PMOY: Unveiled (almost)

Playboy's latest teaser has the fans going wild about speculation of who is behind the mysterious teaser photo of Playmate of the Year 2010. The full photo, featured here, is quite revealing for a teaser. You can clearly make out her hair color, body type, and features on her hands, arms, and hips.

From the twelve options for the year, fans have easily narrowed it down to two candidates: Hope Dworaczyk and Crystal McCahill. Most, however, agree that Crystal has virtually no shot at PMOY, and I would have to agree. Even though Hope was lower on my rankings, I would still have to say that she has a much better inside shot at the title than Crystal. Plus, the body on the photo is almost 100% clearly Hope's, with a long, slender torso and flatly tapered, almost conical breasts (which Crystal does not have, as hers fold at the bottom a lot more).

So, what does this mean to me? Let's say that Hope Dworaczyk is our 2010 Playmate of the Year...

Many are still holding out hope (pun intended) by saying the photo is unclear and could indicate another girl. However, the picture is obviously of Hope. I put her at #8 in my rankings out of the 12 (well, more like 11) girls. That's very low, but she still got a solid B rating from me. Given how deep the class was, I even mentioned that Hope still had a good chance at PMOY, given her large fan following and impressive ratings elsewhere. My problem with her was, and is, that she did not perform very well in her pictorials. This is something I stand by all the time: PlayboyCritic is not a site to grade models on "potential," but on results! A girl's pictorial is as important as her good looks, and although Hope has a beautiful physique and a nice bit of talent, she just did not show enough in her PMOM pictorial to truly prove anything.

Not that she isn't a great model, but there were SO many amazing girls this year. It would be a damn shame if my top 4 did not get a second chance at an Xtra or something. How could Kelley, Dasha, Kimberly, and Jessica all be looked over like this? It is quite an upset in my eyes, as all of these girls were solid contenders with A-grade bodies and talent. If Hope is to win this and show that she truly earned it, she'll have to put on a flawless performance in her PMOY pictorials.

Let's hope that's the case.

CGOY & PMOY '10 - The Race is On

Let's take a second to step back and take a look at how the races for PMOY and CGOY are transpiring so far. It's easy to see that they differ greatly in candidates and their quality, but both should be pretty intriguing given how good the top talent is and the potential for some amazing pictorials. I won't rank the ladies now - that's a job for the end of the year. However, I'll take a look at who's really carrying the torch and who the stragglers are.

The Race for Cyber Girl of the Year 2010

The Top (in no particular order)

• Hillary Fisher
• Jamie Graham
• Cassie Keller

The Middle

• Kaytee Bees
• Carlie Christine
• Netty Maj

The Bottom

• Lauren D'Marie
• Jennifer Lewis
• Rebecca Lynn

For CGOY, the race is very top-heavy. You have some great talent and clear frontrunners in the last two months with Hillary and Jamie, but the rest are just a blob of unrecognizable talent. Cassie is a fan favorite not really because of her looks, but because of her unique posing talent and impeccable technique. Kaytee Bees was the Cyber Girl 100 winner and shows the most promise outside the top 2, but there is a noticeable talent gap between #2 and 3. The rest are just disappointments, the biggest of which was Lauren D'Marie, who followed up a gorgeous CGOW performance with a flat and very uninspired CGOM entry. The results are a very thin CG class going into the final three months.

The Race for Playmate of the Year 2010

The Top (in no particular order)

• Dasha Astafieva
• Jessica Burciaga
• Kimberly Phillips

The Middle

• Candice Cassidy
• Hope Dworaczyk
• Crystal McCahill

The Bottom

• Jennifer Pershing
• The Shannon Twins

On the Playmate side of things, everything is noticeably more of a level playing field. It's so deep, I can see anyone I ranked in 'the middle' winning it all for 2010. The top of the class is absolutely stellar: in separate years, Dasha, Jessica, and Kimberly would all win PMOY. But here, only one can win. Still, the talent runs deeper, with Candice Cassidy being a truly legitimate contender, and Hope being a possible fan favorite. The Shannon twins were an experiment gone wrong, and Jennifer Pershing is not even worth the mention. These, however, are minor blemishes in an otherwise deep and talent-rich class. It should be a brilliant ending, with the 55th Anniversary Playmate leading the charge.

So, what does everyone think? Are these categories close to the truth? Who do you think will come out on top down the stretch? Three months to go, and plenty more fun to come.

55th Anniversary Playmate Candidates

Every five years since the beginning of the Playboy name, 1954, the magazine celebrates by naming the first Playmate of the year in January the "Anniversary Playmate" of that era. Becoming an Anniversary Playmate is something of a marathon competition: there is an extensive search all over the country complete with several casting sessions and auditions for thousands of talented ladies.

Having an operation this big for finding the lucky girl lends itself to disappointment. You just can't survey so many women and find someone who will tickle the fancy of each and every Playboy fan. However, Anniversary Playmates include lovely ladies like iconic 20th Anniversary Playmate Nancy Cameron, golden year Playmate Candy Loving, or 45th year girl Jaime Bergman. Then we have the other end of the spectrum, with the most recent search for the 50th Anniversary girl, who was anticipated to be a huge pick due to the implications of a whole 50 years of Playboy. After an extensive search, we were left with a boring, forgettable Colleen Shannon.

