February Fireworks

Heather Knox
Miss January 2012

As we kick off 2012 and come off a tumultuous year of Playmates, we look forward to a year of improvement. We're hoping for a consistent year with a diverse class, with a little bit more international flair thrown in, at least more so than the last group.

It started off, however, more on the predictable side of things. In came Heather Knox as Miss January, starting things off. Heather is a bit more of a prototypical Playboy blonde, with bright blond locks and a busty body. Her physique is of most interest here, since Heather is an otherwise bland model with little to remember. She is a bright personality, but it's definitely her body that stands at center stage.

Heather is voluptuous (5'4", 125 lbs) and short, with a boxy frame holding on to a set of massive DD breasts that really are a sight to see. She's no hourglass, with not much of a butt to balance it out, and not a  very tight waistline either. But it's just this that makes her an attraction, with pure, busty volume making her really pop in photos, like this one, that would otherwise just be inconsequential. While Heather has a more mature face and intense features, she doesn't have much to distinguish herself, as she's pretty but mostly forgettable.

Heather's pictorial is also a major disappointment, with nothing to separate her or make it unique, and instead taking some safe shots that contain her in a domestic setting that never really catches on. Some shots of Miss Knox prone on the bed are her greatest hits, since this really exposes her huge chest and does an excellent job of highlighting her thick but sexy torso and thighs.

Like nearly every Playmate last year, Heather simply never shows enough to truly entice the audience, never allowing her legs to spread quite too far, but teasing with some frustrating poses. While her body is a plus, you can surely bet that this won't be a girl who's in the running for PMOY in 2013.

• Face: B
  While Heather's beautiful eyes are a saving grace, she has some well-defined features that give her face angles that do not endear her to the camera. With a softer camera view, her face looks far more appealing, but the Playboy editors miss on this one.
• Body: A-
  Heather's physique lacks the balance and slim, sleek contours that define girls of the current Playboy generation, but that doesn't stop Heather from being a unique figure. Her massive breasts are part of a thick, boxy frame that is actually quite the spectacle in her photos. Although never used to her potential, Heather's imposing stature makes her worth a second look.
• Talent: B+
  Although Miss Knox is given a raw deal on the pictorial, she does show flashes of greatness here and there, and has a great understanding of her own strengths and limitations. She keeps her posing simple, but does so with enthusiasm and great posture that adds to the pleasure of her great body.
• Pictorial: B
  Heather's pictorial never gets off the ground, or really ever comes close. Showing minimal skin once again, we find a lame, cookie-cutter pictorial getting in the way of what would otherwise be a successful model.
• Centerfold: B
  Her centerfold is about as sterile and uninteresting as her pictorial, but on top of that, some of the glittering sheen that is Heather's forte in her photo series is unfortunately missing.
• Overall: B
  Heather does bring something to the table to kick things off in January. Ultimately, though, as Playmates go each year, she should fall into the average middle of the pack. While Heather is a beautiful woman with some definite strengths, first of all being her excellent and photogenic body, she also suffers from many of the same problems we saw in 2011. Heather's pictorial is dismal, and leaves a bad taste in the eyes of Playboy voters. Add to that a lack of aggressiveness in her posing and a real dearth of style and creativity, and what you have is a Playmate that won't really be talked about as much as she probably should have.

Leola Bell
Miss February 2012

Moving on to the current Playmate, and sharing the January-February double issue with Heather, we find Leola Bell, a 27 year old African American bombshell who could be a real game changer in the 2012 class. Leola's performance is a real sight to see, as she has more talent under her thumb than many of the ladies we saw in 2011, and then some. Add to that a killer body and a penchant for posing, and you have a contender.

Leola's strength comes from two things: her body and her sense of style. The former is undeniable - a quick perusal through her pictorial will bring on a sense of surprise and astonishment. You could compare Leola's physique with some of the more recent curvier body types we've seen in the past years, but Miss Bell possesses a subtle difference that sets her apart. For starters, Leola has a great full-frontal shot, with strikingly flat abs and a smooth, strong frame that gets the point across. 

When I looked through Leola's pictorial, I was struck by the poise and grace with which Leola poses with - just take a look at this photo, which was one of my true favorites. Here, you get an idea of Leola's great silhouette, which adds to her posing presence simply by having her do nothing at all. Then, she can flip on a switch, with truly aggressive, sexy posing that really looks fantastic on camera.

Then, you get to her sense of style. Leola's confidence and sexuality hearkens back to the great black Playmates of the past, and names like Neferteri Shepherd even come into mind. When she gets actively sensual in front of the camera, it's really something to see, with her amazing costuming and penchant for the camera really coming out. Playboy really gave Leola the star treatment here, with a pictorial that seems to be a complete 180 from the ladies of the past several months. It's both a product of the model and the editing, but boy are these photos something to see.

As you get deeper into her photos, you really get a sense for the talent you're seeing here. Creative poses such as this one, or a subtle look that can really tone down the momentum of the pictorial, are brilliantly executed. All in all, the rest of the 2012 class could take a hint from Miss Bell.

