Chubby to Centerfold: How I ended up in Playgirl Magazine

The whole thing was just fantastical to me; I never imagined I would be asked to pose for Playgirl magazine. I suppose I never really believed it until I actually saw the magazine, – with my picture on the cover, sitting on the magazine rack at Hudson News – in Miami Airport.

How it happened

After seeing my model portfolio, a model friend suggested I submit some photos to Playgirl. Here’s a tip, if you want to be in a magazine, you need to contact a photographer, preferably one that shoots for the magazine you are interested in appearing in. Don’t be naive and write to the magazine’s address. It’s cute, but it won’t get you anywhere. This is especially true for Playgirl.

Once I knew the photographer’s name, I Googled him, sent off a note with two photos (usually more than enough, even when sending to model agencies). Then I waited.

Christmas Eve, 2006 came the response from the Playgirl photographer. Playgirl was interested and would I be able to fly to Los Angeles in February? Would I be able to fly to Los Angeles in February!?

The Playgirl photo shoot took place in Burbank, on Valentine’s Day. Playgirl set me up at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The night before the Playgirl photo shoot, the photographer telephoned, “what outfits did you bring?” Dress slacks and a blazer, but frankly I didn’t think I would be wearing that. See, every Playgirl photo shoot is centered around a theme and mine had not yet been determined. “We thought about shooting you as a soccer player, but then we did that last month.” I am pacing the hotel room, “And we loved the photo you sent us of you as an island native, sort of a pirate, but people may not get it.” It was eleven p.m. and the shoot was nine the following day, we had better figure this out. “How about Zorro? You’d be perfect!”

After a one egg white breakfast at Mel’s, I was on location at 10 a.m. to shoot for Playgirl magazine. I never really stopped to realize and take in the whole situation. There I was, this once overweight, computer nerd, comic book geek (that I still am) on location, getting made up and dressed in preparation to shoot for Playgirl magazine – as a potential centerfold. Who would have thought this opportunity would be offered to me? If someone had predicted this adventure to me ten years… heck one year prior, I would not have believed them. Honestly, I would have done it for free. It was tremendous validation for someone who used to be fat. Read, “How to Get Playgirl Six Pack Abs” on Examiner.com.

When we eventually wrapped up, six hours later, they put me in a taxi cab back to the Hollywood Roosevelt. I was completely and totally exhausted. During the shoot, I had one protein bar (that was expired) and black coffee. So that and one egg white, doesn’t really carry you through a six hour photo shoot, especially when all of your adrenaline is flowing and you are completely naked.

Click here to buy an exclusive poster sized print of me in Playgirl magazine.