So this year, Playboy is trying to get it right. The 55th Anniversary Playmate is slated to become Miss January 2009, and she's bound to be one for the books. Playboy has already initiated new and creative ways of looking for the lucky girl, including a YouTube contest where thousands of contestants have submitted videos and six women have already been chosen. Playboy isn't saying whether the 55th Playmate is absolutely coming from this final pool of six, with various casting calls taking place and a plethora of beautiful Cyber Girls who could very well be candidates. Right now, things are up in the air in terms of rumors, but anything is possible.

In my opinion, the final pool of six winners from the YouTube contest will likely yield the final girl chosen, since it's just such a structured competition that can't just lead to nothing. Otherwise, perhaps the final girl can come from a recent Casting Call, or maybe one of the overlooked Cyber Girl of the Week candidates we've had recently. Now, I'll assess some of the girls and their chances of making it to the coveted title.

Ashton VerrengiaYouTube Finalist (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Ashton is one of the YouTube finalists, so she's got an upper hand there. As the first YouTube finalist revealed, Ashton's got a lean, hard body that's sinewy and long, despite her short height.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Ashton doesn't have nearly what it takes to become the 55th Anniversary Playmate, and if she won it would be a major upset. Her face isn't the most photogenic of the bunch, not to mention she looks like just another Plain Jane.
• Odds: 1 in 30

Autumn AdeleYouTube Finalist (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Autumn is a tall drink of water with long legs and sizeable features, with an eye-catching set of proportions and a cute face. She's also got a bit of talent in the posing department, which is always a plus.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Autumn's chances of winning are slim, to say the least. While her short hair and unique face set her apart from Playmates of recent times, she suffers from a bit of an aged look, and her body is way too tall to proportionally fit most of her pictures; she just looks oddly sized in some photos.
• Odds: 1 in 25

Jamie BradfordYouTube Finalist (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Jamie is different from the other three YouTube blondes chosen, since she's a baby-faced cutie with a really photogenic feel. Jamie is a sight to behold with those blue eyes and pearly whites, not to mention her voluptuous body and DD breasts. Simply put, she's nice to look at. She also fits the common mold of Anniversary Playmate because of her outward appeal and star-power.
  
• Why She Won't Win: When it comes down to it and you get past the glitz and initial polished exterior, you can't help but think that Jamie is like all the others in her sameness. She doesn't really leave any lasting images, although she "wows" from the start. If Hef had his way, Jamie would be strongly in the running, but since fans have a bit of a say, she's got trouble.
• Odds: 1 in 18

Mary PiemonteYouTube Finalist (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Mary is a home run hitter, pure and simple. A real fan favorite at the moment, Mary is very unique in appearance. She has a calm, almost sarcastic face that's a fresh breath of air when compared to all the cookie cutter blondes of late, and would make a real statement about the direction that Playboy is trying to go toward in 2009. Her body and breasts are outrageously sexy, and her thick thighs and squint-eyed grin are parts of a winning formula. If the 55th Anniversary girl is coming from the YouTube finalist lineup, Mary is by far the strongest of the bunch.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Mary may not be the "archetype" of what Playboy wants for a 55th Anniversary Playmate. They may just be picking Mary to put out a diverse group up front only to choose someone like Jamie. However, there's not much to dislike about Miss Piemonte besides the radically different look and a bit of an oddly proportioned body compared to the Playboy norms.
• Odds: 1 in 5

Amy Lynn GroverYouTube Finalist (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: When Amy arches her back and lays out on the bed, those long legs spread out, few can deny her posing ability. She knows what looks hot. Her body is really well-toned and slim, too.
• Why She Won't Win: Even though Amy is a YouTube finalist, I think it would be quite an upset if she won. She and Ashton are probably the weakest of the bunch, and there are plenty of girls outside of this competition who would be far better qualified. It was fun while it lasted, Amy.
• Odds: 1 in 30

LaurenNew York Casting Calls (feature)

• Why She'll Win: Lauren's combination of classic New York sass and a girl-next-door sparkle make her a good choice, and she translates that energy into making great photographs.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Obviously there's the lack of leverage of a YouTube nomination or a Cyber Girl spot. Also, Lauren could suffer from the fact that she might find it easy to get lost in a crowd, which plagues most women trying to become an Anniversary Playmate; you need to be quite a special girl.
• Odds: 1 in 40

StephanieColumbus Casting Calls (feature)

• Why She'll Win: Stephanie has one hell of a cute face and a sort of youthful vulnerability that makes her very appealing.
  