• Face: B
  Leola's facial features are unique, and offers a uniqueness that is both endearing and exotic. Although she might look inconsistent in her expressions, this aspect of her is entirely a matter of personal taste.
• Body: A
  While almost everything is subjective in the world of Playmates, it's hard to deny that a body like Leola's is a once-a-year experience. Her stunning figure and awesome silhouette makes for a wonderful subject in a great pictorial. Her buxom body is backed up by the numbers: she has the lowest waist-hip ratio since 2009's Dasha Astafieva, and it shows. Her amazing breasts are the precursor to a flat, powerful core, leading to some amazing, sleek legs.
• Talent: A-
  Owing somewhat to her great body, Leola uses it to her advantage, and does it extremely confidently. Her sense for the camera is unique, and she varies her posing with great ease, with a physical, risk-taking style that's easy to appreciate.
• Pictorial: A
  Leola's pictorial is the real attraction here. With a dynamic set of gorgeous costumes and a great flow from beginning to end, it stays interesting and fresh by giving the model room to be creative and to be herself. With an intimate bedroom backdrop to allow Leola to get subtly seductive, it's a home run.
• Centerfold: B+
  While not offering anything revolutionary, Leola's centerfold follows the intimate "Valentine's" theme of her pictorial, and is a good depiction of her amazing physical qualities.
• Overall: A-
  Early on in the year, Leola Bell brings a freshness and invigoration that could really supercharge the Playmate of the Year race moving forward. Although there's no "race" yet per se, we'll surely remember Miss Bell as the year comes to a close. She has such a perfect mixture of skill, attitude, and outright physical spectacle, it's tough to deny that what we're seeing is an early game changer here. Leola brings an infusion of talent that really has been lacking in recent months, but could turn the tide and up the ante as much as Tiffany did last year. Unless we see a truly revolutionary class, Leola should easily end up in the top 4 or 5 Playmates towards the end of the year, but that's all left to be seen.

2012 Playmate of the Year Candidates

As I've said all year, it's been one of ups and downs, of twists and turns. The 2011 Playmate class has been anything but perfect, but along the way we've seen some flashes of true brilliance that are worth noting. We didn't see any Hall of Fame ladies this year, but that shouldn't stop us from seeing the special girls that went through the magazine's pages. So without further ado, my year-end rankings:

#12

Sasha Bonilova, Miss May

Age 24 | 36DD-27-36 | 5'7" | 127 lbs

Sasha is a model whose primary selling point - large breasts - pretty much landed her the Playmate role. Although she severely lacked any semblance of talent that could have been the reason she got nominated, she does have fans in those who admire her unique body type.

The Good: Sasha's uniquely large breasts are a sign that there is a market for them, and there are admirers out there. Behind those huge cans, though, there is a semblance of a pretty attractive frame. Also, her face is certainly not a major detriment, but how she uses it is another story.

The Bad: As I've said, there is an audience out there for Sasha's body, which means it's really up to taste. However, her utter lack of talent and her disinterested gaze make for a pitiful pictorial. Sasha had not a shred of talent, and it shows miserably in every photo. How she came to be a Playmate is beyond me, but I'm quite sure it has something to do with her chest.

Face: B

Body: B-

Talent: C+

Pictorial: B-

Centerfold: C+

Overall: C+

#11

Ashley Mattingly, Miss March

Age 25 | 32C-24-32 | 5'7" | 127 lbs

Ashley came on early in the year with a mixed set of assets that really didn't garner her much support from fans. Her defining characteristic, her solid, almost masculine body, was seen as a detracting quality, and her overall posing style didn't necessarily resonate well. Although she had a bit of potential here and there, she ultimately will fade to the bottom of the pack.
The Good: Ashley's physique is both Ashley's biggest strength and one of her major flaws. Her finely toned arms and tight, well-formed abs are easily the strongest and most powerful of hte 2011 class. It's well documented in her pictorial, with some workout scenes leading to a moist locker room pose-off. While her photos are well-intentioned, they can't overcome the model underneath.
The Bad: Ashley's masculine physique is also her biggest downside. She has a tough exterior that's difficult to photograph with much subtlety, and so it takes away from the layers and depth that could otherwise allow for a very pretty girl to shine through. Instead, Ashley comes on too strong, without ever really satisfying in her decent pictorial. She falls flat due to these unique characteristics.

Face: C

Body: B

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: B-

#10

Anna Sophia Berglund, Miss January

Age 25 | 34D-25-36 | 5'6" | 128 lbs

2011 got started with a bubbly blonde, voluptuous model who worked the Playmate mold to the max. She was a prototypical Hefmate, with all the characteristics - a reticent posing style, big round breasts, and those curly blond locks. While her angelic face and curvy body were worth a look, she was arguably the blandest of all the Playmates in the class.
The Good: Possibly the most flattering thing you can say about Anna is that she is a Jack of all trades, but a master of none. And when I say none, I mean it. Her pretty face is almost postcard-worthy, allowing her to take on a youthful, energetic look. That's where she leaves it, but it allows her to take on an amazingly photogenic stance when she passively poses in photos. Her body is also hit or miss, but is quite sexy in angles that extend her body and show off her length.
The Bad: Miss Berglund will never win awards for uniqueness or memorability. There were some pathetic overall performances in 2011, but none could have fallen as flat for such a nice girl as Anna's did. Miss Berglund is a mildly wasted talent, with otherwise lovely features giving way to an uninspiring performance with no talent in sight. Anna is out of her element in the Playmate world, and possibly would have been better suited as a Cyber Girl.

