I can't help but declare Adrianna the winner. Adrianna has a wonderful face and a finely sculpted body that already looks like it belongs in the CGOY 2009 race. But let me stress this: her face is really striking. Maybe it's some sort of European genetics or something, but Adrianna is amazingly hot. She works the camera like a Playmate but exudes all the sex that a Cyber Girl would have. A real contender for 2009, indeed.
Other Scores:
Destiny White - B
Erica Lee Chevillar - B-
Ashley Lynn - B
Shelley Russell - TBD
Consensus... B+
Adrianna Kroplewska
Cyber Girl of the Week
December 2007
That's why I urge you all to vote for CGOY, including regular Playmate voting. The year closed out with Brie Anna, a lovely girl. I'm on the verge of working on a Cyber Girl review of candidates for CGOY 2008, so stay tuned for a complete review and ranking of the contenders for this crucial award.
In the meantime, let's run down the next couple of months and the pictorials that I think will win these CGOW's their monthly nominations for the next race. These girls, in my opinion, should be immediate contenders for CGOY 2009, so let's get an early start on the new year!
January 2008 - Meghan Allen
I mentioned Meghan a while back when her striking beauty caused me to notice her over Francessca DeMarco in September. Meghan is awesomely proportioned, has gorgeous hair, and incredible, piercing eyes. She might look like a prototypical blond girl at first, but look closer and she's really quite nice to look at. I'm just itching to see next month when we find out the winner... and the thought of Meghan in a whole series of month-long pictorials makes me want to ring in the new year with hope. She'd be a great contender for CGOY 2009, also. Look at this shot and I dare you to tell me otherwise!
Other Scores:
Angi Mari Yangas - B
Francessca DeMarco - B+
Maryann Murray - C
Consensus... A-
Meghan Allen
Cyber Girl of the Week
September 2007
February 2008 - Caitlin Ferguson
Caitlin came out on top for me in a tough to call race in October, where she went neck-and-neck with Melany Denyse, a brunette cutie with a fantastic body. But it was Miss Ferguson's whimsical look, pretty face, and great posing style which garner her major points for the narrow win. Neither of these two girls are real CGOY contenders, but Caitlin pulled out a narrow victory in my mind. Her pictorial was just plain hotter, and her sexy outfit was really a sight to see. She knows how to strike some pouty poses, as well, really working the camera with her slim figure. While it's obvious that Melany had the better body, it's easy to figure out what I prize most in my Playboy girls, and that's talent over physique any day.
Other Scores:
Debbi Davids - B-
Amanda Hanshaw - C+
Sara Stokes - C
Melany Denyse - B+
Consensus... B+
Caitlin Ferguson
Cyber Girl of the Week
October 2007
March 2008 - Trina Marie
I've said it once and I'll say it again: Trina Marie has one of the most impressive CGOW pictorials I've ever seen. The buzz says it true: fans are crazy about Trina, a San Mateo, CA audition candidate who's apparently been picked for a great opportunity. Watch out, everybody, this one's a keeper. Not only should Trina most definitely be Cyber Girl of the Month for March, but perhaps she should be CGOY for 2009. Yes, she's that good from just her first, and unless she really finds some way to misallocate all of her wonderful talent, she just might be a shoo-in after her monthly pictorials come out. You may remember me giving Trina's pictorial rave reviews when it came out in this article. I'm still crossing my fingers that she gets the pick with her radiant beauty and awesome skills. She's got some worrisome competition from April Ireland, and it's the only thing that could stand in her way. Problem is, we're going to have to wait until March to find out.
Other Scores:
Amanda Batt - C-
April Ireland - B+
Kristy Joe - C+
Consensus... A
Trina Marie
Cyber Girl of the Week
November 2007
April 2008 - Adrianna Kroplewska
The girls of December look like a great bunch with beauty and grace, but it was Adrianna who really dazzled me the most. Sure, there's another entrant left to be discovered for next week, but I can't help but declare Adrianna the winner. Adrianna has a wonderful face and a finely sculpted body that already looks like it belongs in the CGOY 2009 race. But let me stress this: her face is really striking. Maybe it's some sort of European genetics or something, but Adrianna is amazingly hot. She works the camera like a Playmate but exudes all the sex that a Cyber Girl would have. A real contender for 2009, indeed.
Other Scores:
Destiny White - B
Erica Lee Chevillar - B-
Ashley Lynn - B
Shelley Russell - TBD
Consensus... B+
Adrianna Kroplewska
Cyber Girl of the Week
December 2007
Featured Photo - 12/23
I thought I'd start a new feature on this blog, titled "Featured Photo," where I post outright a classic photo that I think is one of the most influential or well-produced and captured photos in recent memory. These photos have to be the cream of the crop, either bringing up names of relatively unknown Playboy models or seasoned Playmates, doing what they do best and striking a pose that can only be struck once in a lifetime. I'll present these about weekly, although they may be further in between occasionally.
So for my first entry, here you have it -
This photo by Teri Marie Harrison, Miss October 2002, is her very best and one of the edgiest and most surprising photos in Playboy's past. Playboy is a world where the girls often cite their sexual interests, and often even intimate about them in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, but rarely put it on display. Sure, the gals get naked, but there's more to it than that... it's working the camera and showing it. In this photograph, Teri really made it hers. She took the vibrator into her underwear without turning it too lewd or crossing the line of classiness, while maintaining an air of incredible sexuality and feminine power. The outfit complements her fantastically, and Teri is also one of the best Playmates to come out in the past 10 years, so that doesn't hurt, either. Take a look at that facial expression, and it says it all -- this girl is having a good time.
