#22 - Gillian Bonner

Gillian Bonner was Miss April 1996, bringing on the digital age as what was probably the first software developer-Playmate. The late 90's were a golden age for Playmates, as each year delivered more and more incredible girls. The Class of 1996 included Kona Carmack, Priscilla Taylor, and the luscious Jennifer Allan. But it was this Georgia peach who took the year with grace, and undoubtedly was the best that the year had to offer, and came out on top as one of the great Playmates of the 90's.

Like the Playmates we've seen so far in the countdown, it takes a certain uncanny sense of how to work the camera to be great. Carrie, Cara, and Heidi all did it with talent and grace. What Gillian did was take Cara's unique face, Carrie's awesome sexuality, and Heidi's posing ability, and put it all into one package. Gillian immediately comes off as mature and experienced in her posing, and puts her body into positions you've never seen before. More than that, her body is realistic and unbelievable all at once. Its proportions are excellent, and her face makes you want to wonder what's going on behind those mysterious eyes. And those lips... those lips! Just watch and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Gillian's portfolio is vast, and you'll want to leaf through all of the photos to get a good picture of her amazing range. But there are plenty of classics to be picked out. Check out this photo of her crawling, and this sexy one, too. They're part of her yellow top pictorial, and one thing that immediately jumps out is her smile. It's a wide-open, lips-spread, sexual oddity of a smile. It makes appearances throughout her work, and it's one of the sexiest things ever. Gillian looks amazing in her office pictorials, wearing sheer black and looking sexual and wanting it. I've always felt one of Gillian's best photos was Pic 18, on the beach and totally nude. It conveys a sense of playfulness and carelessness that gives a different look at this working woman. Back in the office, another classic is Pic 24, one of my old faves because of the awesome expression on Gillian's face as she strips off her thong. Instant classic!! Gillian's breasts aren't anything to be snuffed, as she's got brilliant ones. Gillian's areola were large, and her boobs were plump and tangible through photos, yet looked undeniably natural.

Gillian had the ability to shift her look throughout her pictorials, like in this photo. One of her finest photos of all time is Pic 31, a simple photo with a simple smile, showing off a simply wonderful model. Her makeup, production, setting, costume, and everything else comes together in this picture. It perfectly complements this photo, which gives you the big picture of how all-around amazing this girl is. On the motorcycle in another shot, Gillian is edgy, but back on the beach, she's wistfully graceful. It's astounding how much variety and range can come out of a single model, and with Miss Bonner, the hits just kept on coming. Whether it was a closeup staredown or a kinky pose with loose lingerie, Gillian did it right every single time.

I think that most of these girls so far were very underappreciated as Playmates, like Cara, Heidi, and now Gillian. Gillian brought to Playboy one of the most consistent, productive, and out-of-this-world models ever. She had it all together with an innate charm and edginess that could satisfy any fantasy. After looking at the photos, I don't think I need to explain further why Gillian is my #22 Greatest Playmate of All Time.

#23 - Heidi Sorenson

Heidi Sorenson was Miss July 1981, an icon in the dawn of a new era for Playboy. In the early 1980's, Playboy found Gig Gangel's style, Lisa Welch's innocence, Kim McArthur's ass, and Linda Vaughn's wisftfulness all bringing up new things to talk about. The era was the first time pubic hair was shown in full force, and the first time models were allowed to truly explore the creative landscape. But none of these girls did as much to set the standard for beauty as much as Heidi did. A Canadian sweetheart with a strong heart and artistic background, Miss Sorenson was a freshly mature model with plenty to show off.

Heidi's unbelievable quality of creativity shows in her photos flawlessly. She was incredible in finding new and revolutionary ways of posing, and using sets and props to her advantage. No Playmate before her did what she did, and very few afterwards have been able to replicate it. Heidi's ability to blend in completely with the scenery made her an incredible new talent. It can be argued that it was the photography of the times that makes Heidi so amazing even today. The photographic techniques and shadowing flaws of the past make photos of Miss Sorenson incredibly life-like and natural, not to mention a little whimsical and dreamy.

