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.

A New Low

Shawn, Miss February

 Is it really too much to ask for Playboy to return to its glorious past? I'm not even referring to the 1980's and 1990's, when the magazine churned out spectacular and superior women as Playmates who were truly iconic. I'm not looking for even that kind of standard anymore - we've gone too far down the rabbit hole for that. I'm just talking about some quality women like we saw 3 or 4 years back, in the mid-2000's. Women who are hand-picked for their talent, then placed into a pictorial setting where they can jog our imaginations.

The truth is, a good Playmate candidate doesn't need much work. Put them in an intimate setting with a little costuming, and let them go about their magic. All the greats have that talent, as anyone on my Hall of Fame list would show. It's just natural.

In 2012 and now starting off 2013, there's a disturbing trend. Where is my beloved magazine with its talented and unique women? These are cookie cutter girls that have been crowded with setpieces and gimmicks that constrict their true nature, and cloud the real subject matter here.

To exacerbate the problem and prove my point, take a look at Shawn Dillon, Miss February 2013. This spunky 26-year old is someone that I really banked on, someone who I'd set my hopes on ever since I laid my eyes on some of her awesome lingerie and modeling shots. Shawn is innately a gorgeous girl, with probably one of the most appealing faces we've seen since Laura Croft. She's very youthful and genuine, and although she seems to have always lacked the posing talent, she's still wonderfully great to watch.

Until Playboy got ahold of her, that is. So my utter dismay, Playboy took one of the most promising Playmates in months, a potential star in the early running for PMOY, and destroyed her. They took a perfectly fine model and stuck her in one of the worst pictorials I've ever seen a Playmate in.

Where do I start with this thing? It's just a disaster. Shawn has so much color and life, and they sucked everything out of her in this putrid display. Instead, she looks pale, her hair frazzled and unbecoming. She looks constantly strained and out of place in the maritime setting, struggling to find a single ounce of spice or flash. She's shot in awkward sitting positions, which never captures the great shapeliness of Miss Dillon's body, ignoring the fact that she has a wonderfully plump ass.

Can you find the vaguely naked
woman in this photo?

That's just the start. What about the plethora of uncropped and unfinished photos of Shawn fishing from afar, without a single hint of nudity or even a close look at the model at all? There's a row of 23 shots in this pictorial that are virtually IDENTICAL! It's almost as if the editors over at Playboy are just playing a game with us here, thinking that their readers and fans are just a group of fools. The introduction of rookie photographer Tony Kelly might have something to do with it, but no Playboy point man should be this out of touch.

Through all the horrifying shortcomings of the pictorial, you never are able to get a feel for how great Shawn is, and that's the travesty here. If this was a passive, boring woman like Lisa Seiffert of last year, it would be mildly passable. But this was a model with loads of potential, with supple skin and a great energy about her that could have been something very special. What a shame.

• Face: A-
  The photographers almost try every dopey move to try to obscure or downplay Shawn's beautiful face in this pictorial, but I still won't knock the fact that she is one lovely model, and this is her greatest strength. Take a clean look at her pearly smile and those inevitable eyes, and you won't doubt this woman for a minute.
• Body: A-
  Finally, we get a Playmate with the physical tools: a centerpiece of a face, a balanced and slim body, and we get stuck with a subpar performance. There's still no denying that Shawn does possess those tools, most notably her absolutely lovely butt. There's not much definition or curvature to her backside, but her buttocks protrude in a nice bubble, which is never captured to the extent that it needs to be. This should be an obvious focal point in her photo set.
• Talent: B
  Shawn deserves another shot to prove herself, because there should be more to her than this. When you go back and look at her previous modeling work, though, it's easy to see that she's a bit thin on moves. She never gets into any rhythm with her PM pictorial, jet skiing and fishing and doing anything but actually posing for the camera.
• Pictorial: C-
  I think I've said enough about this photo set entry of Shawn's, and how unfortunate it's been. I can safely say that it is one of the worst pictorials I've seen in years, possibly the worst in decades. This kind of output is totally unacceptable, and I hope newcomer Tony Kelly and the rest of the crew step things up, and fast.
• Centerfold: C
  The centerfold falls into the same vein as the rest of the photo set, with Shawn standing in a beach setting with an obscured body and absolutely no attention to detail. 
• Overall: B
  The miserable pictorial set of Miss Dillon drags her down from a possible A-caliber Playmate to a mid-grade model. This is just not fair to Shawn or her fans, and hopefully her Playmate exclusives performance does her some justice and brings her back in time for the Playmate ranking. For Shawn, I might make an exception in my year-end ranking and boost her rating if I see a better pictorial, because she just didn't perform on a level playing field. She's a model with loads of potential who just got a raw deal.