Face: B-

Body: B

Talent: B-

Pictorial: C+

Centerfold: C

Overall: B-

#9

Mei-Ling Lam, Miss June

Age 27 | 32B-24-34 | 5'6" | 109 lbs

The first Asian Playmate since 2008's Grace Kim, Mei-Ling came in with some hope, but left a flat mess. One of the most petite body types of the class, she delivered a boring performance that could even contend with the others so far in my rankings. When it comes down to it, Miss Lam brought in one of the more forgettable performances of 2011.
The Good: While Mei-Ling's pictorial is a mixed bag of boring and slightly interesting, Mei-Ling is generally a pretty good looking girl. She looks decently radiant in a number of her photos where her own posing doesn't get in the way, and when her slinky body is photographed in the bedroom, it takes on a whole different look. Mei-Ling is a difficult girl to picture correctly, but when it's done right, you can only wonder what could have been.
The Bad: There is just too much wrong with Miss Lam's performance, where it can only hold her back from reaching her potential. Her petite body is photographed very poorly for much of the time, taking angles that show off her lack of a true focal point that would make her a decent nude. This girl simply wasn't made to pose in the nude, as she just seems more comfortable and better suited to being a clothing model or a generic fashion model.

Face: B

Body: B

Talent: B

Pictorial: B-

Centerfold: B+

Overall: B-

#8

Iryna Ivanova, Miss August

Age 25 | 32DD-25-35 | 5'4" | 105 lbs

This Eastern European bombshell debuted with little fanfare, being known only to the international edition of the magazine. With a long lineage of Ukrainian beauties appearing as Playmate in the past, Iryna had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, she missed the mark, mostly due to the aesthetic appeal of the model rather than the execution.
The Good: Iryna's pictorial is the one high point of her Playmate reign. Although she is lacking in a variety of areas, her photos are bright and colorful, with summer hues that really come across beautifully. She is captured in some fun, sexy poses with some excellent costuming, and is overall shot quite well. The shift into a bedroom setting is seamless and a natural fit for Iryna, whose face is photogenic enough to warrant a second glance. This is a model who shows promise, as evidenced by her spread as well as her fine centerfold, one of 2011's finest.
The Bad: Iryna is hampered mainly by herself, as her editors do a fine job of trying to capture her beauty. Instead, she exhibits no enthusiasm, being a glum focal point in an otherwise high-spirited and lovely pictorial. She rarely cracks a smile, and instead focuses with an awkwardly squinty stare. Physically, Iryna is voluptuous in her short stature, and is best shot prone, although she is often shot head-on. This makes her look a bit sloppy here and there, and takes away from an otherwise attractive model.

Face: A-

Body: B

Talent: B-

Pictorial: B+

Centerfold: A-

Overall: B

#7

Kylie Johnson, Miss February

Age 21 | 32D-25-35 | 5'4" | 107 lbs

This is the turning point of my ranking, where we go from "so-so" performances to "good" ones. Enter Kylie, whose exotic Afro-German looks and above average pictorial have vaulted her to a status where she has gathered a major fan following. Miss Johnson's appeal goes deep, and is due to her uniqueness in the Class of '11. Indeed, she may be a major force as voting gets underway.
The Good: Kylie is a girl whose look just screams "agressive," and she needs to be shot that way. Her body is buxom and marvelous, with supple, large breasts and sharp shoulders making up a strong and sexy frame. She obviously has one of the best physiques of the 2011 group, along with her amazing caramel skin, which is not too dark due to her mixed heritage. Her face is both an upside and downside, but can be looked at as an asset due to its innate uniqueness with its angular characteristics.
The Bad: Kylie's positives stop at the physical level, where she's got plenty of pull. When you look at her photos, though, it's a different story. Kylie is an uninspired poser, who never really gets into her comfort zone. Her pictorial is incredibly safe (a sad trend in 2011), and that really hurts the model, since Miss Johnson is innately a physical posing model. She needs more freedom to move and display her physical assets, but instead is restricted in a hot tub or in a cabin, looking passive and bored. She is a mediocre poser at best, and while she is a fine choice for Playmate, it shouldn't garner her attention for PMOY honors.

Face: B-

Body: A-

Talent: B

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B+

Overall: B

#6

Jaclyn Swedberg, Miss April

Age 21 | 34D-25-35 | 5'5" | 106 lbs

April gave us someone who has one of the best shots at the fan vote for PMOY 2012, Jaclyn. As the year wore on, Miss Swedberg became a huge fan favorite, as she places at or near the top of most Playmate straw polls. The reason for that is plain and simple: Jaclyn is beautiful. There are no two ways about it, the former Playboy TV star has catapulted herself into the PMOY conversation with some unmistakably good looks and a solid set of skills.
The Good: To put it simply, the subject matter is the real appeal here. Jaclyn is simply the "prettiest" of all the Playmates in the 2011 class, perhaps by a long shot. She has a worldly, calm, and gorgeous face, with a set of penetrating eyes that are the deepest and most amazing of the lot. Physically, she isn't curvy and doesn't have the volume that other ladies can throw around, but she's certainly got some spunk to her that makes her pop in photos. To top it off, Jaclyn is a talent. Although she doesn't exhibit any out of the ordinary skill, she has a knack for the camera, and strikes poses that complement her style wonderfully.
The Bad: What could drop such an amazing girl so far down my list, you say? It's the value that I put on a good performance, and Jaclyn, sadly, didn't quite deliver as far as material goes. Although she might put on a fine performance in a PMOY spread, her look just didn't translate well to the pages. Her "badass" persona is a horribly bad fit - this girl is destined for the bedsheets, with some pajamas and a good book, stripping down to a fluttery set of lingerie. Instead, Playboy puts her on a motorbike, and out of her element. I wouldn't mind if she took the title, just to redeem herself here.

