Students Interview With Playboy

This October, for the third time in its history, Playboy magazine will publish an Ivy League issue featuring Harvard students, as well as students from other Ivy League institutions.

Interviews of the approximately 50 Harvard students who applied for the issue were held yesterday and will continue today at the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel.

Women who wished to be considered for the special issue in Playboy were asked to fill out a biographical form with information about their hobbies and other interests.

They then took part in a casual 15 minute interview and a photo shoot with Playboy photographer David Chan.

Harvard students who applied yesterday to be a Playboy model gave a variety of reasons for doing so.

"It sounds like a lot of fun," said a junior in Winthrop House who wished to remain anonymous. "I'm really proud of my body and the things I've accomplished," she added.

The Winthrop student said she read about the Playboy modeling opportunity through an ad in The Harvard Lampoon. "When I saw the ad I decided I was going to do this," she said.

She said she was not concerned by how her interactions with fellow Harvard students and professors might change if she were to appear in Playboy.

"Well, I think if I were worried I wouldn't be here," she said. "In an ideal world, what you do outside your social and academic life won't affect you."

Applicants said being a feminist does not conflict with posing for Playboy.

"I'm more of a feminist than most people you'll ever meet...I have very feminist motivations for doing this," said Amanda S. Proctor '97, a Winthrop resident who said she decided to apply because she wanted to dispel stereotypes about Harvard women.

"I think there's a big dual stereo-type that women who go to schools like Harvard are too good and above other women," Proctor said.

The magazine allows its models to choose whether to pose nude, seminude or clothed. If chosen, Proctor said that she would pose clothed.

"I'm 19 years old and I have to think about burning bridges, and then, there'sthe issue of my parents," she said.

But Proctor said she respected those who chooseto pose in the nude. "I admire the fact that thesewomen are comfortable with their own bodies andidentities," she said.

Playboy representatives looked for diversitywhen selecting models for the issue, according toKaren Lynn, a makeup artist for the magazine.

"We're looking for a cross section of women torepresent Harvard University," Lynn said. "Wewouldn't want to cast everyone that looks thesame."

Lynn said Playboy's image has changed andevolved with the times. Playboy is not the "blondand busty" magazine that some people may stillconsider it to be, she added.

"There is quite an extreme [in Playboy] in bustline from small to large...There's something inthere for everybody," Lynn said.

Chan said this issue of Playboy would helpdispel stereotypes about Ivy League students. "Youlook at the pictures, and you never can tell [thewomen] are from Harvard," he said.

"There are a lot of beautiful ladies on thesecampus's and very smart too," Chan added.

The last Ivy League issue came out in 1986, andwas the second or third biggest seller behind theChristmas issue, Chan said. Playboy expects theissue to sell equally well this year

But Proctor said she respected those who chooseto pose in the nude. "I admire the fact that thesewomen are comfortable with their own bodies andidentities," she said.

Playboy representatives looked for diversitywhen selecting models for the issue, according toKaren Lynn, a makeup artist for the magazine.

"We're looking for a cross section of women torepresent Harvard University," Lynn said. "Wewouldn't want to cast everyone that looks thesame."

Lynn said Playboy's image has changed andevolved with the times. Playboy is not the "blondand busty" magazine that some people may stillconsider it to be, she added.

"There is quite an extreme [in Playboy] in bustline from small to large...There's something inthere for everybody," Lynn said.

Chan said this issue of Playboy would helpdispel stereotypes about Ivy League students. "Youlook at the pictures, and you never can tell [thewomen] are from Harvard," he said.

"There are a lot of beautiful ladies on thesecampus's and very smart too," Chan added.

The last Ivy League issue came out in 1986, andwas the second or third biggest seller behind theChristmas issue, Chan said. Playboy expects theissue to sell equally well this year