PBC Hall of Fame - Carol Imhof (1970)

One of my very favorite classic Playmates is the incredibly angelic Carol Imhof, Miss December 1970. Still one of the iconic Miss Decembers in Playboy's history, Carol holds a special place in my heart, as well as the heart of countless other Playmate fans.

Carol
Miss December 1970

Carol was not my pick for PMOY in 1971, but that's only because she was matched up by the beautiful Jen Liano, also a PBC Hall member. However, in any other year in the decade, Carol would have taken things by storm.

Carol really carried the torch and set the standard for women in the '70's, and was a perfect cap to the 1960's era of ladies. Unlike Miss Liano, Carol is more of an archetype of the era, more voluptuous and curvy while still maintaining the short and stout frame that was the norm. These weren't the overly polished women of today, but they still resembled Hollywood glamour like they just don't do nowadays.

Indeed, everything about Carol straddles the line between high-end starlet and everyday girl down the street. Her face, to this day, is the stuff of legends. Her eyes alone should be in my hall of fame, always filling a photo with a bright beacon and becoming the central focus of any shot. Carol's angelic look was transcendent, and makes you sit back and think. Since today we overvalue the shock value of some taut, fake breasts and closely exposed genitalia, we miss out on true starpower like we see with Miss Imhof. This is a relic of a bygone era, to be celebrated.

• Face: A+
  Carol's face is still one of the greatest in Playboy history, along with greats such as Cynthia Myers and Jennifer Liano. Her spectacularly deep eyes and subtle innocence make her one of the most endearing and beloved Playmates in history.
• Body: A-
  Having the curvaceous and buxom frame of Playmates in the late 1960's, Carol's follows the trend, with large, tangible breasts that are shot gorgeously throughout her pictorial. Almost perfectly shaped and never too large, they complement an otherwise nicely tapered physique.
• Talent: A
  A glance here, a flashing of the lashes there, a flutter of the hair or a serene and inviting look. Carol's style is classic and timeless, with understated beauty and passive posing executed wonderfully.
• Pictorial: A+
  As I said above, Carol's passive posing style plays to her strengths perfectly here. She never does too much to break the relaxed atmosphere of her photo set, and never gets in the way of her own innate beauty. She doesn't have to try too hard to look spectacular.
• Centerfold: B+
• Overall: A+
  Reminiscing about beauties of the early days of Playboy is a pleasure, and looking back at women like Carol are the reasons why. While what we find attractive has truly changed, with models' bodies and posing styles evolving constantly, one thing is certain: beauty sells. In that vein, Carol produced, and brought home some seriously sexy shots while just being herself. It's a mentality that many a model nowadays can learn from - keeping it simple can speak volumes.

One Bland Blonde

Karina, Miss January

We had a pretty good 2012 class. Top to bottom, there was some good depth of talent, apparently some of the best we had in years. But as I've said before, there was never a defining knockout Playmate, who truly reshaped and redefined the direction of Playboy as a brand.

We haven't had a woman like that in forever. It feels like the last truly impactful models were Katie Vernola and Hall of Famer Amy Leigh Andrews back in 2010. Since then, we've had a collection of retreads, and even the greats (Toth, Horton, Chesnes) never could break through to that iconic status. So, we hope for lucky number 2013 to bring us that really special girl that tickles our fancy and drops our jaws.

Unfortunately, we'll need to wait another month. Miss January is Karina Marie, who kicks things off in a very underwhelming fashion. It's actually quite astounding how vanilla this Playmate is. It's not even easy to call Karina a "safe" choice, as she's way beyond that. This is a downright boring, uninteresting, and untalented Playmate who's taking up a spot where others may be far more deserving.

Karina's sneering, unattractive, and squinty gaze is never the attention grabber that we expect in Playmates nowadays. She sits in most of her photos, passive and expressionless, with little to offer in terms of true visual stimulation. The most we get out of her in the way of 'posing' is a slight flutter of the hair, a little forced grin, and a little budge of the nondescript features of her body to show that she's actually active.

When it comes to physical qualities, Karina suffers just as much. Her body is as bland and pointless as her posing, lacking any true contour or character at all. Her pale skin and overly slim build just doesn't look good in the camera's scrutinizing gaze, and her genitals are completely missing from view.