So for my first entry, here you have it -
This photo by Teri Marie Harrison, Miss October 2002, is her very best and one of the edgiest and most surprising photos in Playboy's past. Playboy is a world where the girls often cite their sexual interests, and often even intimate about them in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, but rarely put it on display. Sure, the gals get naked, but there's more to it than that... it's working the camera and showing it. In this photograph, Teri really made it hers. She took the vibrator into her underwear without turning it too lewd or crossing the line of classiness, while maintaining an air of incredible sexuality and feminine power. The outfit complements her fantastically, and Teri is also one of the best Playmates to come out in the past 10 years, so that doesn't hurt, either. Take a look at that facial expression, and it says it all -- this girl is having a good time.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
2008 Playmate of the Year Candidates
Yes, it is early December. And yes, Playboy doesn't award its prestigious Playmate of the Year award until May of the award year. But we've just closed out a year of lovely beauties, and there's no reason not to pick a frontrunner this early on. As the buzz sets in, I'll keep everyone updated on what the big user picks are, but as for right now, it's time for us to remember 2007 and see how it all unfolded...
Jayde Nicole - Miss January 2007
Jayde was a surprising new face in a field of small-breasted blondes which was the trend for 2006. Instead, this dark haired angel came on with lustrous, sparkling eyes and a wintertime pictorial that charmed and shone all throughout January.
The Good: Jayde's beautiful face and eyes are the centerpiece of her pictorials, not to mention her slim frame and excellent butt. Her gorgeous eyes and awesome ass can be seen here. Of course, if it wasn't for Jayde's intense sexuality, she probably wouldn't be a prime PMOY contender, but she absolutely is. This shot with legs wide open tells the story of Jayde's wild side.
The Bad: Jayde's figure is indeed a bit slim and she could use some more curves up front. Her breasts are a tad small but well-proportioned for her style and look. She's also a little bit inconsistent in her posing, but not enough to be overly concerned.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: B
Face: A
Pictorial: B+
Overall: B+
Heather Rene Smith - Miss February 2007
Injecting a long-haired Californian blonde is common Playboy fare, and it had to be done early on this year before the real fireworks started. Heather is an on-and-off poser with a very pretty face and a body that could kill... literally. With such a muscular physique and some excellent talent, Heather was definitely a fun girl to look at... no doubt about it.
The Good: Let's not beat around the bush: Heather Smith's body is phenomenal. It could take the cake as one of the smoothest, finest bodies I've ever seen. That alone is enough to garner her lots of accolades. I absolutely love these shining, glistening photos of her simply hanging around. She certainly takes care of that body, and her front and back are just perfect. And she closes out her pictorial wonderfully, and effortlessly cuts a beautiful centerfold.
The Bad: There's one major thing that keeps Heather from being a true PMOY contender: she's ultimately forgettable. Not that her body needs any more praise or backing from me, but her face doesn't always deliver. She also is extremely inconsistent in posing... the photos I picked out are just about the only spectacular ones. She hasn't garnered much attention from the fans because of her platinum blonde look, as well. If physique were the only criterion in this contest, it's probably be Heather hands-down.
Consensus...
Posing: C+
Body: A+
Face: B-
Pictorial: B-
Overall: B
Tyran Richard - Miss March 2007
Coming in for March was 24-year old Cajun queen Tyran Richard, who was a breath of fresh air after bright-eyed and polished girls like Jayde and Heather. Tyran was more mature and incredibly sexual in her photos. At the time, she was surely winning fans over with her intense posing abilities, and she got me into it, too.
The Good: Looking at her photos, you'd be hard pressed not to notice that Tyran has got amazing posing talent. Bedroom lingerie shots like this one transitioning into this dim-light curvy sight were sumptuous and incredible. Tyran delivers with incredible sexuality - something that couldn't be completely palpable with the first two girls.
The Bad: Tyran might look a tad bit too mature in some of her photos, like her centerfold. It's almost too uptight and professional at times... sometimes you just want to sit back and see Tyran let loose, but the honesty just doesn't come through in some photos, keeping her looking emotionally too old (certainly not like a 24 year old girl).
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: B+
Face: B
Pictorial: A-
Overall: B+
Giuliana Marino - Miss April 2007
In April we got a taste of German Playmates, and the first German superstar since Janine Habeck of last year was German PMOY Giuliana Marino. Although her centerfold was impeccable and I can see how the Germans reacted to such a beauty, her bubbly, feminine nature still leaves something to be desired. However, for fans, she has received very good reaction and may gain a slim edge there.
The Good: As mentioned, Giuliana is an excellently feminine specimen of a model. Her full lips and pretty face are great, and her spunk and energy make her great in a pictorial or video setting. Costuming is key with Giuliana, with great photos coming with proper lingerie or just a setting where she looks like she's having fun.
The Bad: For me, Giuliana just doesn't do it. She doesn't have the Playmate magic to even begin to contend for PMOY, and she doesn't even have what it takes to be PMOM, in my opinion. She's just not that special in her looks, and if the Germans saw something in her, then they must have viewed a different Giuliana than was presented to us in the States. I think it's all in the pictorial, as a Playmate is only as great as the photos shot of her - and Miss Marino's pictorials aren't anything to write home about.
Consensus...
Posing: B-
Body: B-
Face: B+
Pictorial: C
Overall: C+
Shannon James - Miss May 2007
May brought it on, and at first, they were going for what looked to be a typical platinum blonde to fill in the "Hefmate" gap that was missing so far this year. But instead, they gave us Shannon James, a stunning blonde, and one of the very best up-and-coming beauties in Playboy. Howard Stern found Shannon on his show, and identified her as a potential superstar, and boy, was he right.