• Why She Won't Win: It's like running for President: you need credentials, and for lack of better wording, "experience." Well, if that's the case, Stephanie's like the mayor of a tiny town. Just being in a casting call isn't enough... oh, and she's got very small breasts.
• Odds: 1 in 55

Dana DicilloCyber Girl of the Week, March 17 (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Remember Dana? She's still one of the most popular girls to come around this year, and she didn't even win her month as a Cyber Girl (Heidi Wheeler took that spot)! Don't let that take anything away from Dana, who's shown how gorgeous she is, and had only 15 photos to do it. Fans are craving more of Dana's silky smooth body and exotic looks, not to mention her wealth of deep nude posing talent.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Unfortunately, Dana's chances of getting to January might be slim. She didn't even get the nod for Cyber Girl of the Month, and might only be able to hope for a Cyber Girl "Xtra" bid in the near future. There aren't a lot of rumors flying around of a possible Playmate appearance for Dana, let alone the Anniversary Playmate slot. Still, she's a fine woman for the job, far better than most of the YouTube winners, anyway.
• Odds: 1 in 35

Jia LynnCyber Girl of the Month, September (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Like Dana, Jia is a Cyber Girl with a chance at striking it big. Jia, unlike Dana, won her month's title over her competitors, and is the current Cyber Girl of the Month. Although her pictorial isn't as polished as her weekly entry, you can bet Jia's got the qualifications, just take a look at her first video. Jia takes absolutely stunning pictures, and has a soft face combined with the right bit of lighting makes her positively angelic. She has a sleek and trim body that just looks great nude. She'd make a perfect Playmate.
  
• Why She Won't Win: Jia's already won the CGOM nomination, so she's got that out of the way. Now, she's got to make the case with it. Jia needs to have a strong showing and shore up her accomplishments, and then there's a possible chance of her getting a back road to the Anniversary Playmate title. However, I wouldn't bet on it, since the YouTube girls still hold a strong presence and are the likely nominees.
• Odds: 1 in 27

Tasha NicoleCyber Girl of the Week, June 23 (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: Tasha is a singular fan favorite who hasn't yet conquered a tough month for winning CGOM, but she is predicted to win. If she does, she'll have a chance as good as Jia to reach January. Tasha is really a fine display of female beauty, with a very exotic and sultry look and a Euro-Asian face that has a mean stare that captures the scene without fail. Add to that her slim-but-curvy body and photogenic perfection, and you see a girl who's got all the stars lined up for a potential CGOY run and a shot at Playmate.
• Why She Won't Win: If Tasha doesn't win her month, she'll have trouble just like Dana in proving herself. She's got to beat out a couple tough contenders, like Lexi Lombardelli, but in the end Tasha should prevail. If she does, she's still got the disadvantage of being a Cyber Girl looking in to a sea of competition.
• Odds: 1 in 32

Linsey ReneCoed of the Week, August 14 (pictorial)

• Why She'll Win: I might be going out on a limb here, but this is a girl I strongly believe in. Linsey is HOT, and should easily win Coed of the Month. Hell, if there was a Coed of the Year title, she'd take that, too. Linsey is better than her inexperience would hint at; she's spunky, gorgeous, and has the "it" factor it takes to be a Playmate. Although anniversary Playmate might be a long way away, she certainly deserves to compete on Playboy's biggest stage in the near future.
• Why She Won't Win: Linsey's been Coed of the Week. Despite her extensive posing talent, she's no pro. She's got to win her month, and even then she's got a ways to go against all the stiff competition in this. Still, she'd be a wise, albeit odd, choice.
• Odds: 1 in 60

So there you have it. There are plenty of other names floating around, so I'm asking my fans to list some of the names that you think should be mentioned in this race for the 55th Anniversary girl. I honestly feel like Mary Piemonte will be the eventual winner, but it'll be an exciting few months of speculation before that decision is announced.

Leaked!

Now, I know that the official announcement for Playmate of the Year 2008 isn't due until around May 8th, when the June issue is supposed to come out. However, there's recently been a leak on the message boards with a look at the new cover. There's been speculation that it's a hoax, but closer inspection can lead you to feel like that's not really possible because of the detail in it.

So, I'm going to make this an "unofficial" announcement, since I don't want to totally jump the gun.

... But it sure does get me excited...

Presenting 2008 Playmate of the Year
Jayde Nicole!


WOW what a finish! I was skeptical about user opinions that Jayde, Miss January, would be the final winner, according to my poll. I was almost sure that Spencer Scott was the clear frontrunner, with Brittany Binger a clear contender, what with all their fanfare and all. I never would've figured that the lovely Jayde is our leading lady for 2008!

I applaud the choice, all around. Jayde is gorgeous and memorable, and really is one of the best talents of 2007. She deserves the award 100%. I put her at #3 in my ranking, but I'm definitely not disappointed with the choice.

Revisit my rankings of the Class of 2007

Jayde's body is perfect, her face is really unique and engagingly exotic, and she's just a great and sensuous poser. I love the cover shot Playboy chose... it definite gets me pretty excited for her PMOY pictorial due out soon. I'm sure she'll do a great job with her reign as PMOY, and we're all sure to be looking forward to her pics. With a great pictorial, I think she has the potential to become one of the best PMOYs in years, and may be the best choice since 2005's Tiffany Fallon.