Face: A

Body: A-

Talent: A-

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: B+

#5

Jessa Hinton, Miss July

Age 27 | 34D-25-34 | 5'8" | 116 lbs

My top five starts off with a Playmate who was probably my biggest surprise of the 2011 class. Jessa Hinton had her reign as Cyber Girl, and I initially thought her selection as Playmate was rather questionable. Very fortunately, she proved me wrong. Jessa is a bit of an enigma - a fan favorite to many, but also the opposite to some. In stark contrast to every other girl of the year, Jessa's posing style was far more in-your-face and physical, with a tantalizingly raw and powerful look. She therefore makes a spot in my top 5 by introducing an excitement that was otherwise lacking in the class before her appearance.
The Good: It's quite simply Jessa's ample talent at delivering a fresh, exciting, and exhilarating photo that makes her a superb Playmate. While she won't wow you with any particular aspect of her physique, and isn't special by any stretch, she's a solid, and downright sizzling contender. Her squinty, smoky eyes are unlike anything else you'll see in 2011, and her busty body complements her persona so well. This girl has personality, and shows plenty of it in her spread. Utilizing a daring stare and combining it with some excellent contorting posing, we might have a strong contender here.
The Bad: For all the great things that Jessa offers to add a jolt to the Playmate class, there are several downsides. Most notably, it's physical here. Jessa doesn't have the pure beauty and subtle, refined qualities that other ladies like Jaclyn, Tiffany, or Amanda have to offer. There are only sharp curves, balloonish breasts, and some awkward angles to consider. Her face may be a turnoff to many, and is a testament to the fact that Jessa is what you make of her. If you take her as a full package, she is excellent. But if you take her apart, she just doesn't deliver in the way other ladies did in 2011.

Face: B+

Body: B+

Talent: A-

Pictorial: B+

Centerfold: B+

Overall: B+

#4

Rainy Day Jordan, Miss December

Age 20 | 34C-24-37 | 5'9" | 125 lbs

The last girl of 2011 was also one of the best, and for a few select reasons. Although she didn't garner rave reviews from the Playboy fan base, I thought she was worth shouting about. Rainy Day is certainly not an all-around Playmate - that title would be much better suited to the ladies in my top 3. However, what she excels at isn't really what she can do, but what she is: a great physical specimen, and probably the best of the year. With a nearly perfect body, she's got an innate advantage that can overcome any shortcomings, to an extent.
The Good: The headliner for Rainy Day is definitely her great body. Although it isn't immediately apparent how statuesque she is, one might need to dig a bit deeper to understand. First, Rainy is exceptionally proportioned, with a very tall frame (the tallest of the year at 5'9") combined with an extremely low waist-to-hip ratio. Put it all together, and you have a girl with some fine curves who can also stand tall and use length to her advantage. She can pull off the full gamut of poses, and combined with a great sense for the camera, she has the talent to back up her excellent frame and put it to good use. Rainy Day is a great combination of once-in-a-year physique and awesome natural ability, and that's what brings her to this point on my list.
The Bad: Although she may possess these natural gifts, Rainy lacks in a variety of key areas. First and foremost is her face - it's almost hidden most of the time, and is never photographed very well. In hard light, she looks awkward with her pouty lips and strange smile. Although it's never unattractive, it's a downside on such an otherwise physically superior woman. If you go a step deeper, you also see some pitiful material. Rainy wasn't given much to work with, and put out a miserable spread that she only helped with her presence. Still, I think these things really turned many fans off to her, and drew away from the star quality that could otherwise have made for an awesome model. Rainy may be the acquired taste of the year, and an often unacquired one at that.

Face: B

Body: A+

Talent: A

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B+

Overall: A-

#3

Ciara Price, Miss November

Age 21 | 32C-25-35 | 5'4" | 118 lbs

As I get into my top three ladies of the year, we really see where the elite is, when it comes to being in the Playmate of the Year conversation. While Jaclyn and Kylie form a powerful fanbase, it's these three that I definitely think deserve the nod, no matter who it may be. First off, there's Ciara, who is just flat-out the most beautiful model of the year. When taking nothing else in consideration, Miss Price would easily be the most perfect Playmate - a wildly photogenic blonde with everything going for her looks-wise. Although she's got her shortcomings, Ciara's got the goods to put her up on my list.
The Good: It's pure and simple - this girl looks amazing. While her body may not be #1 in 2011, it's her amazing face that cuts through the mold. When she's shooting a sparkling, toothy grin at the camera, you can't help but wonder how such a pretty girl is willing to take it all off for the camera. As I mentioned before in my review, Ciara easily has the best face in two or three years, going back to the lovely Laura Croft in 2008. And as I mentioned before, her body is no slouch, either. Her petiteness and lack of any bombshell volume is actually a good thing, as it creates a sort of understated look that fits Ciara's personality perfectly. What comes across ultimately is an innate shyness, but in moderation, that creates an allure that's hard to pinpoint. Whatever it is, looks alone could put Ciara in the driver's seat for a PMOY appearance, even with her other shortcomings.
The Bad: While it may not be all her fault, and we all know how Playboy's editors don't always hit their stride, Ciara is perhaps the magazine's biggest wasted opportunity of the year. While other girls got their fair shake to an extent, Ciara is a stunning model who didn't get the full treatment. Her pictorial is the pinnacle of prudeness, making her look moderately uncomfortable with her role. She never goes a step farther than topless nudity, which is quite disappointing. While Ciara is best left as a passive poser who can just radiate a cheery beauty, she still could use some thematic elements and a bit of motion in her pictorial, which is sorely lacking. When it all boils down, Miss Price is easily the "what if" candidate in the 2011 class, with the difference between her and the top 2 ladies simply being her performance itself.

