PLAYBOY Magazine loves a bit of controversy with their nude centrefolds, check out their most infamous bunnies through the years.
Playboy made its first splash featuring Marilyn Monroe, who was then a fledgling model named Norma Jeane Mortenson. The accompanying nude photo on a red velvet background caused controversy in the early years of Monroe’s career, forcing the star to admit that she had posed for the photos only because she needed to pay her rent.
Holly Madison’s new book, “Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny†– the now-35-year-old mother of one tells of her time in the Playboy mansion including the nightly bedtime routine, her depression and desire to have a baby with Hef. Picture: Supplied
Happy on the surface ... Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson in 2008. After the release of the book Wilkinson said in response to Madison calling her a fake: “Who are you?? I don’t even know you! We were never friends. It was all just work.†Ouch. Picture: AP
Model, singer and DJ Crystal Hefner became the Playboy runaway bride after leaving Hugh just five days before their scheduled June 2011 wedding. The pair reconciled and married the following year but at the time, in anticipation of the nuptials a special edition featuring Crystal on the cover had to be rebranded with a sticker.
Aussie Elle Macpherson used a Playboy spread to address media attention after appearing nude in the 1994 film Sirens. Learning the media had contacted former boyfriends offering money in exchange for photographs Macpherson agreed to pose nude for photographer Herb Ritts.
Model, actress and outspoken animal rights campaigner Pamela Anderson first came to prominence on the cover of Playboy Magazine in 1990 before starring in the hit show Baywatch. Although the blonde mother of one remains coy about her relationship with Hefner the two remain close friends. Picture: Laurence Cottrell/FilmMagic
Anna Nicole Smith leapt to prominence with the help of her March 1992 Playboy cover. Hugh Hefner became fond of the blonde bombshell who was working as a stripper at the time. Smith had just begun to date oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall whom she later married, he was 89 at the time.
Kim Kardashian on the cover of Playboy magazine in December 2007, the same year her famous sex-tape with Ray J (made in 2003) was leaked and her show Keeping Up With The Kardashians launched. In a poll of America’s favourite celebrity Playmates Kardashian appears third on the list behind Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson.
Former playmate Jenny McCarthy has tried her hand at many gigs in Hollywood. From various roles in the World Wrestling Federation, an actress on uncensored music videos for Playboy,author, talk show host and comedian. The outspoken blonde is now hosting The View and a staunch opponent of childhood vaccination. Picture: Getty
One of the world’s most outspoken feminists and political activist Gloria Steinem, first made a name for herself when she wrote a tell-all expose on the life of a Playboy Bunny at the famous New York Playboy Club. The article, published in 1963 was called A Bunny’s Tale. Picture: Getty Images
Jessica Alba’s Playboy cover March 2006... The unauthorised use of her image on the cover sparked a lawsuit by her, which was later dropped.
Recently rapper Azealia Banks’ April 2015 cover of Playboy Magazine caused controversy after saying she hated everything about the US: “Like, I hate white fat Americans. All the people who are crunched into the middle of America, the real fat and meat of America, are these racist conservative white people who live on their farmsâ€
The cover of the November 2009 issue featured Marge Simpson on the cover. It’s a first for the magazine, which has never featured a cartoon character before.
Oscar-winning actress Sally Field on the cover of Playboy Magazine 1986, although Field declined a nude spread she did feature in an interview “from the heartâ€.
Iconic, outspoken and famously buxom singer Dolly Parton reportedly turned down several offers to pose for Playboy Magazine, although she did appear on the cover of Playboy magazine’s October 1978 issue wearing bunny ears. This was Parton’s first real brush with fame, the issue featured an extensive and candid interview with the young singer.
Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt on the cover of Playboy Magazine.
Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt on the cover of Playboy Magazine.
Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt on the cover of Playboy Magazine.
Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt on the cover of Playboy Magazine.