Here are the photos that I particularly love from Jayde. You can enlarge them by clicking on the thumbnail














She's just stunning, especially in that first photo. What an exotic beauty. I think that bust shot also does a great job at showing how amazing the subtle nuances of her face look in full lighting. An excellent smile and an excellent body. CONGRATS, JAYDE!

Up In The Air?

There are always plenty of rumors circulating around about the all-important Playmate of the Year position, but this time it's still the case that there's very little information about the next girl, to be announced next month. Speculation abounds all over the message boards, with many fans following their gut but often allowing their personal choices to get ahead of them.

Many began by encouraging rumors that Spencer Scott will be the next PMOY, because of a hint in the latest Playboy issue:

For those of you dangeling in suspense over who will wear the crown, we'll provide a hint: she already has at least two things in common with PMOYs Jodi Ann Paterson and Jenny McCarthy.

Although the hint isn't so revealing, it cites two Playmates who were both Miss October, so many related it to the most obvious correlation between the three. So far, this is the only leaked hint that Playboy has run about its secretive PMOY selection.

Other rumors exist that the next PMOY won't be a blond, for various reasons, and that either Brittany Binger (my personal pick) or Jayde Nicole will be the next annual winner. These two also have powerful fan bases, but none has a following quite like the young Miss Scott.

If I was to guess right now, I would pick Spencer, since I have a bit of a hunch that she is very well-liked in the Playboy community, among fans and administrators alike. Not to mention that she's young, fresh faced, and definitely a "Hefmate," i.e. the archetype of Hugh Hefner's "ideal girl." He prefers blondes, in case you didn't know, so Spencer would be a prime choice, what with her platinum locks and sparkling smile. I'll admit that I won't be too disappointed if Spencer wins, since I've seen plenty of footage since my rankings of the 2007 class. I did put Spencer low, but I gave another look at her videos and realized that this is a Playmate who'd do a great job with the position. With all that said, Brittany is still my #1, and Jayde my close second. Let's go brunettes!

So, I'll stay tuned to all the news, but my guess is that we'll have to wait it out until next month. If I do know anything, you'll hear it here first, of course.

Playmate Sneak Peek

Since I'm doing this blog, I'm going to be here to help you all get a sneak peek into future Playmates. As I wrote in my post yesterday, Playboy's Playmates are often speculated about, since it definitely is a high and exclusive post to hold, and it is very tough to make it in. Well, the names I dropped yesterday can be substantiated with some sexy evidence...

I've got an optimistic view of 2008 all of a sudden. Sandra Nilsson and Michelle McLaughlin were cute but a little flat before Ida Ljungqvist made a splash with her awesome proportions and unique looks. Regina Deutinger of April also seems to be really promising, so we'll wait and see how great she'll pan out. Things are certainly picking up, though.

Check out this video:



It's a great insight from the "Girls Next Door" show on E! Although I don't keep up with that much, this is a great tidbit on the selection process and some future Playmates of 2008, especially Valerie Mason. Valerie sure looks HOT! Check out her MySpace page for more photos. It looks as if Valerie is locked as a Playmate in the not-too-distant future. As AJ Alexander is confirmed to be Miss May (check out AJ's MySpace here), she'll have to wait at least two months. In addition, the video gives rise to the confirmation that Kayla Collins is a future Playmate, as well. Check out her personal page right here.

Valerie looks like one hell of a Playmate candidate. Boy, is she sizzling. Look over her MySpace pictures, and you'll notice that she's got a very unique, sort of dark look that suits her excellently. Although she made some changes to her eye color and skin hue (as referenced in the video), she will definitely be a gorgeous Playmate with her brunette style (as long as that doesn't change, I'll be a happy camper).

AJ looks beautiful, as well, although some of her photos indicate she's a bit slim and "model-looking." There's nothing wrong with not having as natural a look, but I should wait to pass judgment on AJ before seeing her photos in a matter of weeks. Kayla is a bit of a mystery so far, as there's only a little bit of footage on the video and only a couple photos on her MySpace. We'll keep a close watch on all these ladies.

All in all, it's looking like a great future for the year 2008. If these trends keep up, we're looking at an excellent class... perhaps the best in several years! Valerie, Ida, AJ, and Kayla can make up a strong backbone in the class, and can fuel a serious, competitive race for PMOY. Stay tuned.

Power Performers / Future Playmates

The month we're having is great in terms of Playboy happenings. We've got some excellent monthly features going, including those of Trina Marie and Janine Habeck. We have word that Jo Garcia is going to be our next Cyber Girl of the Year, and on top of that, Regina Deutinger is going to make a fine Miss April 2008.

First off, Trina has done a wonderful job after starting out a little cold with her first pictorial, and I mean excellent! I raved about how fantastic Trina's Cyber Girl of the Week pictorial was back in November of last year, and after seeing her first pictorial, I was a little disappointed with how weak it was. I mean, she was, of course, beautiful as a model, but the pictorial lacks the pizazz of her CGOW masterpiece. In her new one, things are different. It's polished and perfect... she has a sort of bronzed glow to her skin that brings out every element that makes her so special.