Heidi was one of the most beautiful women in Playboy history. Her hair blew in the wind, her body was bronzed and gorgeous. Heidi was way ahead of her time... look at Playmates in 1981 other than her, and then look at this photo. You'd swear that Heidi was posing twenty years later, in 2001. What I mentioned about Heidi using settings to her advantage is apparent from her "river-rinse" pictorial. It starts off with a panoramic shot, very artsy and intriguing right away. Heidi is seen completely nude and washing herself in a stream or pond. The next photo is one of the great photos in Playboy history, Pic 14 of Heidi's pictorial. Here, she's the quintessential blonde goddess, with her hair glowing through with the sun in the background, her body glistening with water, and the look on her face absolutely amazing and photogenic. The photos continue in the fields, with this one capturing that browned body. Other amazing shots include the painter, the bedsheet (a great display of an alluring set of eyes), and an outright nude shot showing off her great posing posture.

After that fantastic photo portfolio, there's no doubt Heidi Sorenson is one of the greatest Playmates ever. That's why she's my #23. Her unbelievable bleached blonde look and great talents were timeless, and still capture the essence of a Playboy model today. Even now, girls emulate the example set forth by ladies like Heidi, and she's definitely made her mark for years, although other big names of the 80's may sometimes be mentioned before her.

#24 - Cara Wakelin

Cara Wakelin was Miss November 1999, in an era when Playmates got bustier and the years got sexier. Gorgeous Playmates sprung up month after month, and Cara was one of them. An oft overlooked Playmate because of the exciting Class of '99, complete with Bergman, Fuson, Sokolova, Spicer, Rovero, Cline, Paterson, and Richards, Cara has a lot to prove. This Austrailian-Canadian beauty caught the eyes of real fans of the magazine.

Cara was a very dynamic poser with a smooth technique and beautiful milky skin. Her unique face and dirty blonde hair capture scenes with a natural look and feel. Speaking of natural, her body is the definition of natural. A true outdoorsy gal, Cara's own body is a natural wonder. It's not overdone or underdone, just a perfect balance of breasts and butt.

The main thing I think tells Cara's story is her body. You have to see her to believe her, and you really have to appreciate female beauty to understand everything she has to offer. Cara is the ultimate display of the feminine charm that make women so wonderful to look at. Just look at her stare, and it conveys a playful youthfulness that Cara does unlike anyone else. Some of the series in her pictorial are absolutely jaw-dropping, because of the smoothness of Miss Wakelin's awesome body. Check her out here, and here. Like I said, you have to see her to believe her. Her nudity is so unforced and flawless, without a single hitch. There's nothing that makes it seem like she's trying too hard. She just does it with ease. This classic photo stresses that, and it doesn't stop, with photos of her fantastic bush. This full body shot is one of my favorites... Cara mixes the "cute" with the "raw" as she meshes her smooth nudity with braids and a golden smile. The pictorial then shifts to the bedroom, where Cara turns utterly sexual and her body lights up with gold.

Top it all off with one of the great centerfolds of all-time (curvy and simple, that's how we like em!), and you've got a winner.

All around, Cara is almost second to none when it comes to straight up nude, natural posing. That's what she did best, and that's why she's my #24. Ultimately, it's unfair that Cara was one of the most underrated Playmates of all time, but she's finally gotten her due.

#25 - Carrie Westcott

Carrie Westcott was Miss September 1993, in a year when stars like Echo Johnson and Jenny McCarthy got their starts. But it was Carrie whose dynamic presence really ushered in a new era of grittiness and heavy sexuality in the Playboy world. The early 90's were dotted with stars like Barbara Moore, Anna Nicole Smith, and Suzi Simpson, but Carrie sticks out among them all.

Carrie's significant height (5' 8") and perfect proportions (34-24-34) were easily visible anytime she got in front of the camera. Most of all, however, her pictorials are varied and full of dynamic zeal throughout each photo. She never looks the same in any two photos, and she has so many facets to the character she creates, it's astounding.

One of Carrie's classic shots is the raincoat. Simple, yet Carrie flashes her signature cocked-eyebrow stare at the audience. Let me tell you, nobody's better at looking lean and mean like Carrie. Carrie, indeed, did have very natural breasts. They weren't large by any means, but they were substantial. She flashed her cute smile from time to time, breaking the trend and mixing things up. On full display, Carrie's lightly steamed body is a sight for sore eyes. But Carrie's best photos are there when she's just playing around, being sexy and edgy, like in her classic lingerie strip-tease here and here.

It's no mystery what makes Carrie my #25 Greatest Playmate of All Time. It's a combination of all the things that put her into one sexy package. She was a Playmate with some of the best variety of any girl out there, and she was a staple of the 1990's that could have, and should have contended for a Playmate of the Year spot. We love you, Carrie.

