Playboy bringing back nude models to attract readers

Feb 14: Playboy is going back to its naked roots.

One year after announced it would no longer feature nude women in the pages of its magazine, Playboy announced its March/April issue will include naked models.

The change was announced by Cooper Hefner, Playboy’s Chief Creative Officer and son of founder Hugh Hefner.

“I’ll be the first to admit that the way in which the magazine portrayed nudity was dated but removing it entirely was a mistake, Hefner said. “Nudity was never the problem because nudity isn’t a problem. Today we’re taking our identity back and reclaiming who we are.”

The March/April 2017 issue will feature playmate Elizabeth Elam on its cover with the words “Naked is Normal.”

The magazine is also bringing back its “Party Jokes” segment and is removing the tagline “Entertainment for Men” from its cover.

“Playboy will always be a lifestyle brand focused on men’s interests, but as gender roles continue to evolve in society, so will we,” Hefner said.

The issue will hit the stands Feb 28.

Playboy announced last year it was doing away nude models, a staple of the magazine since its first issue in 1953. At the time, Editor Cory Jones said the internet had made nudity “passe.” The fully nude models were replaced with scantily clad ones, with former Playmate Pamela Anderson gracing the last cover featuring naked playmates.

The publication’s website got rid of nudity in August 2014 and saw an increase in four million unique visitors a month to 16 million users, even as print circulation fell.AGENCIES