I loved Trina's second pictorial the minute I laid my eyes on it. It starts out with this great head shot. I just love it when a head shot makes me excited about a pictorial. It really puts it all together when the girl's face is the focus, not the body as much. The fact is, Trina is fantastically engaging, her smile gorgeous. I would normally wait until a girl's Cyber Girl pictorial month is over, but I can't help but point out how HOT a photo like this one can be. Just look at the way her body tapers. It draws you in with her grace and her moves. A couple more highlights include this great butt shot and a wonderfully cute and intriguing kneeling photo. This wild and crazy kneel is a great example of how innovative Trina is. I'm telling you, we're seeing a star in the making. She puts it all on the line in each of her pictorials, and shows you something brand new with each picture. Have you ever seen a Cyber Girl throw in a spread as elegant and refined as this, right before showing off a facade of sex and lust in a raw pose? Trina Marie is the real deal, and I just can't wait to see two more weeks of material from her. With this pictorial, she's proven to be a major frontrunner for Cyber Girl of the Year 2009, but I'll still wait to pass judgment on her as a "lock" for the position.

Janine Habeck is also back in her Playmate Xtra pictorial after delivering a spectacular video in her second week. Those shower videos never disappoint, no matter the competency of the girl in question. There's something so active and intimate about the shower, and Janine benefited greatly. But how does she do when she's high and dry? Make sure to peruse her new pictorial here, and make sure to check out her fancy, lacy lingerie, that perky nude silhouette, and the wholesome nudity-infused enthusiasm. It's great to pay attention to the end of the pictorial, where Janine really works it and shows why she's a Playmate in the first place -- she looks AMAZING naked. It's as if she's only wholly comfortable once she's fully decked out in her birthday suit and ready to lay around, like in this sexual bedtop stare, or a risque legs-parted shot that shows off her ultra-smooth skin and luscious body dynamics. Janine was a great Playmate, but these pictorials really do her talent some real justice by allowing the audience to become more intimate with the perfection of her body. All the subtleties that make truly great Playmates are inherent in Janine, and that's what makes her so amazing.

Future Playmates
There's always much speculation on who's next in the Playmate world. The next Playmate, of course, is Regina Deutinger, who has an absolutely excellent preview pictorial out right now. She seems to have the whole German look down, but not only that, she does a great job in wearing her makeup and showing off her body with grace. She seems like she holds just enough back to make things interesting, and she looks like she might even continue the trend of strengthening the Class of 2008 after Ida Ljungqvist's great performance. I can't really point out a single photo in this pictorial that I liked more than others... they were just all so hot. Regina does a great job with facial expressions and conveying the mood. Just so natural! I can't wait.

As for Playmates of the more distant future, reports have indicated that Miss May 2008 will be the very beautiful A.J. Alexander. You can check out some of her material on her official website, which shows a vast modeling portfolio containing plenty of previous experience. A.J. is certainly a bit exotic and has something new to offer for Playboy, so I'm excited to see how all that pans out.

Future names include Valerie Mason, Laura Croft, and Kayla Collins (and perhaps Julliette Rose) as future Playmates, either speculated or announced under-the-radar. These have been gathered by numerous sources, but some of them are safe to say that they will be Playmates in 2008, such as Valerie or Kayla. The only question is when. In the meantime, do some of your own research to find some material on these enigmatic new women, and definitely post it in here if you do find some leads on these future Playmates. I'll always be interested to see fan findings.

Cyber Girl of the Year: Revealed

Yes I know, Cyber Girl of the Year doesn't get announced until March 31st, according to this announcement on the Cyber Club's "coming soon" page:









Well, through a bit of investigation by Playboy's loyal members of their Message Boards, some folks have done some research, and it's been revealed whose photo this is. It was tricky, and the folks at Playboy didn't make this little morsel a part of a future pictorial of the Cyber Girl of the Year, but instead took it from an older, but rather hidden, pictorial:

That's right, it's part of Jo Garcia's "Employee of the Month" pictorial, where she got her start for audiences! That's right,

JO IS OUR 2008 CYBER GIRL OF THE YEAR!

As you already know if you read my blog, I chose Jo Garcia as my favorite candidate for the year's best Cyber Girl. Not only that, but so far Jo is the only girl, since my blog was started, to achieve an A+ rating from me, on October 12th of last year.

In recent months, I wasn't so sure that Jo was necessarily the clear frontrunner. In fact, polls in the Cyber Club in early February showed Jo coming in 3rd in single choice polling, and only conceded in early March, where Jo moved up to the 2nd place spot by a small margin. Indeed, Jennifer Hurt was a major fan favorite, and there is a group of devoted fans who propelled her into greatness with almost a quarter of the Message Board votes.

Through all of that, Jo proved her mettle... Jo really was the CGOY all along. It's obvious to think about it that way. Jennifer Hurt or Jillian Beyor are great, but they're just pretty girls. Many Playboy girls are pretty girls. On the other hand, you have all-time greats like Miss Garcia. Jo is arguably one of the best girls Playboy has ever taken photos of. To skip her over would have meant that another girl just like her would never have come by again, and that would have been a major mistake. They didn't take any risks this time, and we're going to see an entire year of amazing pictorials from Jo herself.