The Good: Shannon's allure lies in her great pictorial for May and her excellent photogenic qualities. She just shines in front of the camera, and was an excellent Playmate pick for the spring, since her colors and qualities meshed with the season perfectly. Shannon did a great job of changing settings in her pictorial, with great ones from the rainstorm, the pool parlor, and just lounging around. Shannon's hair, the look in her eyes, and her flawless posing make her a great candidate.
The Bad: Shannon's proportions aren't anything special, and she's a bit too slim for her size. However, those can be overlooked because of her pretty nature. Aside from that, there's little to complain about, because her posing is consistent even if she changes pictorial themes and outfits.
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: B-
Face: A-
Pictorial: A+
Overall: A-
Brittany Binger - Miss June 2007
Halfway through the year, we found Playboy keeping things fresh with yet another amazing pick. Brittany was sexy, unique, and sultry all at the same time. Her personality came out in her pictorials and her smile and exotic qualities made her quite the catch. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Brittany was her strong pictorial, which blended some old techniques and new concepts to create a mighty interesting batch.
The Good: Brittany's pictorial, that's what's mighty good. Here's a girl who can take on many different looks, from sexy siren to golden-brown beach girl. Then she can turn it all around and be a typical girl next door with a commanding presence. And boy, does that look want to make you melt. Brittany has a way of looking at the camera in a demanding, angry sort of way that makes you want to smile. And if you haven't noticed already, take a look at her ridiculous proportions, and you'll wonder what kind of genetics there had to be to bring about such an unexpectedly hot woman.
The Bad: Bad? What? There's almost nothing bad about Brittany, but if you must insist, her smile is sometimes a little too much, and her face doesn't always proportionally stack up well. However, her inconsistent posing is made up for by the fact that she does some mighty awesome posing much of the time.
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: A-
Face: B+
Pictorial: A+
Overall: A
Tiffany Selby - Miss July 2007
In the summertime, Playmates have a different feel: they're tanned, they have beach pictorials, and their production gives it a bright tinge of summer fun. Tiffany had all of that in July, but she just didn't have enough to stand apart from the crowd. A tanned Florida beauty with plenty of spunk and beauty, she would thrive in any lesser year, but she turned out to be a Hef-type blonde without a whole lot of uniqueness to offer. The question is: how does she stack up against competition in 2007?
The Good: Tiffany is tall (5' 7") and slim, and has a hard, smooth body and a beautiful tan. She's just beautiful, a platinum blonde beach girl from head to toe. Photos of her behind make it obvious that she's probably got one of the hardest bodies so far this year, maybe only second to Heather. Curves and class are what Tiffany offers, and her face is beautiful, as well. Tiffany's last few photos are what got me really excited: does she look like a bronzed goddess, or what?
The Bad: While stacked to the max and incredibly pretty, Tiffany doesn't get the job done when it comes to "wowing" the crowd. She does her part in her pictorial and looks great doing it, even with the right dose of sex in addition to her polished posing ability. But not once in her pictorial do you go: I'll remember this one afterwards. Yet another pretty but forgettable blonde.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: A
Face: B
Pictorial: B
Overall: B
Tamara Sky - Miss August 2007
A lovely Puerto Rican DJ named Tamara greeted us in August, mixing things up with a sultry and exotic flavor that was a great addition to a year with already so much variety. Tamara has a different sort of look, and definitely brought something new to the table for PMOY consideration, and from the looks of it, her fan base is steadily growing.
The Good: One thing's for sure: stacked, curvy bodies are the new thing for this generation of Playmates. Big breasts, big butts, and big curves put together the modern Playmate, and Tamara's body is an archetype of the fact. Tamara's body is phenomenal and as twisty and turny as you can get. Her face is also exotic, and those pouty lips and engaging eyes complement her body very well. I think that Tamara is really at her best when she's turned around, because as her awesome centerfold shows, her butt is breathtaking.
The Bad: Tamara seems to be all attitude, but no emotion. She barely ever smiles, barely even has great posing positions, and doesn't really hit all the pictorial segments you want her to. Like I said, she's best photographed from the back, but from the front, she's just mediocre. Her exotic appeal doesn't even carry her through the moments where she isn't all that special, and she's not pretty enough to make up for her horrible posing. It's a shame that these features drag her down.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: A
Face: B-
Pictorial: C+
Overall: C+
Patrice Hollis - Miss September 2007
Mixing it up yet again with an ebony beauty, Patrice Hollis took centerstage in September. She instantly became a bit of a fan favorite after creating a buzz with her all-natural and buxom body and her piercing looks and posing ability. She definitely put a new twist on the 2007 race, and cashed her checks with style and class. Invariably, black Playmates have to contend with being compared with great black Playmates of the past, like Neferteri Shepherd or Nicole Narain. So how did she stack up?
The Good: All-natural is the word to describe Patrice. In a world of non-natural girls all over the place, Patrice comes in with natural DDD breasts. Her body is great and voluptuous, and she poses like a professional, taking great candid shots and playful ones, as well. And did I mention Patrice has a great body? She can work it with attitude, and that's something that Playmates have to have in order to be superstars.
The Bad: Patrice isn't all that she possibly could be. She poses and looks great... most of the time. She's often inconsistent, doesn't always have the right moves, and her body isn't completely flawless, either. She has the voluptuous front side, but what happened to her ass in some of the pictures? It's like it disappears and returns again and again. It's hard to see a Playmate who you can't decide is good or not... it's frustrating because she could be so much better if her pictorial was more consistent.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: B+
Face: B
Pictorial: C+
Overall: B-
Spencer Scott - Miss October 2007
A southern blonde with big features and a big smile came in for October, and instantly she became a major fan favorite. Several fans immediately signed on and the buzz was enormous for this cute young talent from northern Florida. It was especially overwhelming to see how much press she got unexpectedly, but obviously it was something in her pictorials which got everyone so riled up to vote. She's definitely a major player for PMOY, so she's worth a deep look into what makes her tick.
