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A Definitive List Of Black & Brown Women Featured In 'Playboy'

A Definitive List Of Black & Brown Women Featured In 'Playboy'

September 28, 2017 - 10:53 pm by VIBE

You're welcome. 

At a glance, Playboy Magazine seemed to be the fixture for legendary blondes like the late Marylin Monroe, Jenny McCarthy and Lindsay Lohan, but there were plenty women of color who made their imprint on Hugh Hefner's pop culture creation.

Darine Stern landed on the cover in 1971 as the magazine's first black solo cover model. Stern was also considered the mag's first black playmate in 1965. Other firsts would follow like Renee Tension; the first black Playmate of the Year and Jayne Kennedy; the first black actress to grace the cover.

The mag has also had its fair share of Latin and Asian women, all increasing sales and diversity among the Playboy empire.

Check out the definitive gallery of Playmates and celebrity cover models in the gallery above.

You're welcome.

*Not pictured: Ida Ljungqvist (2009 Playmate of the Year), Patrice Hollis (2007), Kia Drayton (2006), Elan Carter (1994), Jean Bell (1969), Julie Woodson (1973), Rosane Katon (1978), Anne-Marie Fox (1982), Venice Kong (1985), Lorraine Olivia (1990), Karin Taylor (1996) and Holly Joan Hart March (1999).

A Definitive List Of Black & Brown Women Featured In 'Playboy'
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A Definitive List Of Black & Brown Women Featured In 'Playboy'

Azealia Banks (2015)
Playboy
2
38

Azealia Banks (2015)

Banks made history as the first female rapper to cover the magazine. 

Traci Bingham (1998)
Playboy
3
38

Traci Bingham (1998)

Bingham was one of the few black actresses to grace the cover.

Naomi Campbell (1999)
Playboy
4
38

Naomi Campbell (1999)

The supermodel covered the mag for their holiday issue in December '99. 

Esperanza Gomez
Playboy
5
38

Esperanza Gomez

Vanity
Playboy
6
38

Vanity

Denise Katrina Matthews, known widley as Vanity covered the mag frequently in the '80s.

Gaby Ramirez
Playboy
7
38

Gaby Ramirez

Ramirez covered Playboy Mexico last year. 

Latoya Jackson
Playboy
8
38

Latoya Jackson

The reality star also covered the mag a few times during the 80s. 
Darine Stern
Playboy
9
38

Darine Stern

Stern made waves as the first black model to cover the mag in 1971. 

Downtown Julie Brown
Playboy
10
38

Downtown Julie Brown

The MTV legend covered the mag in the 90s. 

Stacey Dash
Getty Images
11
38

Stacey Dash

Back in her acting days, Dash showed off her curves in the legedary magazine. 

Eugena Washington
Playboy
12
38

Eugena Washington

The America's Next Top Model alum was given a cover after being crowned 'Playmate of the Year' in 2016. 

Shari Belafonte
Playboy
13
38

Shari Belafonte

The singer, actress and daughter of Harry Belafonte was featured on the cover in September 2000. 

Mariah Carey
Playboy
14
38

Mariah Carey

Carey landed the cover while promoting The Emancipation of Mimi in 2004. 

Jennifer Jackson
Getty Images
15
38

Jennifer Jackson

While Jackson's photos are hard to find, the first black playmate was emulated by Naturi Naughton in the short-lived series, The Playboy Club. 

Vida Guerra
Playboy
16
38

Vida Guerra

The model's cover is credited as one of the best sellers of the 2000s. 

Jayne Kennedy
Playboy
17
38

Jayne Kennedy

In 1981, Kennedy made history when she became the first African American actress to land the cover. 

Tia Carrere
Playboy
18
38

Tia Carrere

The actress landed on the cover in 2000, but decided not to pose nude. 

Kim Kardashian
Playboy
19
38

Kim Kardashian

Robin Givens
Playboy
20
38

Robin Givens

The actress appeared poised and natural on the cover. 

Carmen Electra
Playboy
21
38

Carmen Electra

Electra covered the mag a few times, but the 55th anniversary proved to be a fan favorite. 

Arianny Celeste
Playboy
22
38

Arianny Celeste

Celeste was one of the few female wrestlers to grace the cover. 

Barbra Carera
Playboy
23
38

Barbra Carera

The actress made a splash in the 70's in several action films and made a return to print in March 1982. 

Olivia Munn
Playboy
24
38

Olivia Munn

During her hosting days at G4's Attack of the Show, Munn was one of the few women who decided not to pose nude in the mag.

Kiana Tom
25
38

Kiana Tom

Considered a cult icon of the 90's, the former ESPN host covered the mag in 2002. 

Garcelle Beauvais
Playboy
26
38

Garcelle Beauvais

Beauvais posed for the mag after her days as Fancy on The Jamie Foxx Show. 

Kylie Johnson
Getty Images
27
38

Kylie Johnson

Johnson was crowned Playmate of the month for February 2011. 
Renee Tenison
Playboy
28
38

Renee Tenison

Tenison was the first black woman to be crowned "Playmate of the Year" in 1990. 

Azizi Johari
Wikipedia
29
38

Azizi Johari

Johari went on to be a muse for many musicans in the 70's when she appeared on LP covers for R&B group Sun and Leon Ware. 

Neferteri Shepherd
Getty Images
30
38

Neferteri Shepherd

Stephanie Adams
Playboy
31
38

Stephanie Adams

Adams hasn't aged one bit since her Playboy days. 

Ester Cordet
Wikipedia
32
38

Ester Cordet

Cordet was also a musical muse during her time as a playmate. After her spread in the October 1974 issue, Cordet appeared on the cover for The Ohio Player's iconic LP, Honey. Erykah Badu would go on to pay tribute to the album cover in her music video for "Honey."

Ola Ray
Playboy
33
38

Ola Ray

Known for her cameo in Michael Jackson's Thriller, Ray is a part of pop culture. 

Nicole Narain
Getty Images
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38

Nicole Narain

Model and video vixen Narain was crowned playmate of the month in January 2002. 

Karlie Redd
Getty Images
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38

Karlie Redd

Karlie Redd never got a cover, but the actress and Love and Hip Hop star posed for Playboy Plus and hosted a show baring her name in 2015. 

Lisa Raye McCoy
Getty Images
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38

Lisa Raye McCoy

The actress appeared in a pictorial for the magazine in 2004. 

Vashtie
Getty Images
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38

Vashtie

Vashtie was featured in the September issue of Playboy, one of the short-lived non-nude issues.
Hiromi Oshima ,Serria Tawan and Qiana Chase
Getty Images
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Hiromi Oshima ,Serria Tawan and Qiana Chase

Hiromi Oshima ,Serria Tawan and Qiana Chase all made an impression in the 2000s as playmates. 

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