Playboy revealed Nina Daniele as the 2018 Playmate of the Year. Shot by world-renowned fashion photographer Jennifer Stenglein, Nina’s 11-page PMOY pictorial breathes new life into an iconic Playboy character, the Femlin, created by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and illustrated by artist Leroy Neiman. This marks 55 years since the Femlin’s very first pictorial dating back to May 1963 titled “The Femlin Comes to Life.” Daniele made her debut in Playboy’s March/April 2017 issue as the April Playmate of the Month when nudity was reintroduced into the pages of Playboy with #NakedIsNormal.
In honor of Daniele’s new title and in celebration of her personal life story, Playboy connected her with Joyce Nizzari, December 1958 Playmate. Both from the Bronx with a unique bond they didn’t know they had, Joyce interviewed Nina on what it means to be a part of Playboy’s legacy and how true sex appeal is defined in 2018.
“It means so much to me — to not only be seen in my most vulnerable state but to also be presented, in words, for who I am,” said Nina Daniele in the May/June 2018 issue. “That’s important to Playboy: how my brain works, how my heart works. Through Playboy, I was able to talk about how it feels to be a woman in today’s society.”
Over the past six decades, millions of devoted Playboy fans have eagerly awaited the Playmate of the Year announcement every year. And now for the first time in many years, Playboy.com offers the PMOY gallery exactly as it appears in the magazine.
Additionally, with another Playboy first, the May/June 2018 issue features a new slogan published on the cover, signaling a progression of the philosophy that underpins the globally recognized American brand — a switch from Entertainment for Men to Entertainment for All.
As Playboy’s chief creative officer, Cooper Hefner explains, “Playboy’s content has always been and always will be created with the male point-of-view and our take [on] masculinity in mind. But the truth is the Playboy brand now appeals to a hugely diverse group of fans, including in a very substantive way, women who intersect with Playboy at our events, clubs, and through our products and fashion collaborations. I had a desire to reflect that on the cover of Playboy magazine just as we’ve done on Playboy.com for many months now.”
As is with every magazine, Playboy’s May/June 2018 issue also introduces two new beautiful Playmates, Shauna Sexton, May 2018 and Cassandra Dawn, June 2018, along with original content, profiles and interviews with notables including Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood; musicians Portugal. The Man, Jorja Smith, Leon Bridges, Zane Lowe and G-Eazy; 20Q with comedian Jim Jeffries; a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Playboy Jazz Festival; and two fiction installments featuring Unlawful Entry by Chuck Palahniukand Between the Records by Julian Tepper.
Playboy’s May/June 2018 issue is available for download at WorldofPlayboy.com and hits newsstands nationwide by April 24, 2018.
Click continue to watch the behind-the-scenes video of the shoot with Daniele.
