Marilyn Cole (born 7 May 1949)
is ''
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...
'' magazine's January 1972
Playmate of the Month
A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month (PMOTM). The PMOTM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, along with a pictorial biography and the "Play ...
. She was the magazine's first full-frontal nude centerfold.
[ She also became 1973's ]Playmate of the Year
This is a list of models who were chosen as a Playboy Playmate of the Year for the American edition of ''Playboy'' magazine.
List of Playmates of the Year
*1953: Marilyn Monroe
*1954:
*1955:
*1956:
*1957:
*1958:
*1959:
*1960: Ellen Stratton ...
– the only Briton to hold that title. Her original pictorial was photographed by Alexas Urba.
Career
Cole worked at a Post Office punched card unit in Portsmouth Central Telephone Exchange, before working for £12 weekly at the Portsmouth Co-op Fuel Office when she was interviewed to be a Playboy Bunny
A Playboy Bunny is a waitress who works at a Playboy Club and selected through standardized training. Their costumes were made up of lingerie, inspired by the tuxedo-wearing Playboy rabbit mascot. This costume consisted of a strapless corset te ...
at the London Playboy Club
The Playboy Club was initially a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago in 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room, and a Club R ...
. She worked as a bunny from 1971 to 1974, and within a few days of starting work there was noticed by Victor Lownes and test photographed for the magazine.[ Marilyn also worked as a barmaid at the Auckland Arms Hotel in Southsea during the late 60s.
She appeared on the cover of the ]Roxy Music
Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone ...
album ''Stranded'', having been noticed by Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...
after winning Playmate of the Year. She had previously appeared on the covers of various Top of the Pops
''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...
albums.[Barrell, Tony, "Cover Stories", ''Sunday Times'' (11 November 2007)]
/ref>
Personal life
She was married to former Playboy executive Victor Lownes,[ over 20 years her senior, until his death in 2017, and now works as a journalist.][Van Praagh, Anna, "Playboy bunnies 50 years on" ''Telegraph'' (23 May 2010)]
/ref> Among the subjects she writes about is professional boxing, which she began covering in 2000.
Her interests include the tango, which she studied under Paul Pellicoro, and has partnered with actor Brian Cox.Grove, Valerie, "Brian Cox plays Humbert Humbert in Lolita", ''Sunday Times'' (29 August 2009)
/ref>
Filmography
* ''Playboy: 50 Years of Playmates'' (2004) (V)
* ''Forty Minutes'' (1990) TV Episode
* ''V.I.P.-Schaukel'' (1972) TV Episode
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Marilyn
Living people
1970s Playboy Playmates
Playboy Playmates of the Year
1949 births
People from Portsmouth
English female models
20th-century English women
20th-century English people