The Good: Spencer is beautiful and bright, and certainly everything a busty southern blonde should be. She has gorgeous hazel eyes, a smile that kills, and a body with huge breasts, a great set of thighs, and an exceptional smoothness to her skin. They're all things that make Spencer outrageously photogenic, and that has got to be her claim to fame with all her fans. She just looks very very good in front of the camera. Have I gotten the point across yet? Look at her pictorial and get a sense of her slick style, and tell me that it doesn't work to perfection.
The Bad: I rated Spencer a C+ weeks ago when I saw her pictorials, and I had a sense that her preview pictorial had even more to offer than her portfolio entry. I still have that feeling that Spencer isn't PMOY material, simply because she hasn't shown me enough. Her posing ability is absolutely mediocre, she hasn't got a clue how to work the camera sexually (like a professional would), and her body doesn't impress me much, either. In an era of curves that sell sex, Spencer hasn't got many to offer. She's voluptuous and hot, but where are the curves to accentuate all those great features? There aren't any. There's a case to be made against Spencer, and I make it by pointing out that she simply isn't a star.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: B
Face: A-
Pictorial: C+
Overall: B-
Lindsay Wagner - Miss November 2007
Moving towards the end of the year, Playboy dealt yet another blonde, and this one was cutie Lindsay Wagner of Nebraska. One thing you could gather immediately from looking at Lindsay's pictorials was that she was buff. And I mean buff. Her strict workout regimen has given her an incredibly hard body with golden features. Lindsay is one tough cookie, and to be able to roll with this impressive class of 2007, she would need to muscle her way through the competition, as well.
The Good: The body. The body of the year? Perhaps. Lindsay is exceptionally slim and has washboard abs and sexy biceps. She's also got a lovely face and looks amazing in front of a camera when she's got her poses right. She drips with sweat and looks like a goddess all while doing it. Lindsay also has a very photogenic face and comes off as a sweet girl with energy and charisma. And she has a way of giving the camera "the look." It's quite gripping. Here it is again.
The Bad: Lindsay, albeit her tough exterior, is very mediocre, following a trend of a couple of mediocre Playmates to close out the year. She's not an incredible poser, and rarely makes those hit poses that she can do so very well when she hits them. Although her body is tough, maybe it's too tough at times, coming off excessively muscular and non-feminine. Lindsay has a tendency to look like totally different girls in different settings, and that's too bad because she can do one pose so well while completely botching a different one. They're all reasons why Lindsay will find it very difficult to roll with the crowd come PMOY selection time.
Consensus...
Posing: C+
Body: A
Face: B+
Pictorial: B-
Overall: B-
Sasckya Porto - Miss December 2007
The year chimed in with a disappointing end, especially considering the strong start it had. Great new Playmates gave way to mediocrity and finished it off fittingly. Sasckya is a forgettable Playmate, with very little fan buzz and very little chance for contention for PMOY. Oftentimes Playboy will save their best for December, which is why it has perennially been a key month and an exciting time of year. However, it wasn't the case this time, as promising preview photos made way for an extremely mediocre entry.
The Good: Sasckya has her moments, but they are very few and far between. She looks to be exotic at times, with her nice lingerie and getting sexually charged for the camera. Her in your face shots towards the end can excite a bit, but they do fall short ultimately.
The Bad: Where to begin... Sasckya has a body that just looks better with clothes on. Not that she's ugly, but it's just that her curves don't mesh and they seriously are not appealing. Also, Sasckya has an awkward posing style, doesn't know how to stay consistent, and her face is on and off in terms of attractiveness. An extremely forgettable Playmate, Sasckya is too tall and too voluptuous for the part, and seems to overpower the camera and lacks any sense of subtlety whatsoever.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: C+
Face: C
Pictorial: B-
Overall: C-
There you have it, folks. Twelve girls, twelve stories, and twelve different ratings. The official Playmate of the Year race doesn't heat up until April 2008, but it doesn't hurt to get an early start on voting and analysis. I'll keep everyone updated on the buzz surrounding the race as it goes on, and I'll put my two cents in on how the race should be going based on model qualities and what not.
The Class of 2007 will go down as one that started like a lion and went out like a lamb. There were some excellent models and great variety towards the start, like Jayde, Tyran, Shannon, and Brittany, but the year rolled to a halt with mediocre flops like Tamara, Patrice, Spencer, and Sasckya. All-in-all, no real superstars emerged that completely caught my eye, but I'd love to see more photos of any of the top 5 girls of the year.
So without further ado...
Ranking the Class of 2007...
12. Sasckya Porto
11. Giuliana Marino
10. Tamara Sky
9. Patrice Hollis
8. Lindsay Wagner
7. Spencer Scott
6. Tiffany Selby
5. Heather Rene Smith
4. Tyran Richard
3. Jayde Nicole
2. Shannon James
1. Brittany Binger
My pick for PMOY: Brittany. She definitely was the most unique girl, and had a pictorial that blew me away with its variety and awesome production. Although she's not a runaway hit, I'd love it if any one of the top four girls took the prize. Look out for #7 Spencer Scott, though... she looks to be on fire right now in the voting polls.
Until April, let's hope for the best!
Jayde Nicole - Miss January 2007
Jayde was a surprising new face in a field of small-breasted blondes which was the trend for 2006. Instead, this dark haired angel came on with lustrous, sparkling eyes and a wintertime pictorial that charmed and shone all throughout January.
The Good: Jayde's beautiful face and eyes are the centerpiece of her pictorials, not to mention her slim frame and excellent butt. Her gorgeous eyes and awesome ass can be seen here. Of course, if it wasn't for Jayde's intense sexuality, she probably wouldn't be a prime PMOY contender, but she absolutely is. This shot with legs wide open tells the story of Jayde's wild side.
