Hugh Hefner sends special message to SA’S first playmate
JADE Fairbrother is South Africa’s first ever Playboy Playmate of the year.
The 25-year-old blonde from Cape Town was announced as the winner of Playboy’s prestigious competition last night at a gala function held at ZAR nightclub in Sandton.
Fairbrother, who was the magazine’s September Playmate, beat off stiff competition from Joburg’s Amy Bridger and fellow Capetonian Yolandi Malherbe for the crown.
Playboy’s founder Hugh Hefner announced the winner of SA’S first Playboy Playmate via special message last night. And although Playboy’s mogul was not present in the flesh, it’s the first time in years that he has got involved in a foreign edition’s Playmate of the Year selection.
Fairbrother walked away with a customised Playboy pendant worth R50 000 and will spend five days at the famous Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles this year as part of the prize. She also received an expensive watch and will feature as the cover girl of the March edition of Playboy.
Fairbrother said she was “ecstatic” at being crowned SA’S very first Playmate.
“It feels amazing,” said an excited Fairbrother. “Its still hasn’t hit me though. I’ve been thinking about it and it’s just so unreal. It’s the best news I have ever received.”
And her family and friends cannot be prouder of the 25year-old, she says.
“They have been very supportive all the way through and are so thrilled for me.
“My fiancée, in particular, has been truly wonderful and supportive all the way. Many people told me that my relationship would never work if I posed in Playboy, well we have never been stronger,” she said.
Fairbrother was chosen as the winner of the prestigious competition by a secret panel of judges.
“The judges considered looks of course, charisma, as well as personality and how well we Playmates marketed ourselves.”
“Thankfully I’m very experienced when it comes to marketing myself and I think that’s what gave me the edge over my competitors.”
Fans could cast votes via SMS and also online on the Playboy website.
“I worked hard to market myself on the various social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. I also attended all my events and pushed myself to the limit,”
“It was very hard work but I cant say that I didn’t enjoy it, it’s been so much fun.”
Fairbrother, who works at an online credit company in Cape Town, said she had always dreamed of becoming a model.
“That’s the reason I entered,” she said.
“I never had any opportunities in the modelling industry before but as soon as the Playboy opportunity came up I jumped at the chance.”
Fairbrother added that her height had always been against her and that had made her reluctant to enter competitions in the past.
“I’m actually very short,” laughed Fairbrother. “I have long legs but I’m not the tallest of people so that was always against me.”
Fairbrother, who will leave for the US later this year for her visit to the Playboy Mansion said she could not wait to meet Hugh Hefner, founder of the men’s magazine.
“I have always been a fan of Hugh Hefner and to get the opportunity to stay at the Playboy Mansion is out of this world.”
Fairbrother said she would be in Los Angeles for five days.
“I’ll be doing a whole lot of PR work. This is a perfect opportunity to get my name out there and make the most of what I have achieved,” she said.
So what’s next for SA’S Playmate of the year? Well the 25year-old said she would continue to work with Playboy as an ambassador for the brand and would love to pose again for the magazine.
“I wouldn’t say no if I was given the opportunity.”