Face: A+

Body: A

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: A-

#2

Amanda Cerny, Miss October

Age 20 | 34C-24-34 | 5'7" | 125 lbs

My top two Playmates of 2011 are easily my favorites by a mile. While all the other 10 ladies had some issues that would keep them out of the race in my mind (including Ciara), these final two simply don't. Enter Amanda, one of the more interesting women in the class. With Eastern European pedigree and a very unique face and body, her all-around appeal gives her an edge in the polls. In fact, she is polling at a rather high level, fighting off some of the more heralded candidates. The reason for this is simple: Amanda's beauty melds excellently with a solid, attractive pictorial. While it won't revolutionize the way Playmates are shot, Amanda leaves an indelible mark on the year.
The Good: All-around greatness is Amanda's game, and it all starts with her body. While there are other great bodies in 2011, like Rainy Day or Tiffany, Amanda's is in a different  category. She does have that voluptuous frame that seems to be the trend for Playmates of the decade so far, with hourglass curves and a smoother, less defined core. But what Amanda also mixes with this is a great lower body, with legs that are tough and defined, and are photographed immaculately. Just take a look at her beautifully executed Centerfold, picturing her in front of a mirror. Her legs are featured prominently here, and rightfully so. With amazing thighs and muscular calves nestled into some golden stilettos, Amanda creates a great visual image. Combine that with some milky smooth skin and a lovely pair of eyes, and you have Amanda, one hell of a model. Her sense for the camera isn't bad, either - Amanda's posing complements her body style very well, with each photo taking advantage of her tall frame and rugged (but refined) look. There's just a lot of good to say about this all around wonderful girl.
The Bad: With all of that good, it's hard to pick on things with Amanda. One thing is her facial expressions, which are inconsistent and take away from the character she otherwise displays so well. She lacks much definition in her face, making her a bit forgettable. That really is a microcosm of Amanda - she is an incredible model in many ways, but she doesn't ever excel at one thing. She has an amazing body with a good pictorial and nice talent, but doesn't ever pack the punch that some other ladies do in some areas. Although she might not win many category awards, she's still got the minimum baggage that makes her a great Playmate in the running for PMOY.

Face: B+

Body: A

Talent: A

Pictorial: A-

Centerfold: A+

Overall: A-

#1

Tiffany Toth, Miss September

Age 25 | 34C-24-36 | 5'8" | 125 lbs

My #1 Playmate of the 2011 class came as a big of a surprise to me. Tiffany has been in the Playboy ranks for the past couple of years. She made her debut as a Cyber Girl of the Week nearly six years ago, appearing then as a wide-eyed teen with little experience. After years of numerous appearances in a variety of pictorials, she garnered some major attention from fans. Still, I never got what the fuss was all about, and I still didn't all the way up to her Playmate nomination. She was a cute girl, sure, but there was never that spark that truly pushed her over the edge. But alas, here she is, at the top of my rankings for PMOY 2012, and that's all due to her perfect balance of energy, looks, and a brilliant pictorial. All in all, she put together a tour de force performance that should rank her among the top on anyone's list.
The Good: Tiffany didn't just drag on with her usual schtick when putting together her PMOM performance. Instead, she gave us a wonderfully dynamic and colorful pictorial that just popped out of the pages. She took on an overhauled look, with a tighter, visibly sleeker body (and abs), and a smoky set of engaging eyes that  really transformed her as a model. While before she could look overly childish and bubbly, now she comes off as a bombshell beauty. While other girls of 2011 left their sexuality somewhere far behind, nowhere to be found, Tiffany brought it in heavy doses, delivering one of the best centerfolds of the year, and unabashedly displaying some sensual zeal in full frontal awesomeness. Through it all, she still retains the best aspect of her past career - her wholesome likability, of course. Tiffany's personality comes across well in her pictorial, while she skillfully adds a layer of awareness that exhibits her maturity. And with the well-produced and involved pictorial, Playboy's editors gave her a star treatment that many others this year have sadly lacked. Bravo, I say, and here's to 2012's Playmate of the Year!
The Bad: While Tiffany does have her moments of fault, all in all I'd say that her performance in her Playmate spread was downright flawless. The model could be more photogenic overall, but no one's faulting her for that given her transformation into a more solid and skilled model over the years. Her sense for the camera has improved so much in the past six months, it's tough to notice any of the issues she had before. Although I'll admit that Tiffany is not revolutionary by any means, she is certainly in the upper echelon this year, and may have done as well as she possibly could have.

Face: A-

Body: A

Talent: A+

Pictorial: A

Centerfold: A

Overall: A

Playmate Superlatives

Best Pictorial
Tiffany Toth

Best Breasts
Tiffany Toth

Best Butt
Jaclyn Swedberg

Best Talent
Tiffany Toth

Best Face
Ciara Price

Best Body
Rainy Day Jordan

No Other Choice

Kayla Love
CGOM December 2011

While 2011 was a decent year for Playmates, with things looking up in the second half of the year, the same can't be said for Cyber Girls as of late. The year was abysmal for Cyber Girl of the Year candidates, with no one seemingly taking the lead as we saw last year. In 2010, Bethanie Badertscher looked like a lock as soon as her pictorial debuted. In 2009, there were a handful of excellent candidates who are among the best Cyber Girls ever.

But, there is a saving grace. December's Cyber Girl of the Month, Kayla Love, is fantastic. She is, without a doubt, my choice for CGOY in 2012.

It all starts and ends with her posing talent. Kayla might be the most talented model of the year, even when taking Playmates and other models into account. Just take a look at her pictorials, and you'll understand. Her sinewy body does some awesome things, as she can curl up and minimize her frame to look vulnerable, or she can do her signature move, standing tall and creating a lean, sleek set of lines.