The Bad: Jayde's figure is indeed a bit slim and she could use some more curves up front. Her breasts are a tad small but well-proportioned for her style and look. She's also a little bit inconsistent in her posing, but not enough to be overly concerned.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: B
Face: A
Pictorial: B+
Overall: B+
Heather Rene Smith - Miss February 2007
Injecting a long-haired Californian blonde is common Playboy fare, and it had to be done early on this year before the real fireworks started. Heather is an on-and-off poser with a very pretty face and a body that could kill... literally. With such a muscular physique and some excellent talent, Heather was definitely a fun girl to look at... no doubt about it.
The Good: Let's not beat around the bush: Heather Smith's body is phenomenal. It could take the cake as one of the smoothest, finest bodies I've ever seen. That alone is enough to garner her lots of accolades. I absolutely love these shining, glistening photos of her simply hanging around. She certainly takes care of that body, and her front and back are just perfect. And she closes out her pictorial wonderfully, and effortlessly cuts a beautiful centerfold.
The Bad: There's one major thing that keeps Heather from being a true PMOY contender: she's ultimately forgettable. Not that her body needs any more praise or backing from me, but her face doesn't always deliver. She also is extremely inconsistent in posing... the photos I picked out are just about the only spectacular ones. She hasn't garnered much attention from the fans because of her platinum blonde look, as well. If physique were the only criterion in this contest, it's probably be Heather hands-down.
Consensus...
Posing: C+
Body: A+
Face: B-
Pictorial: B-
Overall: B
Tyran Richard - Miss March 2007
Coming in for March was 24-year old Cajun queen Tyran Richard, who was a breath of fresh air after bright-eyed and polished girls like Jayde and Heather. Tyran was more mature and incredibly sexual in her photos. At the time, she was surely winning fans over with her intense posing abilities, and she got me into it, too.
The Good: Looking at her photos, you'd be hard pressed not to notice that Tyran has got amazing posing talent. Bedroom lingerie shots like this one transitioning into this dim-light curvy sight were sumptuous and incredible. Tyran delivers with incredible sexuality - something that couldn't be completely palpable with the first two girls.
The Bad: Tyran might look a tad bit too mature in some of her photos, like her centerfold. It's almost too uptight and professional at times... sometimes you just want to sit back and see Tyran let loose, but the honesty just doesn't come through in some photos, keeping her looking emotionally too old (certainly not like a 24 year old girl).
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: B+
Face: B
Pictorial: A-
Overall: B+
Giuliana Marino - Miss April 2007
In April we got a taste of German Playmates, and the first German superstar since Janine Habeck of last year was German PMOY Giuliana Marino. Although her centerfold was impeccable and I can see how the Germans reacted to such a beauty, her bubbly, feminine nature still leaves something to be desired. However, for fans, she has received very good reaction and may gain a slim edge there.
The Good: As mentioned, Giuliana is an excellently feminine specimen of a model. Her full lips and pretty face are great, and her spunk and energy make her great in a pictorial or video setting. Costuming is key with Giuliana, with great photos coming with proper lingerie or just a setting where she looks like she's having fun.
The Bad: For me, Giuliana just doesn't do it. She doesn't have the Playmate magic to even begin to contend for PMOY, and she doesn't even have what it takes to be PMOM, in my opinion. She's just not that special in her looks, and if the Germans saw something in her, then they must have viewed a different Giuliana than was presented to us in the States. I think it's all in the pictorial, as a Playmate is only as great as the photos shot of her - and Miss Marino's pictorials aren't anything to write home about.
Consensus...
Posing: B-
Body: B-
Face: B+
Pictorial: C
Overall: C+
Shannon James - Miss May 2007
May brought it on, and at first, they were going for what looked to be a typical platinum blonde to fill in the "Hefmate" gap that was missing so far this year. But instead, they gave us Shannon James, a stunning blonde, and one of the very best up-and-coming beauties in Playboy. Howard Stern found Shannon on his show, and identified her as a potential superstar, and boy, was he right.
The Good: Shannon's allure lies in her great pictorial for May and her excellent photogenic qualities. She just shines in front of the camera, and was an excellent Playmate pick for the spring, since her colors and qualities meshed with the season perfectly. Shannon did a great job of changing settings in her pictorial, with great ones from the rainstorm, the pool parlor, and just lounging around. Shannon's hair, the look in her eyes, and her flawless posing make her a great candidate.
The Bad: Shannon's proportions aren't anything special, and she's a bit too slim for her size. However, those can be overlooked because of her pretty nature. Aside from that, there's little to complain about, because her posing is consistent even if she changes pictorial themes and outfits.
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: B-
Face: A-
Pictorial: A+
Overall: A-
Brittany Binger - Miss June 2007
Halfway through the year, we found Playboy keeping things fresh with yet another amazing pick. Brittany was sexy, unique, and sultry all at the same time. Her personality came out in her pictorials and her smile and exotic qualities made her quite the catch. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Brittany was her strong pictorial, which blended some old techniques and new concepts to create a mighty interesting batch.
The Good: Brittany's pictorial, that's what's mighty good. Here's a girl who can take on many different looks, from sexy siren to golden-brown beach girl. Then she can turn it all around and be a typical girl next door with a commanding presence. And boy, does that look want to make you melt. Brittany has a way of looking at the camera in a demanding, angry sort of way that makes you want to smile. And if you haven't noticed already, take a look at her ridiculous proportions, and you'll wonder what kind of genetics there had to be to bring about such an unexpectedly hot woman.
