Connecticut Cutie

Ashley, Miss March

We can all agree that 2013 hasn't gotten out to a strong start as far as Playmates are concerned. While the web-based Playboy Plus is exploring new frontiers with edgier photography and taking things to the next level in terms of creativity, the flagship line of Playmates is mysteriously and grossly lagging behind. Karina Marie was as bland and undeserving as they get, and Shawn Dillon was the victim of horrible editing and execution. Where would Hef find the next star to save this franchise?

As luck would have it, the Playboy Plus pipeline is rife with talent. A lot of it is entirely too synthetic (Casey Connelly) or a bit untouched (Jessica Workman) to make the leap to the PM ranks. But then again, a risk is exactly what PB needs right now. What Hef did was exactly that - but the results are a little mixed.

Miss March is Ashley Doris, a model who was more or less nonexistent in the Playboy universe just two months ago. Ashley hit the scene in PB Plus as an "Amateur"in late January, with a very respectable pictorial in a black bodysuit. Her hypnotic beauty aptly titled her feature set, and she had more than the right amount of polish to look like she could jump to the Playmate ranks. Still, it needed Hugh Hefner's seal of approval, and with it, he quickly led what is one of the sharpest rises to PM stardom that anyone has taken in years. From Amateur to Playmate in sixty seconds.

Ashley's
stunning silhouette

Just because Ashley took the short way in doesn't diminish her merits. She's a fine choice for Playmate, and one of the most natural choices in months. I would look back to compare her to Alana Campos of last year, who just had Playmate written all over her in the sense that Ashley does in her appearance. She's smooth and non-robotic, with all the charm in the world and a hint of sexuality that really lets her fit the bill.

Ashley is wildly photogenic and simply a pleasure. Her outstanding, penetratingly deep eyes are a wonder, and her incredible golden skin glistens against a mostly white backdrop chosen for her in this pictorial. She moves through the photos with cautious ease, a glance here, a glance there to assert herself in the Playmate world. She has the talent to do it, obviously. Ashley's body, while never the centerpiece, is very fun. It's smooth and natural, with perfectly proportioned breasts and excellent lines.

The pictorial is again the weak spot here, but obviously not so much as with last month. It suits her style well, being a semi-active model with the ability to contort and produce some great silhouettes. The choice for a white backdrop was awesome, as it complements and brings out her tanned features. Still, it really lacks the punch and sizzle that the rest of the Playboy world is taking on, and that's the game we're playing right now.

• Face: A-
  Ashley's eyes are the focus here, with the bright whites shining in every single photo. The deep look that she gives you is unforgettable, and really sets the stage for the rest of the pictorial. The photographers take great advantage of her face, but it's also a bit inconsistent in her pictures, sometimes strangely angled or awkwardly placed.
• Body: A-
  Ashley's physique is nearly perfect, the only gripe is that it's just not very memorable. Still, her smooth body lines and sleek curvature is a thing to appreciate. Her hazelnut skin is adorable, and she's all-natural, which is entirely apparent in every photo. While she lacks the height and balance to tie it all together, there's do doubting that this is one tight and sexy little package.
• Talent: A
  Miss Doris just nails it in so many ways, it's hard not to give her an A for effort and all of the riches that come with it. She's just an all around good poser, with a great passive look that is absolutely adorable and sensual all at the same time; and she's also able to put on a show with some good physical posing, arching her back and giving it her all. Obviously she doesn't have to try too hard with looks to kill, but she has a strong understanding of her pros and cons, which makes her great.
• Pictorial: A-
  The pictorial is sort of one-dimensional, and never really gets into a great rhythm to show off Ashley's breadth of skill, but it does the job far better than most. The bar has certainly been raised in this decade, with Playboy Plus exhibiting some seriously sexual posing, but Playmates have been left behind with some tame displays. While you have to credit Ashley for her unabashed display of her labia (unlike most), you have to wish for something more at this point. Still, a solid effort with brilliant color balance.
• Centerfold: A
  I like this shot very much, mostly for its completeness. It does a fantastic job of capturing everything that Ashley is great at, from the contrast in her lovely skin tone, to her excellent posing lines. Although it's tame like everything else, you have to expect that. She looks like a glowing goddess here. Easily the best centerfold since Amanda Cerny in 2011.
• Overall: A-
  Ashley is just an all around great model, period. As the first and only Playmate from Connecticut,  she's probably one of the most well-rounded models in some time, with her face, body, and talent all contributing equal parts to her success. While she won't "wow" by any means, and we're still finding that model to be the real frontrunner for the 2013 class, it's still early, and Ashley is that person right now. She might not win any superlative awards by year's end, but she's still cemented herself as a real contender for PMOY. I hope she continues releasing extras in the future, so that we can get a more tangible feel for what she's all about. I feel like we've got something real special here.

2013 Cyber Girl of the Year Race

For those of you who've followed me for years now, you would know that I used to review both Cyber Girls and Playmates quite equally. I always have had my monthly Playmate reviews and ratings, but I would also point out notable Cyber Girls that deserve recognition as they made their way through the ranks. Heck, CGOY is arguably far more important for fans, being that we actually get pictorials and videos in celebration, and the PMOY gets nothing more than a photo with a shiny car.