I could go on and on referring to some of her wonderful photos, but the fact is that her slim body and sharp posing sense meld almost magically. She might be a lightweight in appearance, but her curves look spectacular when viewed as a profile, in shots like this one or this.

While Kayla's face might be her Achilles' heel in the end, with a lack of definition that makes her look rather generic, she's still pretty, and this shouldn't detract from her sexy presence. She also looks incredible in videos, flashing a melting gaze along with her ability to stand tall and deliver a great picture.

In the end, the other ladies of 2011's Cyber Girl class don't deserve a full rundown. The bottom line is, there's Kayla, and then there's everyone else. We've seen a similar talent and body type last year (Bethanie, anyone?), and Kayla delivered just as well. However, let's cross our fingers and hope Miss Love  can deliver on a CGOY bid that will dig us out of our current rut.

Texan Attraction

Rainy Day, Miss December

Given the rollercoaster year we had in 2011, I'd say that we've ended on some thankfully positive notes. While the year started out and developed to look like one of the more disappointing years in the past decade, salvation came in the form of a couple of sensational talents that made their mark and allowed us to forget the missteps of the past. Duds like Mattingly made way for gems like Cerny, and we made lemonade in the latter half.

Fittingly, after some great ladies in September, October, and November, we should see the grand finale in the last month. As is always pointed out, great December Playmates used to be something of an expectation (Tiffany Fallon, Teles Twins, Lani Todd, Karen McDougal, Elisa Bridges, Barbara Moore...). I really thought we had one in Miss December, Rainy Day Jordan. Rainy had made her way to Playmate status through the Casting Calls circuit (in February) and as a Coed of the Week in April. Her quick ascension brings her to cap off a mystifying, but ultimately satisfying, year.

I initially had a great first impression of Rainy Day when I laid my eyes on her preview pictorial. Since she was extremely unpolished before as a COTW, it was something of a surprise to see her in her comfortable element, posing with a sexy, sinewy frame that looked spectacular in the soft lighting. If the Playmate pictorial only took it from there, I thought, we could have the PMOY on our hands.

But, alas, it didn't quite work out that way. But then again, not so bad either. With Rainy Day, you get kind of a mixed bag. She is certainly unlike other models we've seen this year, with a more unique face and a totally different body type. I feel like the way the pictorial displayed her face in such harsh light really ruined it for me, as it exposed some of the issues with the evenness in her facial skin tone and other features. Rainy's face is certainly her biggest issue, and it reflects poorly when the editors can't get it just right. When it is done right, like in this shot, her pouty lips and gorgeous eyes don't take away from anything at all.

Still, when she's photographed well, she's definitely a wonder. Her skill in front of the camera is among the best we've seen in 2011, and she can lay down some sexual bombshells. But, as in many Playboy pictorials of late, she isn't ever allowed to spread out and explore the boundaries, making the whole thing seem rather restrictive and boring. You can tell that Rainy is one of the more outwardly sexual girls of the year (much more so than Amanda or Ciara), but she's kept in the same box as all of them. There are just too many repetitive shots like this, and not enough creative, freestyle shots like this around.

All in all, when you get down to what makes Miss Jordan unique this year, you can't avoid talking about her body. It's definitely the hottest body of the year. Rainy is the tallest Playmate of 2011 (5' 9") while still having the best waist-hip ratio of any of them (0.647 - the lowest since Dasha Astafieva in 2009). Rainy is perfectly proportioned, gorgeously tanned, and has smooth, almost palpable skin that makes her absolutely stunning in the glow of the photos.

• Face: B
  Rainy's biggest issue, her face just does not come off very attractively in hard light, and the editors use it plenty in her Playmate spread. Although she has penetrating hazel eyes and lovely wispy hair, her sometimes awkward looks detract from an otherwise near-perfect model.
• Body: A+
  Despite being the tallest Playmate of the year, Rainy maintains a rather curvy physique, one with some of the best measurements we've seen in a few years. Her amazing hips and smooth, natural contours are a sight to behold. Her golden brown skin is silky in pictures. This is how and why she got the nod for Playmate, after hitting the scene in under a year.
• Talent: A
  Rainy is probably one of the more unrestrained and freewheeling girls of the 2011 class. Although we only get to see glimpses of her talent, it's definitely there. She maintains a coy, sensual persona throughout, and comes with an attitude that melds Texas farm girl with unbridled enthusiasm.
• Pictorial: B
  While Rainy is a great talent, she got a raw deal when it comes to her final pictorial spread. The meandering, pointless photos follow a familiar cowgirl theme, which is very fitting and sexy, but are executed horribly. The quality of the model saved it with her natural looks, but besides that, it's just uninspired photography.
• Centerfold: B+
  While nothing special, Rainy's centerfold is solidly sexy, and shows off a good amount of her body. The direct look does a good job of depicting her hit-or-miss face.
• Overall: A-
  The year came in with a whimper, but certainly finished with quite a bit of a roar. Rainy Day did a great job of following up some of her highly touted predecessors. With the main attraction being her sexy and perfectly proportioned physique, Miss Jordan was a fine choice for Playmate. Just as in recent months (and years), though, Playboy's editors dropped the ball by inserting an otherwise awesome model into a drab, boring set of photos. The uninspired Western theme was a cookie-cutter choice, and didn't do Rainy justice, just as Ciara was also jilted. Still, Rainy is going to be up there in many fans' lists for Playmate of the Year. Although I doubt she will get too much consideration for the top prize (much more will go to Ciara, Amanda, and Tiffany), Rainy has certainly made her mark on the Class of '11, and will definitely fall in my top 5.