The Bad: Bad? What? There's almost nothing bad about Brittany, but if you must insist, her smile is sometimes a little too much, and her face doesn't always proportionally stack up well. However, her inconsistent posing is made up for by the fact that she does some mighty awesome posing much of the time.
Consensus...
Posing: A-
Body: A-
Face: B+
Pictorial: A+
Overall: A
Tiffany Selby - Miss July 2007
In the summertime, Playmates have a different feel: they're tanned, they have beach pictorials, and their production gives it a bright tinge of summer fun. Tiffany had all of that in July, but she just didn't have enough to stand apart from the crowd. A tanned Florida beauty with plenty of spunk and beauty, she would thrive in any lesser year, but she turned out to be a Hef-type blonde without a whole lot of uniqueness to offer. The question is: how does she stack up against competition in 2007?
The Good: Tiffany is tall (5' 7") and slim, and has a hard, smooth body and a beautiful tan. She's just beautiful, a platinum blonde beach girl from head to toe. Photos of her behind make it obvious that she's probably got one of the hardest bodies so far this year, maybe only second to Heather. Curves and class are what Tiffany offers, and her face is beautiful, as well. Tiffany's last few photos are what got me really excited: does she look like a bronzed goddess, or what?
The Bad: While stacked to the max and incredibly pretty, Tiffany doesn't get the job done when it comes to "wowing" the crowd. She does her part in her pictorial and looks great doing it, even with the right dose of sex in addition to her polished posing ability. But not once in her pictorial do you go: I'll remember this one afterwards. Yet another pretty but forgettable blonde.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: A
Face: B
Pictorial: B
Overall: B
Tamara Sky - Miss August 2007
A lovely Puerto Rican DJ named Tamara greeted us in August, mixing things up with a sultry and exotic flavor that was a great addition to a year with already so much variety. Tamara has a different sort of look, and definitely brought something new to the table for PMOY consideration, and from the looks of it, her fan base is steadily growing.
The Good: One thing's for sure: stacked, curvy bodies are the new thing for this generation of Playmates. Big breasts, big butts, and big curves put together the modern Playmate, and Tamara's body is an archetype of the fact. Tamara's body is phenomenal and as twisty and turny as you can get. Her face is also exotic, and those pouty lips and engaging eyes complement her body very well. I think that Tamara is really at her best when she's turned around, because as her awesome centerfold shows, her butt is breathtaking.
The Bad: Tamara seems to be all attitude, but no emotion. She barely ever smiles, barely even has great posing positions, and doesn't really hit all the pictorial segments you want her to. Like I said, she's best photographed from the back, but from the front, she's just mediocre. Her exotic appeal doesn't even carry her through the moments where she isn't all that special, and she's not pretty enough to make up for her horrible posing. It's a shame that these features drag her down.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: A
Face: B-
Pictorial: C+
Overall: C+
Patrice Hollis - Miss September 2007
Mixing it up yet again with an ebony beauty, Patrice Hollis took centerstage in September. She instantly became a bit of a fan favorite after creating a buzz with her all-natural and buxom body and her piercing looks and posing ability. She definitely put a new twist on the 2007 race, and cashed her checks with style and class. Invariably, black Playmates have to contend with being compared with great black Playmates of the past, like Neferteri Shepherd or Nicole Narain. So how did she stack up?
The Good: All-natural is the word to describe Patrice. In a world of non-natural girls all over the place, Patrice comes in with natural DDD breasts. Her body is great and voluptuous, and she poses like a professional, taking great candid shots and playful ones, as well. And did I mention Patrice has a great body? She can work it with attitude, and that's something that Playmates have to have in order to be superstars.
The Bad: Patrice isn't all that she possibly could be. She poses and looks great... most of the time. She's often inconsistent, doesn't always have the right moves, and her body isn't completely flawless, either. She has the voluptuous front side, but what happened to her ass in some of the pictures? It's like it disappears and returns again and again. It's hard to see a Playmate who you can't decide is good or not... it's frustrating because she could be so much better if her pictorial was more consistent.
Consensus...
Posing: B+
Body: B+
Face: B
Pictorial: C+
Overall: B-
Spencer Scott - Miss October 2007
A southern blonde with big features and a big smile came in for October, and instantly she became a major fan favorite. Several fans immediately signed on and the buzz was enormous for this cute young talent from northern Florida. It was especially overwhelming to see how much press she got unexpectedly, but obviously it was something in her pictorials which got everyone so riled up to vote. She's definitely a major player for PMOY, so she's worth a deep look into what makes her tick.
The Good: Spencer is beautiful and bright, and certainly everything a busty southern blonde should be. She has gorgeous hazel eyes, a smile that kills, and a body with huge breasts, a great set of thighs, and an exceptional smoothness to her skin. They're all things that make Spencer outrageously photogenic, and that has got to be her claim to fame with all her fans. She just looks very very good in front of the camera. Have I gotten the point across yet? Look at her pictorial and get a sense of her slick style, and tell me that it doesn't work to perfection.
The Bad: I rated Spencer a C+ weeks ago when I saw her pictorials, and I had a sense that her preview pictorial had even more to offer than her portfolio entry. I still have that feeling that Spencer isn't PMOY material, simply because she hasn't shown me enough. Her posing ability is absolutely mediocre, she hasn't got a clue how to work the camera sexually (like a professional would), and her body doesn't impress me much, either. In an era of curves that sell sex, Spencer hasn't got many to offer. She's voluptuous and hot, but where are the curves to accentuate all those great features? There aren't any. There's a case to be made against Spencer, and I make it by pointing out that she simply isn't a star.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: B
Face: A-
Pictorial: C+
Overall: B-
Lindsay Wagner - Miss November 2007
Moving towards the end of the year, Playboy dealt yet another blonde, and this one was cutie Lindsay Wagner of Nebraska. One thing you could gather immediately from looking at Lindsay's pictorials was that she was buff. And I mean buff. Her strict workout regimen has given her an incredibly hard body with golden features. Lindsay is one tough cookie, and to be able to roll with this impressive class of 2007, she would need to muscle her way through the competition, as well.