• Face: C+
  I guarantee that I won't be able to recall Karina's face a few months into 2013, without a doubt. Her angular face and lack of any character comes with nary a single smile. There's nothing but a dismal and unrecognizable sneer all over.
• Body: B-
  Easily one of the worst Playmate bodies we've seen in a few years, Karina leaves a ton to be desired. Her tall frame is far underweight, leading to a rippling and slim body with absolutely no curvature to offer any semblance of a silhouette. She has not a single defining feature, and then some, and her underexposed pictorial set doesn't help at all.
• Talent: B-
  Karina is a lifeless and tiresome girl without a single glimmer of talent throughout her photo set. She barely moves an inch, and each position does nothing to make up for her ultimately uninspiring body.
• Pictorial: C+
  There's just nothing here. It's ok to an extent that Karina is a dismally boring model, but to make matters worse, there's nothing sexually charged about these photos at all. It's just a model who happens to be naked, who lacks all balance whatsoever.
• Centerfold: B-
  A thoughtless, lame centerfold is just too fitting for Karina.
• Overall: C+
  You can tell that I just didn't enjoy Karina, as I felt she had no business being a Playmate. Sadly, it's a position that's seen better days, and the best classes of Playmates are far behind us. With women like Karina, it only feels like those great days are that much farther away, and that they'll never return again. She is an entirely uninspired choice by the editors, with no talent or physical strengths at all. The most you can say about her is that she's all-natural, but then again, so are most women. A forgettable Playmate to start off what will hopefully be an unforgettable year.

Then again, even the best classes didn't always start off with the best Miss Januaries. How about Shawn Dillon, the petite hottie that's tabbed for Miss February? Hopefully things are pointing up!

2013 Playmate of the Year Candidates

2012 was yet another class of Playmates without a truly iconic standout. Our last A+ Playmate was more than two years ago. This year's group of girls also marked a strong turn from years past in terms of diversity -- culturally and ethnically, they covered all their bases, but we were left with a black and white, monochromatic feel to it all. However, it was still one of my highest rated classes in years, and has one of the highest average ratings in more than a decade! So, for the countdown...

#12

Lisa Seiffert, Miss March

Age 29 | 34C-24-35 | 5'11" | 125 lbs

One of the tallest Playmates in years, Lisa can be noted as the last Playmate of the Cyber Club era. Her pictorial looks like a hodgepodge of modeling shots, a hasty mess with little to sit back and appreciate. She's entirely unpolished and unqualified to be a Playmate, and seemingly got the short end of the stick with very minimal production value whatsoever.

The Good: While there's not a whole lot you can gather from Lisa's paltry offering, you will find that she's tall. I'm talking enormously tall, at almost six feet. Lisa is the tallest Playmate since 1999's Natalia Sokolova (also 5' 11"), and it shows in her photos. Her slim, leggy body is a lone standout here.

The Bad: While Lisa's height and the apparent toughness of her frame are why she was chosen as Playmate, the editors did nothing to further that dream. Lisa's pictorial is weak and pathetic, with only a handful of photos doing her any justice. The awkward poses may simply be due to the meager subject matter, but be that as it may this is just unacceptable. Lisa is a "filler" Playmate, if there ever was one.

Face: B-

Body: B

Talent: B

Pictorial: C

Centerfold: B

Overall: B-

#11

Beth Williams, Miss August

Age 25 | 34C-24-34 | 5'9" | 123 lbs

After a long turn as a Cyber Club model and years of notoriety for being a girl next door with a well-proportioned body and ample posing skill, Playboy finally succumbed to fan pressure and made Miss Williams a Playmate. Now, many fans might be outraged at my placement of Beth at #11, and this might be akin to me putting Jaclyn Swedberg so low last year, but the truth is I never "got" Beth as a model. She is a pretty girl, but that's where the appeal ends. In her Playmate appearance, Beth's bleached hair and strange face just turned me off, and sunk her in my rankings.

The Good: Throughout her years as a Cyber Girl, it's been Beth's body that is her finest feature. It's all at once natural, toned, and wonderfully photogenic. It's not ever eye-catchingly proportioned, but that's never the case with Miss Williams. Beth also shows flashes of being a physical, aware poser, but never goes far enough.
The Bad: The best word to describe Beth is boring. Here's a model who's made all the rounds, but never really took her skills to the next echelon. And for that, she suffers greatly, putting on a Playmate performance on the downward slope of her career. She is past her prime here, delivering a yawn-inspiring performance. Her edgy, odd face never jives with the camera, and her physical wonder is not nearly enough to offset her strange appearance in photos. And that hair is just too bright to mention.

Face: B

Body: B+

Talent: B

Pictorial: C+

Centerfold: B

Overall: B

#10

Amanda Streich, Miss December

Age 19 | 34C-26-35 | 5'9" | 126 lbs

The youngest Playmate of 2012 was also one of the oddest choices, with nary a true qualifying trait that makes her right for Miss December. While the Polish model is quite beautiful and pleasant to lay eyes on, she suffers from a dearth of talent and never gets comfortable in her own nudity. While Amanda has the physical goods to take it further, it's her placement as a Playmate that is still puzzling, especially after following some tough acts.
The Good: Amanda is strongly photogenic, which you would otherwise think could catapult a woman into the top 5 for a year. She also has a really fine body, with great length and a slinky, soft, and feminine frame that really suits her posing style. Amanda is tight, long, and lean, and that just transfers extremely well into photos.
The Bad: While Amanda does have her selling points, she suffers greatly as Playmates have done in the past, simply because she's not suited for the job. Miss Streich has the build and pedigree of a stylish Polish fashion star, but is never comfortable being nude. She's dolled up as is protocol, but never wears her lingerie with the conviction and attitude that a great Playmate does. She never strikes a great pose, and her odd facial structure and angular features never soften the blow.