The Countdown Begins

I just want to announce a new feature that I'm about to start here on PlayboyCritic...

Playboy's Top 25 Playmates of All Time!

Now, this will mostly be concentrating on girls within the more recent years, but takes into account models since the early 1970s. It basically concentrates on the impact that the models have made on the Playboy community, and the overall beauty and posing abilities of the girls. It's a very subjective ranking by myself, but it's also a way to break the mold of traditional Playmate rankings, by giving each one a fairer chance. Heck, you might even see some ladies that you hadn't heard from in a while!

So every once in a while, I'll post an entire entry dedicated to one Playmate, counting down from #25 to #1, and going through classic photos that won them the spot among the Playboy ELITE.

It should be interesting...

Foreign Charm

The charm and novelty of a face from a different country is sometimes underestimated. When you look, though, at the offerings of Playmates across the globe, you'll find right away that beauty comes in all sorts of different styles. In my mind, the fun of Playboy is the fact that you never see the same face twice. But recently, and in the past few years, you might not see the same girl twice, but you might see girls who look exactly the same as each other. It sometimes feels like Americans have created a blueprint, and that's what they want to see day after day, week after week.

Foreign Playmates can change that monotony. I just wish some of these girls would come to the USA to show the folks here that Americans love girls from eastern Europe and South America just as much, if not even more, than their North American counterparts.

Take Tina Kovacevic of Serbia, for example. She's a refreshing, smooth starter for anyone new to European Playmates. Her look isn't overpoweringly unfamiliar, but it's still unique and exotic enough to get someone excited about that freshness. Her sexuality is immediately noticeable, and she goes on to show off her assets in a full-on shot. Tina is skinny and large-breasted at the same time, and her jet black hair isn't very commonplace for a light-skinned girl in the USA. Look down, and you even see something between her legs that you don't see here anymore. Kind of refreshing, huh?

The pictorial now takes a more artistic feel, since one thing that characterizes European pictorials is a touch of artsy processing. It makes each pictorial unique, but sometimes also makes the girls feel more idolized and less natural. The first shot is gorgeous, and has an uncanny way of really putting some light on Tina's body and making her skin look flawless. She stumbles a little with some slouched shots like this one. You know I can't stand bad posture and form, although lots of photographers feel like it brings out a familiar humanness in the models. I'll pass on that. Miss Kovacevic continues with sexy full nude shots like this pose, and this black and white teaser. She tops it all off with a full wide-angle shot in a familiar setting, showing her nice posing posture and beautiful eyes.

Tina is a great example of how foreign Playmates can make their mark on American audiences by bringing a unique mark. I think she'd be a fantastic import... (Giuliana Marino or Janine Habeck anyone?)


Consensus... B+

Tina Kovacevic
International Playmate Pictorial









An even more exotic and interesting face is that of Romanian model Andra Chiorascu. What's special about Andra is that she's very petite and a pretty small package. Not to mention that she captures the scene and she's completely beautiful. Right away, you see her gorgeous face and unique hair laid out for you. Her innocence carries through the pictorial, but it's tinged with sexuality, where she lets the audience have a dose of her ability to completely take the focus of the pictorial and deliver. Andra's little package is accentuated with great passion and her lovely eyes. I mean, look at her eyes and tell me they're not perfect. Her youth and innocence really shows in this photo, which looks really natural and cute at once.

Andra's presence is ultimately something that lots of girls have lacked here in the States for quite some time. Her engaging ability should inspire some girls of the same lineage, who are able to capture a scene without necessarily having DD breasts, to come forth and join the ranks.



Consensus... B

Andra Chiorascu
International Playmate Pictorial






If you want to take exotic to the next level, you have Katcha Novak, Miss November 2006 in the Czech Republic. Katcha is nothing like you'd see in American girls... she's alluring, refined, mysterious, and completely unique. She has a glow to her, with her interesting hair and bronzed sexiness, that can't be compared.

Katcha's fantastic butt is really her main asset when it comes to body alone. But what you'll notice is that she's different. Her hair is short, her face has noticeable cheekbones, and her eyes are small and engaging. The truth is, Katcha doesn't have to show off her nude body to show that she's an awesome Playmate. All it takes is a look. Nobody can deny that Katcha's stare wouldn't make them melt. She's something that's different. Check out Pic 08, which really caught my attention with the way she poses herself to accentuate that stare of hers. Brilliant.