The Good: The body. The body of the year? Perhaps. Lindsay is exceptionally slim and has washboard abs and sexy biceps. She's also got a lovely face and looks amazing in front of a camera when she's got her poses right. She drips with sweat and looks like a goddess all while doing it. Lindsay also has a very photogenic face and comes off as a sweet girl with energy and charisma. And she has a way of giving the camera "the look." It's quite gripping. Here it is again.
The Bad: Lindsay, albeit her tough exterior, is very mediocre, following a trend of a couple of mediocre Playmates to close out the year. She's not an incredible poser, and rarely makes those hit poses that she can do so very well when she hits them. Although her body is tough, maybe it's too tough at times, coming off excessively muscular and non-feminine. Lindsay has a tendency to look like totally different girls in different settings, and that's too bad because she can do one pose so well while completely botching a different one. They're all reasons why Lindsay will find it very difficult to roll with the crowd come PMOY selection time.
Consensus...
Posing: C+
Body: A
Face: B+
Pictorial: B-
Overall: B-
Sasckya Porto - Miss December 2007
The year chimed in with a disappointing end, especially considering the strong start it had. Great new Playmates gave way to mediocrity and finished it off fittingly. Sasckya is a forgettable Playmate, with very little fan buzz and very little chance for contention for PMOY. Oftentimes Playboy will save their best for December, which is why it has perennially been a key month and an exciting time of year. However, it wasn't the case this time, as promising preview photos made way for an extremely mediocre entry.
The Good: Sasckya has her moments, but they are very few and far between. She looks to be exotic at times, with her nice lingerie and getting sexually charged for the camera. Her in your face shots towards the end can excite a bit, but they do fall short ultimately.
The Bad: Where to begin... Sasckya has a body that just looks better with clothes on. Not that she's ugly, but it's just that her curves don't mesh and they seriously are not appealing. Also, Sasckya has an awkward posing style, doesn't know how to stay consistent, and her face is on and off in terms of attractiveness. An extremely forgettable Playmate, Sasckya is too tall and too voluptuous for the part, and seems to overpower the camera and lacks any sense of subtlety whatsoever.
Consensus...
Posing: C
Body: C+
Face: C
Pictorial: B-
Overall: C-
There you have it, folks. Twelve girls, twelve stories, and twelve different ratings. The official Playmate of the Year race doesn't heat up until April 2008, but it doesn't hurt to get an early start on voting and analysis. I'll keep everyone updated on the buzz surrounding the race as it goes on, and I'll put my two cents in on how the race should be going based on model qualities and what not.
The Class of 2007 will go down as one that started like a lion and went out like a lamb. There were some excellent models and great variety towards the start, like Jayde, Tyran, Shannon, and Brittany, but the year rolled to a halt with mediocre flops like Tamara, Patrice, Spencer, and Sasckya. All-in-all, no real superstars emerged that completely caught my eye, but I'd love to see more photos of any of the top 5 girls of the year.
So without further ado...
Ranking the Class of 2007...
12. Sasckya Porto
11. Giuliana Marino
10. Tamara Sky
9. Patrice Hollis
8. Lindsay Wagner
7. Spencer Scott
6. Tiffany Selby
5. Heather Rene Smith
4. Tyran Richard
3. Jayde Nicole
2. Shannon James
1. Brittany Binger
My pick for PMOY: Brittany. She definitely was the most unique girl, and had a pictorial that blew me away with its variety and awesome production. Although she's not a runaway hit, I'd love it if any one of the top four girls took the prize. Look out for #7 Spencer Scott, though... she looks to be on fire right now in the voting polls.
Until April, let's hope for the best!
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Not-So-Grand Finale
It's the end of yet another year and another chapter of Playboy history has closed. We've got another 12 Playmates to choose from, and every single girl is unique in her own way. And to close it all off comes Miss December, Sasckya Porto, a Brazil native who breaks the mold of the typical Brazilian beauty in every sense of the word, and I'm not speaking positively here.
It seems that Sasckya leaves a little something to be desired: that lean Brazilian curvature of the back, that bronzed beach tan, and that sexy kick that quenches the thirst right away. Playboy USA hasn't always had very much luck attracting women from South America with much success, and here's another flop. I reserved judgment of Sasckya after seeing her preview, but her PMOM pictorial disappoints me.
Where to start... I think it's telling when my favorite photo of a girl is one with her clothes on. I'm not meaning to insult Miss Porto's beauty in the nude, as certainly a naked girl is far better than one with an overcoat on, but nudity also leads to scrutiny. And Sasckya is certainly not an unattractive girl... she has an exotic face, tall features (5' 10"!! now that's something to behold), and beautiful hair. But look inside those clothes, and with lingerie on, she's got her second-best photo.
Sasckya is still a sight for sore eyes, don't get me wrong. Here's a photo of her voluptuous behind, in traditional Brazilian form. And while that's entertaining for a bit, you know that there have been far better Playmates so far this year and in years past. So why should Sasckya deserve your time? Especially when she moves on to hit you with awkward photos like this one or this side shot. Sasckya's body is pale, her posing is inconsistent, and her pictorial is ultimately drab and boring. Although she manages to let out a low-brow stare that captures the attention for a short while, and slips into this cute sheer bodystocking for a little bit, that sneering smile of hers just doesn't do it for me.
