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Happy 55th Anniversary, Playboy!
Dasha Astafieva, of the Ukraine, poses for a portrait at pool at the Playboy Mansion. Astafieva is featured in Playboy's 55th Anniversary issue that was released today | AP Photo/Matt Sayles
Playboy has been struggling as of late, but today they celebrate with their 55th Anniversary Issue that has one of their most popular girls ever, Carmen Electra, on the cover. She's appeared in the magazine four times since 1996, twice as a cover girl.
This issue is expected to sell out and that's a good sign for the struggling company and a nice note for CEO Christie Hefner, 56, who is stepping down after 20 years of running the company. Like other media outlets, the economy has taken its toll on Playboy, who reported a $5 million loss in November. They're selling their Los Angeles based video production studio followed by an announcement that DVD releases would cease. Then they're are rumors that the company, who rents Hefner the Playboy Mansion for $700,000 a year, might sell the property. This year also marked the end of Playboy sponsored parties at the mansion, however, it is available for rent.
Today's release includes model and pop singer Dasha Astafieva from Ukraine. She was surprised she was chosen over American women for this special issue. "Maybe I got chosen because I was different and acted different," she said. She and her bandmate make up NikitA, where they dress up like twins and exude an “aggressive sexual energy.”
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