Face: B-

Body: B+

Talent: B

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: B

#9

Raquel Pomplun, Miss April

Age 24 | 34B-25-36 | 5'6" | 123 lbs

Raquel tied off the third of the year and became a heavy fan favorite. With a pearly smile and a sinewy smooth body, she won the hearts and minds of Playboy fans and instantly became a frontrunner in the race. To me, though, she can't stand her own in an otherwise relatively strong class with some good talent. Raquel is just an average girl with average talent. Although I can't argue with her selection as a Playmate, she falls towards the back of the pack here.
The Good: Given Raquel's shortcomings in her pictorial, she's still a glowing and alluring girl with lots to offer the camera. She is far more deserving of the Playmate title than any of the other three in the countdown so far, mainly due to her exotic appeal and soft features. Her face is one of the prettiest of the year, with easy eyes and lovely long locks. This is a girl with flashes of talent that I can see winning PMOY as a darkhorse, sort of how Jaclyn took it last year. What could carry her that far is simply her intangible photogenic appeal.
The Bad: It's somewhat obvious what makes Raquel so popular, it's more important as to what keeps her held back. As with the other ladies who lag behind this year, it's simply her lack of Playmate punch that holds her from being a true star. Firstly, it's her physical shortcomings that really come across. Raquel is overly skinny and angular, with her body never coming through well in pictures. The pictorial suffers because of poor lighting technique, and Raquel's body just looks awkward and too tall in the process. This, on top of Miss Pomplun's lack of sexual intensity, combine to hold her back. If it was any other year, she might have skyrocketed to fame, but I'll keep her at #9 on my list.

Face: B+

Body: B-

Talent: B

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: A-

Overall: B

#8

Britany Nola, Miss November

Age 21 | 34B-24-36 | 5'9" | 125 lbs

One of the more distinctive Playmates of the year, Britany is a spunky, fiery girl with a retro twist. Her smoky eyes, short blonde hair, and edgy posing style is all a tribute to Playmates of the past. Heck, she even sported a sexy pubic bush to take it to the next level. What I saw in Britany was a girl with talent and a great offering to back it all up, but without the real physical tools to rise above the cream of the Playmate crop. Still, in a class as deep as this year's, Britany is a fine girl, with a sexy take on the role of the modern Playmate. With some of the up-and-down talent of 2012, it was refreshing to see a deserving selection like her to shake things up.
The Good: Britany is glamorous, bombastic, and seductive. She takes the pictorial theme given to her (with all its flaws) and runs with it, transforming it into an above average performance. If some of the other ladies on this list had half the talent Miss Nola had and showed it like she did, they'd have fared better on my rankings. The periodic flashes of a coy smile or a raise of the eyebrow do wonders for this model, and on skill alone she earns the title of Playmate.
The Bad: If only Britany had the physical goods to go along with that charisma, we'd have a whole different ranking right here. Instead, a pale, overly slim body with little to really stimulate the senses leaves a whole lot of talent with little to rest itself on. Although the pubes are a nice touch, the homage goes so far. Britany's face makes for some beautiful expressions, but is never memorable, and comes across as sadly average in a year with few amazing faces. Thus, Britany is yet another example of what could have been.

Face: B

Body: B

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B+

Centerfold: B+

Overall: B

#7

Heather Knox, Miss January

Age 26 | 34DD-26-35 | 5'4" | 125 lbs

The first Playmate of 2012, Heather is like an acquired taste that only gets better with time. The gorgeous blonde bombshell is a quintessential part of every Playmate class, and Heather was introduced right off the bat. Although she's had little fanfare or love from the fans in general, it's probably just because Heather fades into the background if you don't take a closer look. Once you dig deeper, Miss Knox is an eye-popping package of a woman, with sumptuous curves and a bright, sinful posing style that really delivers in handfuls. Although she may not get the love in the end, and is a long shot for the PMOY title, Heather ascends my list because she's got just enough to keep coming back for more.
The Good: The body. The big, juicy body. Heather has an atypically stout and square frame for a Playmate, with a small frame that deviates from the exceedingly slender women of this era. Heather is voluptuous and curvaceous all over, and that's what makes her so sexy. Her huge DD breasts are the centerpiece of her pictorial, looking great in every photo when adorned by wisps of her striped blonde hair. Aside from the goods, Heather knows how to move it, with a perky and energetic posing style that is among the most attractive of the year. Although she's no expert, she uses her body to her every advantage, moving and exposing her great body in every picture.
The Bad: Heather may sport a killer body, but she's also not the most memorable of ladies. This is a problem with many of the girls in the bottom of my list, but it's a sad fact. Miss Knox can't hold her own in her pictorial, trying her best but ending up with a weak overall collection. Her face is attractive but generic, her costuming bland and boring, and the overall look crying for something new. You can have all the body in the world, but there were better bodies in 2012, and better performances too.

