ATLANTA (WXIA) – Playboy Magazine introduced its 2016 Playmate of the Year, 31 year-old Eugena Washington during an announcement at the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills, California on Wednesday.
Washington is featured on the cover of the June 2016 issue of Playboy and in a 10-page pictorial spread in the magazine.
Playboy made headlines earlier this year by stepping back from including nude photographs of its playmates in the pages of the legendary mens’ magazine.
Previously, Washington was seen on American television as a runner-up in the 7th cycle of the CW series America’s Next Top Model. She also appeared in the music video of rapper B.o.B.’s single “Nothin’ on You,” and has a recurring role in CBS’ soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. She appears in the recently released film The Perfect Match and will appear in the upcoming film Like. Share. Follow. Washington plans to launch her own organic hair-care line DTMH (Don’t Touch My Hair) by Eugena, later this year.
“It’s a great time for this. The world is changing. I hope this brings different eyes to the magazine and new audiences,” Washington said. “This is a story and chapter in my life to build around. I’m enjoying the ride, and right now, I’m doing whatever I want to do, day by day. That’s how I live. That’s what my life is about. As long as I’m doing what I want to do, I’m happy. Right now, being a part of Playboy is what I want to do.”
Washington gets $100,000 in prize money, and a 2-year lease on a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, which revives the classic 2-seater European convertible roaster. The 2017 Spider is based on and designed around the Mazda Miata, according to Car and Driver.
In a release, Playboy said Washington first appeared in Playboy as the December 2015 Playmate of the Month before being selected Playmate of the Year. She is the magazine’s 57th Playmate of the Year, and only the third black model to hold the iconic title, behind Renee Tenison, who was selected 1990 Playmate of the Year and Ida Ljungqvist, 2009 Playmate of the Year.
Playboy’s first Playmate of the Year, Ellen Stratton, was selected in 1960.
The 2016 Playmate of the Year issue will hit newsstands on Friday, May 20, 2016, Additional photos and video are online now at http://www.playboy.com/pmoy2016.