I've trailed off on my reviews of Cyber Girls since the format has changed from the Cyber Club to Playboy Plus in the online realm. But this is no fault of Playboy's - quite the contrary - although there's been much griping about the clunky interface and scattered content of the new format, there's no doubt that Playboy has stepped up their game when it comes to Cyber Girls.

We have a major dichotomy forming here with Playboy. The Cyber Girls we see each month are more exposed than ever, with intensely intimate shots of their labia, aggressive and active posing styles, and really creative photography that we've never seen in Playboy. Meanwhile, the Playmates, the cream of the Playboy crop, seem to be regressing, with abysmal photo shoots and questionable model choices.

In all of this, we're left with a 2013 Cyber Girl of the Year race that features depth and copious amounts of talent. This is easily a 5 or 6 girl race that we've got on our hands, and results should be expected in just a few days. I'll go through some of my favorite entries (and photos) of the top three I think should be in contention this year.

Rebecca Carter, Cyber Girl of the Month November 2012

There's no doubt in my mind that Rebecca will be a sure contender for CGOY this year. She's a wholesome, fantastic talent that needs no deep analysis, no real contemplation to realize her raw skill in front of the camera. Why can't we have Playmates with this much gusto?

Flirty

Stunning

Untamed

Shocking

 Rebecca just brings it in a series of CG pictorials that will make your mind spin. With dark, large eyes and straight, silk brown hair, they're perfect adornments for a powerful, stout body. Rebecca's incredibly compact (5'2") but voluptuous and cut frame are a marvel of Playboy engineering, with every angle looking tantalizingly sexual and oozing with passion. When she rears her sizable ass, watch closely, because the camera often pans in for a raw, intimate shot of her gorgeously tight labia and even a little glimpse of her butt hole.

It's the kind of edgy photography that's taking Playboy into the 21st century, and Rebecca is a perfect model to lead the way. Her unabashed posing style mixed with delightfully accessible good looks makes for a near perfect woman.

Kate Hughes, Cyber Girl of the Month January 2012

There's some good diversity in this year's Cyber Girl class, the best in a long time. Case in point is one of my other favorites of the group, Kate Hughes. She's a complete 180 from Rebecca, with few commonalities except one - she's another hot commodity with quite a few pictorials under her belt already. Since first appearing two years ago, Kate has become a Playboy Plus juggernaut, taking pride in her leggy build and awesome face.

Natural

Glowing

Dark

Playful

She started out a wholesome girl next door in some Student Bodies features, but quickly evolved into a deeper, more nuanced  model. Now, she's virtually indistinguishable from those days, developing a darker side with a stronger eye for detail. Gone is the bright blonde look, and in comes the eye shadow and an intimate gaze underneath.


The reason I love Kate is that she's just so simple and easy. Easy going, easy on the eyes, just easy to love. She's a slim girl without bombastic physical assets, unlike Rebecca, and she realizes that. Her sinewy frame twists and turns in soft lighting, with her milky skin looking radiant and alluring. Always comfortable, always 100% photogenic and superb. Her youthful appearance belies a really complex model underneath, and fans should get to really know Kate before making a decision on CGOY this year.

Jessica Workman, Cyber Girl of the Month August 2012

And then there's Jessica. This is a model I had my eye on for quite some time. She first debuted in June of 2010 as a model in the Fresh Faces series, looking mighty fine indeed. It was immediately apparent to me that Miss Workman needed to be a star in the Playboy world, and right away. This girl was oozing with potential, and with a little more polish here and there, she could have been a juggernaut.

Sun-kissed

Fast forward two years and many pictorials later, and you have one of the more well-known models in the Playboy Plus ecosystem. Jessica has garnered praise from all angles and has harnessed legions of fans for her CGOY bid, and for good reason. This is a very unique model with the total package - a unique and naturally busty body, an infectious smile, and keen sense for what looks good in pictures. Namely, her, and only her.

Curvaceous

Sizzling

Mind blowing

Pictures of Jessica are wholly unadulterated and untouched. Meaning, they feature little costuming or thematic props. What we see with her is just her awesome nude body in all its titillating glory, and that's all we need. Jessica's physique is a work of art because of what it is not. It's not Kate or Rebecca. It's not in-your-face voluptuous or rail thin, and it's not sporting washboard abs or an ass you can bounce a penny off. Jessica is far more nuanced and interesting than that.

Just peruse her photos, and you'll fall deeply in love with Jess. Her breasts and buttocks are just perfect, standing greatly in proportion and leaving little to be desired. Her angles and corners are awesome to explore because you feel like you don't know this model. With other women, it's as if you've been there and done that, but with Jess you get a sensation for longing and a need to learn. That's what makes her so damned special.

Jessica never has to try too hard -- she just glows. She's got a really natural beauty that shines with that toothy grin or a little move here or there. It's not fair to other women, really. This is the model that is and should be the frontrunner for CGOY, and boy would we be fortunate to have her grace our computer screens a few more times.