Tiny Wonder, Sasha's Blunder

Audrey, Miss June

As we reflect back on the first half of the 2013 Playmate class, we can safely say we've seen some of the most intense controversy among fans that we've seen in years. It's all a byproduct of Playboy's push to bring in fresh blood to the photographer and editor model, and the passing of the torch, as I've written in previous months, has not  gone smoothly to say the least.

Sasha Eisenmann was particularly skewered for her photo set of Ashley Doris, Miss March. I personally think Ashley is the best one of the bunch so far. She's simply the best looking and most skilled Playmate when she's given free reign. I didn't mind Eisenmann's pictorial too much, as it was panned by most. The pictorial really introduced Sasha's style to a fault, looking to most too immature and underdeveloped, never giving the model a semblance of a personality. That same style is pervasive in our newest Playmate.

Miss June is Audrey Aleen Allen, a.k.a. Audrey Andelise, who appeared in a duo of pictorials released around the same time as her sister, Anna's. Audrey's spunky coed looks conjured up a zestful fanbase who cried out for the young model to become a Playmate, against reason that would say she doesn't quite seem ready. And lo and behold, we have Miss June.

Really, there's one thing that really characterizes Audrey: her extremely short and petite body. She's very tiny (5'2"), and the shortest girl since Amy Leigh Andrews. What makes her very different from Amy, though, is that she photographs short, while Miss Andrews always looked pretty long and voluptuous in the camera lens. What brings out the obvious lack of height is Audrey's very short legs, such that her torso is longer in proportion to her overall size.

Audrey's small size
is very evident

While she is definitely small, Audrey has a killer body. It always looks steely and strong, and its compactness lends to a nice, juicy size that really comes across beautifully. She's not busty, but her B cups appear closer to C's as her bustline is on the broader side of 34 inches. While her body might not be instantly memorable, it's nearly perfect for a small model like her, akin to Angela Little.

Physically, Audrey is extremely photogenic, with a cute, bubbly face sporting a gorgeously accessible smile. Her youth and energy are hard not to capture in every photo, although a lack of mature and truly sexual posing is obvious.  This is definitely a model that could use a few years under her belt to flower into a real Playmate-worthy entry, and it sadly shows throughout. You'll never be "wowed" by Audrey, and so she's one that could ultimately fade.

And then, there's the pictorial. Sasha Eisenmann won't win any new fans with this one, if they were already put off by his portrayal (or mis-portrayal) of Ashley. When a photographer looks a model, they really should focus on how not to portray her, as much as what is appropriate for the subject. Sasha basically misses the point in the same exact way as before: he sets the stage, overcoaching and overanalyzing shots, without allowing for room to breathe, or any bit of varied posing. Audrey is always upright and stiff throughout her photos, with outfits galore that never explore her darker side (and we know every model has one).

• Face: A
  We've seen some really beautiful faces so far this year, certainly above average. Audrey continues that trend with probably the most beautiful smile of the class so far. Shawn Dillon had a winning mug, but never got to exhibit it like Audrey has. While her lovely blue eyes are never given much of a chance, you can't help but love this model's youthful innocence by way of a light, friendly smirk.
• Body: B+
  Again, Audrey's body won't win any awards for its ability to drop jaws and get the drool flowing. She's not a leggy, boob-heavy model that has hourglass curvature. What she does have is a short, powerful body with iron clad abs and a hard, natural shape. Her proportions are perfect, and the cute petiteness really lends itself to her college girl persona.
• Talent: B
  Will the real Audrey Allen please stand up? Or better yet, do something besides just standing. What we see in her performances, whether you blame the production or photographer, is some rather passive posing with a potential for much more. Audrey never exudes a powerful sexual tone in a single one of her photos. Sometimes, you want a "too-cute" Playmate like this to strap on some garter belts, climb onto a bed, and stick her hand between her thighs. I know, most Playmates never get close to that, but Audrey stays far, far from it.
• Pictorial: B
  Sasha Eisenmann isn't going to quell any critics' complaints about his having a complete lack of skill. He's not a single bit crafty here, taking a perfectly beautiful subject and putting her in painfully obvious settings - on the beach, pulling off a bikini, looking unnatural and restrained. Eisenmann's style is evident here, where he treats the subject as an interchangeable object that never gets to freely pose. Photos are over-exposed and painfully sunlit, without highlighting Audrey's powerful midsection or taking advantage of her smaller size with some more compact shots. Give it credit for being fun and colorful, but overall just a poor effort.
• Centerfold: B
  I didn't really appreciate what they were going for with this centerfold shot. Audrey's contortion is a nice departure from the pictorial set, but it doesn't capture anything to augment the model here. I always prefer a full-frontal in a centerfold.
• Overall: B+
  When all's said and done, the lack of foresight and expertise in treating this model with respect is too much for her to overcome. Audrey is ultimately a strange entry at this point, midway through the class. She isn't a particularly skilled Playmate at all, in fact quite the opposite. She doesn't have any bit of exotic appeal, and lines up strangely right after a pure blonde bombshell in Kristen Nicole. Still, she could have been something if we saw her in a more mature light, a peek in the bedroom or what not. It seems that Playboy, with its new strategy in releasing portions of a pictorial in several phases online and in print, could find a way to inject more variety, and to exhibit a couple different sides of each model. Instead, we get this... an incomplete picture of an underdeveloped model. Keep searching, guys.