Tuesday, August 28, 2012

PBC Hall of Fame - Jennifer Liano (1970)

Although perhaps not as famed as some of her 1960's Hall of Fame predecessors, the first entry to appear in the 70's was 22-year old Jennifer Liano from California. With all of the glamor and glitz of Playmate styles of the day, Jennifer was an oddball of the pack, a free spirit with a maturity and talent that made her one of the finest girl-next-door's in Playmate history.

Look back at Jennifer's oddly extensive Cyber Club pictorial, and you'll note one main thing - this woman looks like she belongs in the 90's. Jenn's look is way ahead of her time, with a darkness that overlays milky white skin that immediately draws you to her features. Her spectacular face isn't something you see every day - heck, we haven't seen anyone quite like her in all the decades  of Playboy's history.

Of course, some photos of her pictorial were immediately iconic. When Jennifer sported her pigtails and batted those long lashes around some of the most beautiful eyes a woman could have, it's almost ethereal. Even today, it's almost an experience in itself just looking back through this woman's work, which she did so effortlessly. Every move isn't too calculated, just natural. There's no hint of nerve anywhere, just a pure sense for the camera, giving Miss Liano one of the great pictorials of all-time.
  • Face: A+
    There aren't really enough words to really describe just how fascinating Jennifer's face is. Her features are almost otherworldly in their balance and beauty, and it all starts with her amazing eyes. While the era was a great time for beautiful faces (we've gotten farther away from that tenet), Jennifer was above all of them in many ways. She had a dark, independent look that was emotional and almost lonely in several aspects. It was a face that drew you in and didn't let go.
  • Body: A+
    Although the obvious issue of exposure is always there with past Playmates, you can't avoid it with this girl - Jennifer has a fantastic body. Even though all you see is her toplessness, the balance and curvature of her figure is way ahead of its time. Although it isn't strong and hard like bodies of today, the suppleness contributes to this model's sheer innocence.
  • Talent: A
    As I said before, the overall darkness and almost gothic natural look of Jennifer was really what created her awesome persona. All of this wouldn't be possible without her strong penchant for the camera, knowing how to get just the right shots. While she benefited from stellar photography, Jennifer never got in her own way, which is more than can be said for several of today's ladies.
  • Pictorial: A+
    Jennifer's pictorial boldly sits at the top of most of the finest work of the 1970's. Miss Liano took all of her physical gifts and ran with it, producing a varied and colorful set that oozed personality and set a low-key but intriguing tone throughout. It's on par with even some of the finest pictorials of our day. Although that comparison isn't always fair, this one can hold her own.
  • Centerfold: A
    They just don't make centerfolds like they used to, and Jennifer's is a borderline classic. Those deep, sensuous eyes take hold. A tight pink pair of pants cling closely to her sleek waistline, hinting at much more underneath. It's just a fantastic shot.
  • Overall: A+
    With Jennifer, we had a model who could truly do no wrong. Even among my hall of famers, that's not a sure thing, with missteps here and there. But with Jennifer, what we saw is what we got, with consistent posing coupled with physically one of the finest models in 1970's Playboy magazine. Indeed, they found an unbelievable talent in this one, and it all comes down to her near-perfect face and amazing persona. There has never been another Jennifer Liano.

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