After Katcha pulls back her hair, she's already pretty different. Her body immediately takes centerstage, since her hair removes the volume of her face and the centerpiece of the previous pictures. She looks like a completely different girl, and her breasts don't do her justice. But when she flashes that look, it's classic Katcha all over again. Indeed, Katcha's got a classic zeal to her, like the great pin-ups of the 40's and 50's.

Katcha is what dreams are made of. Exotic dreams where the sex partner is saucy and kinky, and out-of-this-world. Her fantasy looks and movie star curves are something I'd love to see a lot more of. In fact, Playboy, bring Tina, Andra, and Katcha ALL to America! There's my two cents.



Consensus... A-

Katcha Kovak
International Playmate Pictorial

Cyber Girl Report

With the recent downturn in quality Cyber Girls of the Month, I've been feeling particularly dejected about the quality of recent Playboy girls. I mean, we haven't had a truly superb CGOM since January (which was, by the way, one of the greatest Cyber Girls in recent history, Kortnie O'Connor). Since then we've just had too many flops, like the overdone Nancy Erminia, the cute-but-inconsistent Ashlee Jae, the extremely bland Samantha Harris, forgettable Jillian Beyor, overplayed Jennifer Hurt, small-breasted Marie Francis, and awkward Patrycja Mikula. Not to mention that the current CGOM, Stephanie Olson, is a complete disaster.

Stephanie's body is tatooed, gritty, and nothing short of unattractive. It's too skinny, oddly proportioned, and her face is completely undynamic. She doesn't change facial expressions throughout many of her pictorials, and she barely even shows any distinction between her pictorials, anyway.

It gets worse if you look at Stephanie's hair. It's completely overprocessed, showing a platinum look that's dated and completely unnatural. It makes her look like a robot or Barbie doll, completely defeating the trend that Playboy has established with Playmates of late.

I know you're going for a hard approach with more mixed girls and a more edgier look, Playboy, but come on. Stephanie isn't suited for any role of Cyber Girl, especially after the superb ladies we've seen as CGOM in years past. There is hope, and that hope lies in the new CGOW's that are emerging lately. But on this one, I've seen one of the worst Cyber Girls in recent history make it to the next level towards annual greatness.



Consensus... D

Stephanie Olson
Cyber Girl of the Month pictorials
September 2007






As I've been meaning to discuss for quite some time now, the Cyber Girls of the Week have recently become something to take notice of. In the past, I didn't even see great CGOM's with quality weekly pictorials before their ascent. But now, new girls are coming out every week that are top-notch... some maybe even Playmate material. But let's not jump the gun. Let's take a look at this month's awesome lineup.

This month has been very enticing for Cyber Girls of the Week. Lots of fresh faces and potential stars are on the rise, starting with Week 1 and Angi Mari Yangas. Angi is sexy and fresh, but brings a touch of mature sexuality to the table. Her body is awesome, not to mention her sexy stare. It was certainly a refreshing change to see a more mature, put together girl in a weekly pictorial.

September continued with Week 2's Meghan Allen, a blonde Texas bombshell with plenty of southwestern blue-eyed goodness. Seriously, Meghan is the real deal, and is definitely a future star, from what I've seen. Her presence in front of the camera is breathtaking, as she does it here, and again, and repeatedly shows off her gorgeous face and awesome posing technique. Her body is stacked, hard, raw, and picturesque. Her backside shots were some of the best I've ever seen for a CGOW pictorial, and I can only imagine what she'd bring to the table for a monthly issue.

Week 3 brought Francessca DeMarco, who came in with her cute little babydoll, waiting to impress. Francessca is charming and alluring, with a beautiful smile always complementing that rock-hard body. Hell, even when she isn't smiling, she's got the camera's attention with her undeniable beauty. She's an example of what sets September's class apart from CGOW classes of the past: the sheer ability to speak to the camera with their bodies and to capture a scene without much effort. Fran is natural and gorgeous towards the end, and I wouldn't mind one bit if she was CGOM, either. Just look at her, she's so youthful and has lots of potential.

All in all, it's been a good month, and the hits just keep on coming. July was also an excellent month for Cyber Girls, as Mary Karola and Jessica Jones stole the show with their great posing skills and beauty. It's only a matter of time before CGOM's are picked from these exciting classes, where we'll see a real influx of awesome pictorials and tons more to go over!