After coming off a bland and down year of Breann McGregor, one thing I realized is that Cyber Girl of the Year is an extremely crucial title in this day and age. By that, I mean that we get TONS of photos of this lucky girl, who works hard to give us a feature month-by-month. Since the lovely Monica Leigh, we've been getting that kind of format, and you just can't have even slightly mediocre girls getting this award, because you need to have loads of talent and depth to carry on for an entire year.

Jo IS that kind of girl.

She has unbelievable depth and talent, as you can see from any of her videos. She knows how to pose like it's her God-given gift, and she does it with poise and ease. It'll be a pleasure to look forward to her each and every month, and so I salute Playboy for choosing such a radiant, unique model. Kudos!

So in the meantime, we'll look forward to the end of the month and Jo's official coronation as 2008 CGOY. What a day that'll be! In the meantime, check out the other current happenings:

• Trina Marie, March CGOM, is having a slow start, but good things lie ahead
• Magen Lugo, March Coed of the Month, is also a little cold with her first two features, but she's got the talent to make a major splash for the first time a COTM has in a while
• Janine Habeck, in her Playmate Xtra pictorials, is looking absolutely stunning; even better than she looked in her original pictorial... check out her Week 2 videos, they're breathtaking!
• Regina Deutinger, another German Playmate (in Miss Habeck's footsteps), and the upcoming Miss April 2008, looks great in her Playmate Preview pictorial, and might just surprise us to no end, come April
• Oh, and did I mention Jo Garcia is our next CYBER GIRL OF THE YEAR!? I might've forgotten to...
  

Update on the Races

New developments on the soon-to-be-announced winners of the Playmate of the Year and Cyber Girl of the Year races occur every day. It's a tight one, and since the girls themselves give input into the status of the races through message boards, etc., we can get an interesting amount of speculation on potential winners and losers.

In the CGOY race, the top 5 in the polls are as follows:

1. Jennifer Hurt (24.86%)
2. Jo Garcia (17.68%)
3. Jillian Beyor (16.57%)
4. Patrycja Mikula (10.50%)
5. Mallory Dylan (8.84%)

Compare this to previous poll numbers:

1. J. Hurt - 22.78%
2. J. Beyor - 17.72%
3. J. Garcia - 17.09%
4. P. Mikula - 10.76%
5. M. Dylan - 9.49%

The numbers are more or less the same in terms of Jennifer Hurt's massive lead. While Jillian Beyor was in 2nd place last time, in a matter of weeks Jo Garcia has caught up and moved into the second slot, but still well off from Jennifer's commanding presence. It's clear that Miss Hurt is a steady fighter and a clear fan favorite. What's interesting is how little hype Jennifer has gotten while still being a major favorite. Meanwhile, there have been major campaigns for Jo and Jillian, but to no avail here.

In addition to poll numbers, there have been some rumors lately of Jennifer being absent from message boards and mysteriously disappearing for a period of time. It might be that she's lost and they don't want her to spill the beans, or it's likely that she has already won and is busy putting together her first spread. That's a very real possibility, since Jennifer has skyrocketed into popularity has certainly garnered her share of votes.

In the Playmates' race, things are a little less competitive, but also less clear. In terms of these girls, Brittany Binger is a major leader in fan polls, with one multiple choice poll showing these numbers:

1. Brittany Binger (62 votes)
2. Jayde Nicole (36 votes)
3. Spencer Scott (30 votes)
4. Lindsay Wagner (29 votes)
5. Tyran Richard (19 votes)

The astounding numbers on this poll are pretty interesting to watch. Brittany's lead of a whopping 26 votes over Jayde Nicole is insurmountable, and considering the once-thought level playing field of this PMOY race, it's very strange to see that so many fans are rallying behind one single model so heavily. It's been a gradual trend, however, that Brittany has gained popularity and acceptance among the community. I think that more and more people, over time, have embraced Brittany as a potential (and potentially spectacular) Playmate of the Year, and have taken to her accordingly.

Many are even starting to turn away from once-formidable Spencer Scott. When we last visited the polls back in January, Jayde and Spencer were tied for 2nd place in multiple choice polls with 27 votes to Brittany's 51. Although Miss Binger's lead was large back then, it was obvious that it was a three-way race. In official polls, Spencer was the clear 2nd place with about 17% to Brittany's 30%. Now, we see a troubling trend for Spencer, with less than half the votes of Brittany and falling behind Jayde, as well.

I believe the trend is due to the same factors that are putting Brittany so far ahead: more fans are moving away from Spencer and into a more mainstream, acceptable candidate. Spencer's lack of material and fight eventually drew fans away from her, that's what happened. Even Spencer herself initiated rumors of her drop and her eventual lack of relevance in the race.