Face: B

Body: A-

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: B

#6

Nikki Leigh, Miss May

Age 23 | 34C-26-32 | 5'3" | 112 lbs

Springtime Playmate Nikki probably will go down as one of the most forgettable girls of the 2012 group. With such a well-balanced class and some impactful entries, it's easy to see why this small bland blonde would get lost in the fray. And while she never really breaks through in a big way, Nikki kicks off the top half of my rankings simply because she's good at what she does. Miss Leigh is a scrappy poser with presence and energy. While she doesn't come close to possessing the physical bombast of a Heather Knox, per se, she still delivers better, and does so with a certain charm about her.
The Good: There isn't anything complex about Nikki's posing; it's really quite simple, really. This is a solid, talented model whose Playmate nomination may be a little questionable, but is nonetheless a very good model. Nikki's body is tiny, sharing the distinction of being the shortest Playmate of the year. While that's not always a great thing, Nikki makes it work with a very thin profile. Her sensuality can be found in her facial expressions, as she does a good job of conveying emotion and zest with eyes that can sometimes look generic but still very attractive. Nikki is also one of the more talented ladies so far in my ranking, putting up some respectable poses one after another. While the editors hold her back with a conservative pictorial, this model can hold her own.
The Bad: I've already pointed it out, but I'll say it again - Nikki is a hopelessly bland model. Although there may be more than meets the eye due to her occasional flashes of brilliance (she does a hell of a shot in front of a mirror), she never breaks through the wall. It's the case with too many models these days, but Nikki hits that wall again and again. She also doesn't benefit from a body that lacks any defining features, being small but not voluptuous and curvaceous like Shelby's, and not tight and petite like some of the other ladies this year. Nikki is ultimately destined to be forgotten this year, but she put up quite a fight.

Face: B+

Body: B

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B

Overall: B+

#5

Amelia Talon, Miss June

Age 22 | 34D-24-36 | 5'7" | 120 lbs

The top five girls vying for the 2013 crown starts off with a talent that's on the top of many fans' ballots for PMOY. Sultry and smoldering, Amelia Talon was a staple of the Cyber Club for over a year before her appearance as Playmate. This is a model whose intangible qualities make her one of the most intriguing entries of the 2012 class - she's probably the most sexually provocative girl in the entire group. With a petite but curvaceous and sinewy body, and a piercing and memorable gaze, Amelia is absolutely deserving of the fanfare, and should make her presence felt in the race to the top. While she never makes the leap into being an A-caliber girl, with a weak pictorial holding her back, this is without a doubt one of the ladies to watch moving forward.
The Good: I do like using the word "smoldering" when describing Amelia. She's one of those women that we see from time to time, akin to Jessa Hinton of 2011 or the great Buffy Tyler of 2000. Her eyes and face hit you with a raw and sexual power that really hits on all cylinders, giving her a glowing and immersive feel in each and every photo. While her pictorial falls short, the model is never to blame, capturing each photo and making it her own. Amelia has the innate ability to take command when she wants it. It obviously doesn't hurt to have a body like hers - with a recent breast augmentation it certainly packs more of a punch. But even more so, it's her soft almond tan that looks gorgeous in pictures, and really makes her look exotic. The newfound curvaceous quality of this model is unusual given her slimness, but a beautiful arching back and great posture contribute to an awesome silhouette. A truly luscious model.
The Bad: While I've given Amelia plenty of praise, it's her lack of ability to go above and beyond her limits that constricts her potential. Amelia doesn't seem to have a wide range of posing abilities, putting on a snarl that pervades throughout her pictorial. We'd love to see a greater range of physical posing to help keep a poor pictorial set afloat, but she never manages to do it. While her body and face seem to look good no matter what's going on, this woman could have been so much more.

