Meet Playboy’s first non-full-frontal Playmate of the Year

Playboy, adult entertainment’s most iconic publication since Marilyn Monroe appeared as its inaugural centrefold in 1953, on Wednesday named its first Playmate of the Year since doing away with full-frontal nudity.

Eugena Washington, a model and actress from Palmdale, California, was unveiled at the opulent Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, posing for the world’s media in front of her prize - a Fiat 124 Spider sports car.

The 31-year-old, who also gets $100,000 to spend, is featured on the cover of the June issue - the fourth since it eradicated full-frontal nudity from its pages.

“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.

Washington, who first appeared in Playboy as the magazine’s December 2015 Playmate of the Month, is only the third black model among 57 to be named Playmate of the Year.

“This is a story and a 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,” she said.