Well, there we have it! All 12 Playmates have been set, and we're ready for PMOY voting to heat up. I'll publish my usual full rundown of all twelve, including my annual ranking, around the end of the year. We had some serious ups and downs this year, but it was all worth it in the end. Thanks for reading!

A Face You'll Remember

As we draw to a close in 2011, we've seen the ebb and flow of Playmate quality in its most exemplary form. The first months of the year were wallowing in mediocrity, with some of the poorest Playmate performances we've seen in years. Fortunately, things have picked up for the close of the year, and that's quite an understatement.

Miss November 2011, Ciara

Tiffany Toth led the charge by lending her Cyber Girl experience to good use, creating a polished, gorgeous Playmate persona. Amanda Cerny followed that up with her unique look and spectacular size. To continue that upward trend, we now find the breathtaking Ciara Price as Miss November.

Ciara is a Maine native whose understated and humble personality can be immediately endearing to Playboy's audience. On top of that, she is just a beautifully radiant girl - one who is amazingly well-suited to a passive posing style due to her spectacular features. To sum her up, it's ok to just look at her being Ciara, and nothing else. No frills and no embellishments are needed with Miss Price, and when photographed well, she flourishes as one of the top models we've seen this year.

Really, Playboy had the right idea going in. Her girl-next-door, unpretentious charms are displayed in full force in her move-in photos, where she steals the scene in a low-key setting. Ciara is nothing if not commanding by just being herself, just flashing a smile here and there. And throughout her photos, the most amazingly striking detail is her face - simply put, Ciara has one of the most beautiful smiles you've seen in forever. Couple that with a twinkle from those small, squinty, cute eyes, and you have a girl who can melt the camera with just one look.

With a face like that and a nice, petite body to boot, you can't think it could go wrong, right? It did. And you can blame the editors for it. Ciara is a model who should be passively displayed, but instead she's worked into poses that don't work for her. The main problem, though, is the lack of any sexual sensation in the entire spread. Most of it is unbelievably prude, with strategically hidden vagina shots in otherwise gorgeous photos. It all just cheapens the experience that Ciara could potentially provide, and that's just a very sad reality.

• Face: A+
  Ciara doesn't just have the most beautiful face this year (surpassing Jaclyn), but easily has the best since Laura Croft back in 2008. She has a unique sparkle to her congenial smile that instantly attracts and centers herself as the subject. With squinty but distinctive eyes and a beautiful tendency to lay her blond bangs over her face, this feature makes her simply irresistible and establishes her as a serious model in 2011.
• Body: A-
  While her body doesn't add much to her overall allure, it is solid and sexy, and certainly doesn't take away from her performance. Her breasts are natural, nicely sleek lines and a slim profile with  curves in all the right places, creating a great silhouette when photographed right. With that head on her shoulders, it's hard to concentrate on anything else, but her naturally glowing look is without many flaws.
• Talent: B+
  Ciara never really takes it to the next level in terms of her posing. She is rather passive, which may be a byproduct of an unimaginative pictorial. However, she doesn't ever need to do a whole lot, and doesn't. With her face and appearance being well suited to a passive girl-next-door stance, she does it well, and respectably.
• Pictorial: B
  It's sad when a gorgeous girl like Ciara has her reputation dragged down by poor material, but this is a textbook case. While her pictorial isn't ugly by any stretch, it's prude and holds back so much that it makes you yearn for a little more exposure here and there. Ciara always looks willing, but always holds back just enough to frustrate the audience. Although the model makes up for some of the poor production and lack of imagination, it leaves you with an unpleasant taste.
• Centerfold: B
  Miss Price's centerfold isn't much to shout about, taking from her black lingerie motif. If it came from her "move-in" series, it might have been a home run. However, it does a good job of accentuating her legs, albeit a relatively small 5' 4" frame.
• Overall: A-
  It goes without saying that Ciara is a classic case of Playboy not taking advantage of a great model when they have one. Ciara could easily take the cake as one of the finest Playmates we've seen since last year, but instead she stays at the muddled front third of the pack. In a year where we've seen some definite lows give way to some awesome highs lately, we can safely conclude that Ciara will place near the top of most Playmate polls. With her polished, understated look and naturally breathtaking face, she should easily be in the PMOY race. While she does carry herself wonderfully, she still lacks much of the experience and zeal of a Toth or even her predecessor Cerny. This year's PMOY race will come down to a sheer moment of personal preference by the editors and fans, and whatever sticks will pull one girl through. With the mediocrity of Ciara's pictorial, she can only hope that audiences look beyond to her stunning visuals.

State of the Cyber Girls

I haven't touched on the state of the Cyber Girl world in quite some time - in fact, since Bethanie Badertscher was crowned Cyber Girl of the Year earlier this year. That's for a good reason: this year's crop of CGOM's has been absolutely abysmal. While last year we had Bethanie and fringe candidates like Beth Williams, Jennie Reid, Brittany Leigh, Elizabeth Mendez, and Reby Sky, this year we have no one of the sort.

Petite beauty Samantha Pirie
is one of the biggest
CGOM snubs this year

While in 2010 we had some viable alternatives, 2011 gives us jack squat, and we're in trouble for it. Veronica LaVery and Kayleigh Elizabeth seem like frontrunners, but extremely mediocre ones at that. No girl has had any semblance of a spark, and while the Playmate class has found their saviors in the last few months, we can only pray that Playboy will elect a CGOY out of the final few months, or we're in for a real bummer all next year.

Biggest CGOM Snubs


It's not that we haven't seen any great talent come through so far this year. They just haven't won.