Face: B+

Body: A-

Talent: B+

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B-

Overall: B+

#4

Alana Campos, Miss September

Age 20 | 36C-25-36 | 5'9" | 118 lbs

Towards the tail end of the Playmate class is where we found our obligatory busty Latina Playmate, in this case a young Brazilian beauty by the name of Alana. While it's always great to have our annual entry in this slot, Alana couldn't fully live up to her billing because of a poor pictorial, which wasn't really poorly executed. Alana turned out to be a spectacular woman, one with a body of a champion and the smile of an angel. While she doesn't pack the punch of a Francesca Frigo of yesteryear, Alana holds her own quite well, and is one of the top entries for the year, and is proving to be a definite fan favorite of sorts, rivaled only by Amelia or Raquel.
The Good: The obvious strength of Alana's is her body, and you'll get the impression by looking at just about any photo of this model. While it's not the best of the year, it's still a standout. Alana's curvaceous breasts are nearly perfect, perfectly framing a supple and silky smooth body. Her neckline is feminine and attractive, tapering down to her upper body beautifully. Her lower body is certainly streamlined, with some great height at 5' 9", although I kept wishing that the photographers would do this justice by getting her long legs in the shot more often. It's something that's underutilized but certainly not underappreciated by myself. To top it all off, Alana has a knack for the camera, flashing a spectacular cheek-to-cheek smile in as many shots as possible. The glowing, toothy grin is Miss Campos's hallmark, giving her a unique look that deviates from those Brazilian bombshells before her.
The Bad: Alana's primary misstep is her weak pictorial, probably with no fault of her own. This is a talented and incredibly photogenic model that got a raw deal and a weak, bland picture set. Alana has skill, but not the kind of skill to really overcome the lack of direction. As I've said before, she never goes with a certain motif, either being too conservative and playful or at times looking edgy and sexy. I would have wanted her to be more aggressive at times, since her body time is conducive to some really hot poses, but she's never given the opportunity. Also, I'd have to say that I was a little disappointed in the overall balance of Alana's body, with her lower body just not cutting it when putting it up to the standards of some of the other ladies of this class and before. While it's got great length, it's not enough to be an "A+" sort of physique, and that's a shame.

Face: B+

Body: A-

Talent: A-

Pictorial: B

Centerfold: B
Overall: A-

#3

Leola Bell, Miss February

Age 27 | 35D-23-36 | 5'4" | 114 lbs

My Top 3 ladies for the 2012 class kicks off with my early favorite for Playmate of the Year, and one that stood in that position until the year started coming to a close. Leola Bell is a sweet, radiant girl with the body of a truly iconic Playmate. One of the best African American Playmate entries in years (arguably better than Kylie Johnson of last year), Leola pounds the competition this year with a strong presence and an incredible posing style. While she might be a mixed bag to many fans this year, I saw the greatness in Miss Bell, and I think she certainly deserves to be amidst the PMOY competition. If you don't agree, take another look through her pictorial, and better yet, watch her videos. My thoughts are that you'll change your mind, at least a little bit.
The Good: Let's not beat around the bush (or in this case, the clean shaven bush) - Leola is all about the body, and that's why she's perched in this spot among my top 3. Her statuesque figure is truly breathtaking, and with an energy and passionate style, she's a wonder to watch in pictures. Start simply with her gorgeous proportions, where she sports one of the lowest waist-to-hip ratios in years (0.639, the lowest since 55th anniversary Playmate Dasha Astafieva in '09). And it's not just a number - it shows in every photo. Leola is both bombastic and outrageous in her physique, pretty easily the best overall body of the year. Her chiseled, lengthy looking frame is capped off by some great, huge breasts that are the cornerstone of every single photo. Her bronzed skin looks positively radiant all throughout, and it's complemented by what's easily the best butt of the year as well. It's just too well balanced to pass up. Combine this with a hard, physical, and energetic posing style with a sharpness and zeal that oozes through the pages, and you have one of the best Playmates of 2012.
The Bad: Take away the body and the posing, and you can find a flaw or two in Leola's game. For one thing, she might not be so highly ranked in many other years, but this is a class that lacks the top stars, and contains some real depth. Leola has depth, but not necessarily star quality. I would be surprised to see Leola win PMOY, simply because she's not totally accessible to the masses. She does have a great body, but her face is an acquired taste that may delight many (like myself) but not hit as hard for others, having an edgier and more out of the box look. She also lacks the intangibles of a great Playmate, while obviously hitting on all those gushing tangibles. Still, I hope that more fans catch on to just how special Leola is, particularly in what a deserving talent we have here.

