Marilyn Cole (born 7 May 1949) was ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

'' 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 "Playm ...

. 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: Lisa Winters *1958: *1959: *1960: ...

, becoming 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 cocktail 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 straples ...

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 ...

. She worked as a bunny from 1971 to 1974, and, within a few days of starting work there, was noticed by

Victor Lownes Victor Aubrey Lownes III (April 17, 1928 – January 11, 2017) was an executive for HMH Publishing Company Inc., later known as Playboy Enterprises, from 1955 through the early 1980s. Soon after he met Hugh Hefner in 1954, Hefner founded ''Playbo ...

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 music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry (lead vocals/keyboards/principal songwriter) and Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson (bass). By the time the band recorded their Roxy Music (album), first albu ...

album ''Stranded'', having been noticed by

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. He became known as the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also launched a solo career. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established ...

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 television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...

albums.Barrell, Tony, "Cover Stories", ''Sunday Times'' (11 November 2007)
/ref>

Personal life

She was married to former Playboy executive

, 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

Notes

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 People from Gosport Models from Hampshire