First and foremost, the exclusion of Casey Lauren in favor of Kayleigh Elizabeth was a huge shame, but I've already said my two cents about that one. Casey, if she won the CGOM title, would possibly be the frontrunner for CGOY as we speak. With her sleek body and awesome look, it's way too bad, and we can only hope for an Xtra to see some more of her.


One of the huge snubs so far was back in January, where Samantha Pirie was passed over for Kaya Danielle. The cute-as-a-button Canadian was gorgeous in her pictorial, and her sweet and petite little body and adorable presence really should have won her the month and thrust her into the CGOY conversation. I was really looking forward to seeing her branch out into some more sexual material.

Can busty Andrea Leilani
save the dismal 2011 class?

The other potential star to be passed over was Jacinta Rokic, the Austrailian hottie from June who should be the current reigning CGOM. Instead, she was slighted in favor of blond Nicolette Shea, who doesn't have even a fraction of the beauty or talent that Jacinta has. Jacinta's sultry eyes and exotic European looks are extraordinary. I'm still in disbelief that she was dissed in favor of a completely inferior model, but it's not the worst we've seen, after all.

Potential Saviors


Fear not, because there's still time left in the year! What about next month, with clean-cut and intriguing beauty Brittany Alyse? While not seemingly having the depth of talent as other ladies, we might find that she's a star waiting to emerge.

Or better yet, sizzling Latina Andrea Leilani is equally mysterious, but might offer a fresh, interesting look with a bronzed body and curves to boot. Indeed, Andrea's innocent persona and more voluptuous frame make her a good choice.

Besides them, we're not seeing an influx of great candidates that would hope for. We've already seen the two groups of CGOW's left to fill the November and December CGOM spots, and it is, to say the least, incredibly unimpressive. Playboy missed some serious opportunities to boost the class early on, and now it seems that we might be stuck with the worst class of Cyber Girls in history.

Close Out Strong

Amanda, Miss October 2011

As we started 2011 with a string of disappointments at the Playmate position, it's only fitting that it comes back around. Playboy has always historically had their ebbs and flows, and it always seems as if great models come in waves. It usually coincides with milestone anniversary Playmate searches, where you'll see several women from the same talent pool featured in consecutive months (such as the Burciaga/Dastafieva combination a few years back). As redemption for this class, we're finally seeing the tide turn with some great talent streaming in.

Last month, we were graced with the seminal veteran talent of Tiffany Toth, who really brought a spark with her sparkling pictorial. For October, we find another fantastic entry in Amanda Cerny. Not only is Amanda an excellent and deserving Playmate, but she brings about a uniqueness that should ultimately go a long way in defining the 2011 class.

Indeed, Amanda gives the year an identity, finally. She possesses a lot of qualities that Miss Toth lacked - most notably, she's incredibly memorable. She has a fantastic level of variety in her crisp, polished pictorial, with an intro that can make your jaw drop. It's immediately apparent that Amanda has a kicker of a body, with strong, powerful legs and thick thighs that define her overall look. She establishes herself as a sultry, more nuanced Playmate than her predecessor, as her mysteriously intriguing facial features are always front and center.

Obviously, it's a given that Amanda's overall draw is her breathtaking body. We've seen some tight bodies so far this year (Toth, Hinton), but none have been as much of a spectacle in each and every shot. Amanda owns her pictorial, and the concept of using mirrors to accentuate her multidimensionality is a great move. Although she's not unusually tall, her frame allows her to look very long, and that works to her advantage wonderfully.

When taking all of Amanda's special quirks into account, though, you can tell that this isn't a 100%, truly polished model. She has some issues with her facial expressions, and her pictorial poses aren't always executed as flatteringly as possible, such as with her final few shots.

• Face: B+
  All at once being her one of her greatest assets and her biggest flaws, her face is ethereal and angelic, with a half open mouth begging for the camera's attention. At times, however, she can look unnatural and inconsistent, becoming the issue with some photos.
• Body: A
  Amanda has arguably the best body we've seen all year. While Tiffany is petite and nicely proportioned, Amanda's smooth, curvaceous frame is wonderful on camera. The addition of great pictorial techniques to photograph her full body just accentuates how excellently toned she is, especially at the lower body, with easily the best legs of 2011.
• Talent: A
  While Amanda would otherwise be the most talented model of the year so far, she has hitches throughout her pictures, where she has issues holding back. At times, she can be a bit too physical with her posing, but when she hits a great pose, she hits it better than anybody.
• Pictorial: A-
  Amanda's pictorial is creative and intriguing, with multiple themes complimenting her multifaceted, physical posing style. The use of mirroring in both her centerfold and the pictorial works great with her body, which is a knockout all-around. However well produced, though, it falls short at times, with some misses in her final voyeur-themed series.
• Centerfold: A+
  Continuing on the usage of the mirror theme, Amanda pulled out one of the best centerfolds in years. It all comes down to those spectacular legs, whose tone comes through in almost magical fashion in a picture that can only be described as perfection.
• Overall: A-
  Amanda, despite small shortcomings that prevent her from truly being the best model so far in 2011, is a very welcome addition to the 2011 class. In the end, she will go farther to define the class than any other model. With her unique, angelic face and a body to boot, she's already captured the hearts of fans all over, and instantly has placed herself in the conversation for Playmate of the Year. Whether she is an immediate favorite would be no surprise - her pictorial was executed amazingly, and she pulled out one of the best centerfolds I've seen in quite some time. With a cheery personality and a thorough, textbook posing style, we've possibly seen a PMOY blossom before our eyes. And with the issues with the rest of the ladies this year, Amanda might have the best opportunity to grab the ultimate prize that she possibly could.