I'm sorry if I've been too harsh on Sasckya, but let's face it... we've had a pretty good year of fresh faces and great new talent for Playmate of the Month. Finishing it off with the traditional December flavor is something we've come to love from names like Tiffany Fallon, the Teles sisters, Lani Todd, Karen McDougal, Elisa Bridges, or even Barbara Moore. The thing is, yes, it's not fair to compare Sasckya with these past greats, but it is fair to demand more from Playboy for your annual Christmas sweetheart. So Playboy... what were you thinking??
Consensus... C-
Sasckya Porto
Miss December 2007
It seems that Sasckya leaves a little something to be desired: that lean Brazilian curvature of the back, that bronzed beach tan, and that sexy kick that quenches the thirst right away. Playboy USA hasn't always had very much luck attracting women from South America with much success, and here's another flop. I reserved judgment of Sasckya after seeing her preview, but her PMOM pictorial disappoints me.
Where to start... I think it's telling when my favorite photo of a girl is one with her clothes on. I'm not meaning to insult Miss Porto's beauty in the nude, as certainly a naked girl is far better than one with an overcoat on, but nudity also leads to scrutiny. And Sasckya is certainly not an unattractive girl... she has an exotic face, tall features (5' 10"!! now that's something to behold), and beautiful hair. But look inside those clothes, and with lingerie on, she's got her second-best photo.
Sasckya is still a sight for sore eyes, don't get me wrong. Here's a photo of her voluptuous behind, in traditional Brazilian form. And while that's entertaining for a bit, you know that there have been far better Playmates so far this year and in years past. So why should Sasckya deserve your time? Especially when she moves on to hit you with awkward photos like this one or this side shot. Sasckya's body is pale, her posing is inconsistent, and her pictorial is ultimately drab and boring. Although she manages to let out a low-brow stare that captures the attention for a short while, and slips into this cute sheer bodystocking for a little bit, that sneering smile of hers just doesn't do it for me.
I'm sorry if I've been too harsh on Sasckya, but let's face it... we've had a pretty good year of fresh faces and great new talent for Playmate of the Month. Finishing it off with the traditional December flavor is something we've come to love from names like Tiffany Fallon, the Teles sisters, Lani Todd, Karen McDougal, Elisa Bridges, or even Barbara Moore. The thing is, yes, it's not fair to compare Sasckya with these past greats, but it is fair to demand more from Playboy for your annual Christmas sweetheart. So Playboy... what were you thinking??
Consensus... C-
Sasckya Porto
Miss December 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
#16 - Kelly Gallagher
Kelly Marie Gallagher was Miss September 1994, in a time between eras of Playmate mediocrity and the well-known "golden age" of the late 1990's. Before Kelly, girls who were high-quality Playmates were sporadic, but still around (like Echo Johnson or Carrie Westcott). Right after Kelly, women like Elisa Bridges, Alicia Rickter, and Rhonda Adams emerged, changing the landscape forever. Miss Gallagher's class of 1994 was nothing too special: Julie Cialini was the mediocre PMOY winner, and Maria Checa was the only other standout. But Kelly didn't just stand out in this year alone.
Kelly was unfortunate to have come about during a Playboy dry spell like the one in 1994. She was not just the greatest Playmate of that specific year, but certainly one of the best girls Playboy had ever discovered. Kelly can be summed up in one word: legs. More than any other girl perhaps in Playboy history, Kelly's tall, slender frame (5' 6" and 105 lbs) was incredibly eye-catching and revolutionary. But it's not just that... following the trend of Lisa Dergan, Kelly is outlandishly professional and mature. These are the qualities that permeate her photos and make her special, because she poses with a sense of presence and classic charm that separate the great Playmates from the mediocre. Take some time to appreciate Kelly's wondrous collection of photos, and you'll sense her talent and mystique and wonder why she was so passed over for so long.
Kelly's greatness comes from her flowing, artsy pictorials. They're wonderfully produced and put together, and come together beautifully. Pic 12 starts off the discussion with a great example of what Kelly is all about... with a beautiful bit of lighting and a whimsical face, Kelly is something dreams are made of. This photo really sets off the pictorial with sex appeal, and Kelly's face looks gorgeous, her hair looks fluffy and sexy, and her body is like art. What more is there to want? Miss Gallagher's body is something unique to behold, and as she sits down and shows off those beautiful legs, it's obvious what makes her one of the legendary Playmates. That photo really does an excellent job of showing off Kelly's proportions, where her lower body captures the camera, unlike most Playmates these days. Kelly shows that she can leave the darkness and be sultry in Pic 33, and also hearkens back to a time when girls had unshaven rugs between their legs. Remember those times? This cute photo shows off Kelly's lovely eyes and beautiful package.
So now let's venture back to the bedroom and the pictorial that made Miss Gallagher stand out so very much. This smooth pic starts things off, and you can really see how Kelly becomes part of the setting and assimilates into her role so well. Zoom out a bit, and Kelly's amazing legs twist and turn and her awesome sexiness and unique face come into full view. She's simply breathtaking in photos like these. She is simply feminine, 100% woman, and difficult to sum up in words. If that's not enough, check out this photo of Kelly sprawled out and just posing for the camera, immersing the audience in her smooth body and gripping stare. The great job that the producers do with this pictorial is outstanding, with this photo telling the story about the natural lighting used and how it complements Kelly's slim body so very well.
It's tough to look at Kelly Gallagher and not wonder how she could be any more perfect. She's got everything working for her in every possible way, she's got great pictorial production and photography, she has a spectacular presence and a beautiful, picturesque face, and she's one of the greatest Playmates ever. Not only is she extremely underrated, but Kelly deserves all the recognition of being part of the elite... #16, in fact. She deserves a place in history, and deserves to be mentioned with the other girls who have shaped the Playmate world as we see it today.
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