Face: B

Body: A

Talent: A-

Pictorial: A

Centerfold: B+

Overall: A-

#2

Pamela Horton, Miss October

Age 24 | 32C-22-35 | 5'7" | 110 lbs

Each year, we have what I like to call the "impact Playmate," who really puts a stamp on the class by exuding a uniqueness that defines the year. Last year, she was Amanda Cerny, before that it was Katie Vernola, and in '09 Kim Phillips was the standard bearer. This year, it's pretty clear-cut to me that Pamela Horton is that woman. I can't really say enough about this model in this short rundown, but suffice it to say that this girl is one of the most intriguing, special Playmates I've seen in years. The reasons are numerous: Pam has an atypical body that is outstandingly shot. She has a face that smolders. She has talent up the wazoo. And of course, she has Playmate written all over her. Pam just plain delivers, and although there are mixed opinions over her in the Playboy blogosphere, this blogger is sure about this one, as she's one of my top picks for Playmate of the Year 2013.
The Good: It's usually easiest to start with a great Playmate's body as her primary strength, but this is no  easy model to describe. Miss Horton's physique is certainly unusual, and you'll take that away as soon as you see her. She's extremely slim, with small breasts and an aerodynamically proportioned body with  sleek, sharp lines. Her silhouette is outstanding, and the numbers back it up: Pam has the lowest waist-hip ratio (0.629) since PMOY Ida Ljungqvist's perfect 0.6 years ago. Now that is something. You see that in the incredible photographs of Pam's full body, when she's there in all her nude glory. In those photos, her tapering waistline feeds into a spectacular pair of legs, her tall frame looking absolutely perfect. You could wish for bigger boobs on her, but it just wouldn't make sense, as they look very satisfactory when you take a closer look. It all combines to make for a really special woman - the intriguing face is just a microcosm of all this. While not accessible for all, those coy looks and squinty, sexual stares are enough to melt any heart. The impeccable posing is so consistent that I was just blown away by every move. This is a sweet, spunky, incredibly likeable model that is absolutely one of the best Playmates of the year.
The Bad: While Pam is without a doubt towards the top of my list, and is only inches from being my #1, her faults are enough for other fans to put her out of the PMOY race. As with Leola, Pam's face is not as accessible, looking at times tired and unfocused. I love this girl's face, but the flat hair and sullen expressions can turn off some. Pam's body type might also be a point of contention. Although it's without a doubt a very photogenic physique in its own right, it won't always suit all tastes. Still, I ask that the casual Playboy lover dig deeper into this girl, paying special attention to the nuances that make her so endearing.
Face: A-

Body: A-

Talent: A

Pictorial: A

Centerfold: B+

Overall: A

#1

Shelby Chesnes, Miss July

Age 21 | 34C-25-34 | 5'3" | 100 lbs

My pick for Playmate of the Year might have come as a bit of a surprise to some, but it shouldn't. Throughout a deep and talented group of ladies, no one of them is as well-rounded and visually stunning as Miss Shelby Chesnes. Shelby is best described as an "every girl," whose familiar looks make her instantly endearing and fun to watch. But with a fierce and energetic posing style that cements her as undoubtedly the best talent of the year, and the top talent since Toth, what we have here is a shining star. It was a close-fought race up the charts, and it should be one of the closest PMOY votes in years, but there are simply more reasons to love Shelby than there are to love anyone else. Let me run through them with you...
The Good: Shelby is by no means the "ultimate PMOY candidate," but that's just because she's so darn normal. And that's a good thing; it's downright refreshing. Shelby is, at first glance, one of those vintage Playboy girls next door, which is something that was conspicuously missing from the 2012 class. But she doesn't remain normal for long - once you see her remove those shreds of clothing, you immediately see that what we have here is a real firecracker. The first thing you'll note is just how close to perfect Shelby's body is. It's outstandingly voluptuous, even more than you'd expect. She has the best breasts of the class, large, soft, and visibly smooth, as is her skin. The overall curvature of her body is simply outstanding. Her butt rivals even Leola's for the best of the year, looking plump and sexy. Her lower back curves in with textbook proportionality. There just isn't a flaw on this woman's body, from head-to-toe, which is surprising given that she joins Nikki in being the shortest model of the class (at 5' 3"). Even with her diminutive size, she looks long and lean in photos, which is a testament to just how suitable her pictorial is for her. Indeed, it's a great pictorial, with all of the ingredients that make a spectacular performance: varied costuming, excellent posing, and great treatment of the subject matter. In the end, Shelby is just a wholesome woman that has little difficulty in commanding a pictorial and running away with it. It's this well-roundedness that makes her my pick for Playmate of the Year 2013. Good luck!!
The Bad: You could have guessed that my bragging about Shelby being the best "girl next door" would be its own drawback here, and it's true. Shelby is an efficient, calculated, and overall very sexy model. But she also utterly lacks the pop and sizzle that Pamela or Amelia bring to the table. It's the only thing that keeps Shelby from entering Hall of Famer territory - she's just too damn normal. Don't confuse normal for boring here, because Shelby puts on the best performance she could possibly give. But we're still left searching for that A+ caliber girl here, and are left to look to next year.