Now, as the races are getting more and more one-sided, we can speculate and project winners in Jennifer Hurt and Brittany Binger. By the looks of the major leads these girls have, it would be highly disappointing to a majority of fans if they lost. Some things have changed since last time, as 2nd place surgers include Jo Garcia and Jayde Nicole, but they have plenty of ground to make up along the way. One thing is certain: both girls will have a lot to prove if they win, as this is certainly an overwhelming endorsement by fans.

Spencer on PMOY 2008

Spencer Scott, the outspoken 18-year old Miss October '07 who's really captured the hearts and minds of plenty of Playboy fans, has lots to say about the Playmate race, and said this about the potential winner of the nomination:

"I do believe the odds fall in the favor of a brunette this year, and my pick is Brittany [Binger]. She is really genuine. There is no other brunette who has the personality to match their looks like Brittany. All of the other brunettes for 2007 are beautiful (it is Playboy), but none have the total package and care about their fans like Brittany does....she is the real deal."

These are interesting words from a real front runner in the race. Spencer is a massive fan favorite and is certainly on pace to challenge Brittany, but the fact that she admits a potential win by Miss Binger gives credence to the fact that rumors of Brittany's nomination are fully circulating. It's been known for several weeks now that Spencer and Brittany are the top two contenders in fan polls, and unless a strong boost has been given to the other girls, it's probably time for one of these two to stand up.

As you can see from the pseudo-advertisement above, Spencer's "campaign" for PMOY is in full-swing, and the internet-savvy teenager is definitely on top of it. It's getting all the more intriguing, let's put it at that. In addition, Brittany is building up a massive lead in the polls. Rumors are flying around that even Jayde Nicole has already been crowned PMOY. It's heating up, and all we can do is analyze the rumors and watch and wait.

CGOY 2008 Polls: Up For Grabs

Looking at the polls as the CGOY 2008 candidates near the announcement of the winner, the race for Cyber Girl of the Year couldn't be tighter. If you think people have divided opinions during the Presidential primary races, wait 'til you see what people think about the twelve girls running for this title. The winner will be announced next month, and so far, people have voted in several polls that show close races and extremely different opinions on each. There aren't any real consensuses of a clear winner, and that's what makes this race all the more interesting.

Primary Single-Choice Forum Poll (mike909)
(The number in the brackets { } shows the difference between PlayboyCritic ranking and poll results ranking. A positive score means the model's poll results are higher than the ranking.)

1. J. Hurt - 22.78% {+3}
2. J. Beyor - 17.72% {+8}
3. J. Garcia - 17.09% {-2}
4. P. Mikula - 10.76% {+1}
5. M. Dylan - 9.49% {+1}
T6. A. Jae - 5.06% {+1}
T6. S. Harris - 5.06% {+2}
8. N. Erminia - 4.43% {+1}
9. B. Anna - 3.80% {-6}
10. K. O'Connor - 1.90% {-8}
11. M. Francis - 1.27% {E}
12. S. Olson - 0.63% {E}

This poll was certainly a surprise, and just illustrated to me the differing views of most people. Compared to my ranking, the results of the poll were radically different, with some striking changes. Most notably, the meteoric rise of Jillian Beyor, who placed an astounding 2nd here and 10th in my ranking, was startling. I couldn't believe that she had garnered so much fan support. I knew all along that she was popular with the regulars, but not this much! Jillian has a true shot at winning the CGOY nomination if this keeps up, and she would certainly be a true darkhorse candidate in my mind, as she wasn't even close to being on my list.

A huge disappointment for me in this poll was also Kortnie O'Connor, who pretty much switched places with Miss Beyor. I had it in mind in January, right as Kortnie came out, that she'd at least be a favorite to win the nomination, let alone become CGOY. Now, it looks pretty bleak for her. I don't think it's possible that she could recover, and that's a huge disappointment, seeing as how gorgeous she is. Brie Anna was also a girl I liked who voters are obviously not responding to.

It's interesting to see Jennifer Hurt as a clear frontrunner with almost 23% of the vote. My favorite, Jo Garcia, trails quite a bit with 17%, but it's within striking range, especially since this poll is only a small sampling. Overall, the poll is one of the most important since it's a "single choice, single vote" poll, and so it really shows a lot about voting patterns. In those terms, I could even see Patrycja Mikula within striking distance for the nomination, but it'll be tight!

Multiple-Choice Forum Poll (stla99)

1. J. Garcia - 33.06% {E}
2. J. Hurt - 32.23% {+2}
3. J. Beyor - 26.45% {+7}
4. P. Mikula - 19.01% {+1}
5. M. Dylan - 16.53% {+1}
6. S. Harris - 14.88% {+2}
T7. K. O'Connor - 9.09% {-5}
T7. N. Erminia - 9.09% {+2}
T7. A. Jae - 9.09% {E}
10. B. Anna - 8.26% {-7}
11. M. Francis - 5.79% {E}
12. S. Olson - 3.31% {E}

This poll is a little less revealing about actual results, since it allows voters to pick second or third choices, as well. You see that when this is opened up, Jo Garcia takes #1 because of just how many supporters she has in general. However, we still see a clear Top 3, with Jillian Beyor and Jennifer Hurt mounting a stunning run to the finish. Miss Hurt is certainly a power player, as she's showing that she can stick with the best, and had a very narrow margin in this poll. A few more votes could vault her to #1, so it's not unlikely that she would have gotten #1 in all polls. In that case, obviously Jennifer has a very high average score, and will be a true power player down the stretch. I still can't see Jillian taking the crown, since she lacks memorable shots and a true aggressive campaign. It's also tough to see Patrycja Mikula being of any threat, since the margins between her and the top are rather wide.

The rest of the pack seems to be the same, with Kortnie O'Connor still being a major disappointment at 7th place. It's sad that she can't garner much attention. It could be attributed to a "memory effect" experienced in these Playboy elections, where early candidates have a tough time penetrating. However, that's a hard sell for such a huge drop like Kortnie's. Alas, I think we can count her out.

So, what have we learned? Anything can happen. Garcia, Beyor, and Hurt are the clear contenders for the award, and others in the middle of the pack, like Miss Mikula and Mallory Dylan, can possibly make a push if there was some sort of miraculous shift in opinion or the release of a bonus pictorial (highly unlikely, given that it would be unfair). Should be a good race down the stretch!

Opinion Polls for 2008

I said I'd keep you all posted on the opinion polls for the Playmate of the Year 2008 race, even in the months leading up to the votes. I've looked through several of the early opinion polls in the Playboy community, including a couple of hotly contested ones with strong indicators for a couple of girls. Some polls show a very close race, so let's see how they stack up with my rankings...

Poll #1: 2008 Official Poll
(PlayboyCritic ranking given in brackets [ ] )

January - Jayde Nicole [3]		3rd	11.05%
February - Heather Rene Smith [5]		T-9th	4.65%
March - Tyran Richard [4]		T-5th	5.23%
April - Giuliana Marino [11]		T-5th	5.23%
May - Shannon James [2]		12th	2.33%
June - Brittany Binger [1]		1st	29.65%
July - Tiffany Selby [6]		11th	2.91%
August - Tamara Sky [10]		T-5th	5.23%
September - Patrice Hollis [9]		T-9th	4.65%
October - Spencer Scott [7]		2nd	16.86%
November - Lindsay Wagner [8]		4th	6.98%
December - Sasckya Porto [12]		T-5th	5.23%

This poll was particularly interesting and shocking because of the ranking of Shannon James, who placed last in votes, but was my #2 because of her fantastic pictorial. She's a beautiful woman, and I don't understand why she hasn't mobilized enough fans to get her going at all. One positive concurrence is obviously Brittany Binger, who gathered first place in both my ranking and in this poll. With more than a quarter of the votes, she's even rather far ahead of predicted fan favorite Spencer Scott, who is generating tons of buzz. As you know, I placed Spencer at #7, but the fans are obviously very excited about the young blond model. There are plenty of stalemates in this poll, but another piece of good news is the performance of Jayde Nicole, who placed third in both the poll and my ranking. I'd love to see her win it over Spencer, but it looks like Miss Scott might be at an arm's length by the time the votes are tallied. Also, Lindsay Wagner surprised me by placing 4th, as I didn't realize that she was generating this much buzz in the community.

Poll #2: General Fan Poll
(PlayboyCritic ranking given in brackets [ ] )

Miss January, Jayde Nicole		27	29.35%
Miss February, Heather Rene Smith		9	9.78%
Miss March, Tyran Richard		11	11.96%
Miss April, Giuliana Marino		13	14.13%
Miss May, Shannon James		6	6.52%
Miss June, Brittany Binger		51	55.43%
Miss July, Tiffany Selby		4	4.35%
Miss August, Tamara Sky		5	5.43%
Miss September, Patrice Hollis		10	10.87%
Miss October, Spencer Scott		27	29.35%
Miss November, Lindsay Wagner		20	21.74%
Miss December, Sasckya Porto		3	3.26%

This poll is definitely even more interesting, in that it gives Brittany Binger a massive lead over everyone else, with over 55% of votes! It also has both Spencer Scott and Jayde Nicole tied at 2nd with more than a quarter of votes! This huge gathering of votes by the clear top three makes it easy to narrow down the candidates: we should have Brittany, Spencer, or Jayde as our next PMOY. I was still upset that Shannon James placed at 9th and is doing so poorly in every opinion poll, although not as poorly as in the previous one. The poll was also showing that Sasckya Porto was a clear last-place finisher and an overall disappointment to many fans.

Given these polls, it's clear that we've got three candidates who are head-and-shoulders above all the others. Brittany, Spencer, and Jayde combined for a majority of votes in both polls, asserting their dominance on the field. It's my hope that Brittany or Jayde win over Spencer, but either of the three could prove to be a good candidate for PMOY. I'll keep everyone posted on any further developments.

In the meantime, enjoy the montages of what kinds of girls we might have taking the crown in April. 2007 was a great year of Playmates, regardless of who wins. With so many exotic faces and a markedly changing direction for Playboy, it'll be exciting to see what lies next in 2008.