Face: A-

Body: A

Talent: A

Pictorial: A+

Centerfold: A-

Overall: A

Playmate Superlatives

Best Breasts
Shelby Chesnes

Best Butt
Leola Bell

Best Face

Shelby Chesnes

Best Body
Leola Bell

Best Pictorial
Shelby Chesnes

Best Talent
Pamela Horton

A Bit of a Streich

Amanda, Miss December

Can you smell it in the air? The holidays are upon us, and that means several things. In the Playboy world, it means one big thing - the annual Playmate of the Year race has just begun. All twelve ladies are set and vying for the title, and there can only be one winner.

The Class of 2012 has been an up and down affair, but one with more positives than negatives. It's been an improvement, with some of the highest average PlayboyCritic scores in years. While the year has lacked the diversity and strong, bold picks we've seen in past years, the quality has been higher than normal. Although we went through the year without any A+ scores, it was still a strong showing.

Capping off the string of nice performances to close out the season, we have Miss December, Amanda Streich. Amanda is a relative unknown in the States, a very leggy Polish model with an archetypical model-like quality. More than any other entrant this year, Amanda represents the mainstream modeling industry with flair. And that's not necessarily a good thing.

Once I laid eyes on our latest Playmate, the thought that immediately came to mind was, "Wow, this woman is lovely! But do I want to see her naked?" Now, I mean no offense by this, but the fact is that Amanda is simply not born to pose in the nude. She's a consummate fashion model, with a graceful and flowing posing style that's quite photogenic. But she never truly belongs in Playboy.

What makes Amanda a promising woman is that she's just got the photogenic look. Her face is not particularly attractive - on the contrary, it's her glaring weakness - but she has an innate glow about her that hits the spot. While she's dealt a poor pictorial that never allows her the room to show off her abilities, this is a model who just doesn't below without her clothes on.

That's not to say Amanda doesn't look great naked. She absolutely does. Miss Streich's body is artistic and sexually raw, with completely natural lines and awesome height (5' 9" but looking even taller at times). I was left pining for some more full-body shots showing off her lower frame, but her perfectly sized breasts and tight pussy are really great to lay eyes on.

Still, there's just something not right about Amanda. She just never takes the step into Playmate territory. Granted, she's not the least deserving Playmate selection of the 2012 class (read: Lisa Seiffert), but it's what keeps her mediocre, and several shades less-than-amazing.

• Face: B-
  Amanda can nail some photos here and there, but it's all in spite of her face, not because of it. It's angular, bony, and downright unattractive at times, with an anonymous look becoming immediately forgettable. Shallow, uninspired eyes never capture the camera, and her lips stay open far too much to look remotely serious.
• Body: B+
  Amanda's physique won't win any awards, but that doesn't stop her from being well above-average in this department. Her graceful, long body type is quite stunning, with nicely full breasts for such a petite woman, and a popping butt as well. The great balance is very surprising, and lifts Amanda well above where she would otherwise fall. Although it doesn't totally erase her other weaknesses, bare-shouldered and slinky Miss Streich is awesomely photogenic.
• Talent: B
  The biggest issue I have with Amanda is right here - this is a woman with talent. Just not the right kind of talent. She would fit in perfectly in a fashion advertisement, or an episode of America's Next Top Model. This isn't a fashion show. Playboy models need the sizzle, presence, and sex appeal without clothing that few women possess, and that's why it isn't only fashion models that are selected here. Amanda delivers some nice photos, but never goes far enough.
• Pictorial: B
  It's the same issue as above - Amanda's out of her depth here. The editors dress her up in saucy black bustiers and thigh-high panty hose, but don't get the results out of this model that they would from a true nude talent, like Alana or even Amelia from earlier this year. While Amanda has a few hits with some magical photos here and there, she never really comes into her own.
• Centerfold: B
  Amanda's centerfold is basically a microcosm of the model herself - certainly not too shabby to look at, but overall quite bland and ill conceived.
• Overall: B
  In Amanda, we get a fizzling outro to an otherwise middling but solid 2012 Playmate class. While the prestige and pop of being a December Playmate has been tested in recent years, Playboy went another step, not even incorporating any Christmas themes into Amanda's pictorial, or any holiday charms into her style. Amanda's Polish model roots confine her, as she comes across as a stoic fashion model with little to offer the Playboy world. In this world, we're looking for sizzle and spark, and an ability to use a nude body like a tool. Amanda is the epitome of a passive poser, simply letting her really fine body go to complete waste. She's always a pretty and photogenic model, but she's ultimately destined for a lower-half showing for the PMOY race.

Thanks to all my fans for following my blog through yet another Playmate season. As usual, you should expect to see my year-end recap of all twelve Playmates coming very soon. May the sexiest woman win!!