Many puns can come into play with the news of Playboy magazine czar Hugh Hefner selecting a naturally born African woman as his latest playmate, but we will refrain.On May 2, Tanzanian-born Ida Ljungqvist was named the 2009 Playmate of the Year at Las Vegas' famed Palms Hotel & Casino. Our pals over at HipHollywood.com were there to catch all the happenings as they went down.
Along with the title of 50th Playmate of the Year, the 27-year-old (who was previously know as Miss March 2008) was given $100,000 in prize money, a new Mazda6 car and a big bottle of Patron.
Hot Shots May 4, 2009
Usher arrives at LAX carrying his son, Usher Raymond V, and an Elmo 'Sesame Street' doll on April 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Suri Cruise leaves the dance studio with mom Katie Holmes with a star she colored during dance class on April 30, 2009.
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RuPaul exudes sunshine even on a rainy day in New York City's West Village on May 3rd.
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Actor Chi McBride attends a screening of Summit Entertainment's 'Next Day Air' on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California.
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"I come from a fantastic family. If someone asked you to take your clothes off, what would you do?" Ljungqvist told reporters about baring her all. "My mother didn't speak to me for a month.
Hefner, 83, called the former BeBe boutique staffer "truly unique." The aspiring actress added, "as for being naked, I'm done with that." We'll see about that.The bicentennial Playmate of the Year celebration was the first time the ceremony was not held at the Playboy Mansion.
Top 30 Sexiest Actresses of All-Time
Top 30 Sexiest Actresses of All Time:
First off, we acknowledge that 'sexiness' is extremely subjective, but since when has that stopped anyone from offering their opinion? It certainly hasn't kept us from taking note of the women who have served it up to us over and over again on the silver screen. That kind of consistency deserves recognition. That's why Black Voices took time out to compile a list of the top 30 sexiest actresses of all time. Although many of the women on our list have excelled in various media throughout their careers, we decided to rank each actress based on their "sex appeal in feature films, roles and scenes." Whether you agree or disagree with our rankings, we want to hear your opinion. Why not give us your own top 30 sexy actresses list? Please post your thoughts, comments and/or opinions in our community message board. Let the sexiness begin!
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30. Thandie Newton
It's fitting that British actress Thandie Newton got the lead slot in our countdown. After all, compiling a list like this is sort of a 'Mission Impossible' given the fact that sexiness is completely subjective. Still, Newton sizzles on screen when the role calls for it, whether playing the femme fatale opposite Tom Cruise or the violated wife of Terrence Howard in the 2005 drama 'Crash.' No matter what your taste, leaving Newton off our list would have been an injustice.
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29. Tracy Camilla Johns
Tracy Camilla Johns first came to our attention in Spike Lee's debut feature, 'She's Gotta Have It'. The mere fact that she hasn't left our consciousness since then is a testament to her sex appeal. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that she played a nymphomaniac dating three men at the same time. She followed that up with a scene-stealing striptease in 1991's 'New Jack City.'
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28. Vivica A. Fox
Vivica Fox managed to heat up the screen even when playing an ice queen a la Mr. Freeze's lusty assistant in 'Batman and Robin.' We should've expected as much from a character named Miss B. Haven. It seems Ms. Fox is destined to live up to her real name, having played sexy roles in 'Booty Call' and 'Two Can Play That Game.'
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27. Robin Givens
As if posing in a 1994 issue of Playboy Magazine wasn't sexy enough! Robin Givens actually played a sex siren opposite Eddie Murphy in 'Boomerang.' Givens' character Jacqueline ultimately seduces Murphy's character Marcus Graham. Some say she played the same role in real life with her former husband, boxer Mike Tyson.
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26. Paula Patton
We can see why fellow R&B crooner Robin Thicke decided to put a ring on the finger of this sultry actress (let alone write a song about her). Of course we're sure that's not the only reason, but it couldn't have hurt. Paula Patton makes the list for roles in 'Déjà vu' and 'Idlewild.' Her leading men would be lost without the light she brings to the screen.
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25. Nichelle Nichols
We couldn't possibly leave the original intergalactic hottie off of this list! If Nichelle Nichols were the future of space travel, what self-respecting Trekkie wouldn't want to get beamed up? We would mention that she was hot enough to entice Captain James T. Kirk into TV's first on-screen interracial kiss, but that wouldn't be saying nearly enough. In her prime Lieutenant Uhura was light years ahead of the competition.
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24. Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt epitomizes sexiness. Just her name evokes the signature purr she unleashed as Catwoman. The eyes, the hands, the voice, the legs -- they all add to her allure -- yet her sexiness is even greater than the sum of her parts. We'll admit we haven't seen most of her movies, but it doesn't take much to be convinced. Besides, have you ever seen her performance of the song Santa Baby?
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23. Vanity
Even though she was a 'Nasty Girl' in Prince's off-shoot group Vanity 6, Vanity (born Denise Katrina Matthews) had everyone in awe over her the 1985 flick 'The Last Dragon.' Leroy Green wasn't the only teenage boy in pursuit of Matthews' character Laura Charles. Sho 'nuff! Whoever plays her role in the upcoming remake has some pretty sexy heels to fill. (That's right, we said heels.)
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22. Lauren London
When people hear the letters "L.L." they may automatically associate them with rapper-actor L.L. Cool J. Well, not this time! Hot 24-year-old vixen Lauren London comes in at number 22 for her role as "Erin 'New New' Garnett" in the 2006 film 'ATL.' She may not have many roles to her credit, but something tells us she'll more than live up to any future billing.
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Comments: (343)
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By: nina on 5/07/2009 8:37PM
i think that is wrong wat she did and DIMEPIECE is so rite she only did it for the money!!!!
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By: "DimePiece" on 5/07/2009 8:53PM
nina,
THANK YOU! :-) LOL
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By: Bill on 6/06/2009 9:26PM
Another fine example of: "The year of the Negro"! Way to go!
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By: Jake on 5/07/2009 8:39PM
Well the only reason she won is cuz she looks latina.... jeje :p
-jake
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By: tr00fdetect0r3 on 5/07/2009 8:42PM
Nasteeeeeeeeee!
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By: Holly on 5/07/2009 8:43PM
Hefner is only about 10-20 years late in recognizing women other than white. He;s only doing ity to get some publicity and business. He's an old, out-of-date phoney.
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By: SharS on 5/07/2009 11:20PM
What are you people talking about? She is the first AFRICAN playmate of the year. I believe there was an African American playmate of the year as early as the sixties or seventies. Get some history!
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By: a on 5/07/2009 8:46PM
About time playboy shows diversity !
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By: Rob on 5/07/2009 8:49PM
Did she even hear of the Playboy mag before this?
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By: rj on 5/07/2009 8:48PM
I think the point should be, what constitutes her being hailed as African-American? If you listen to the video, she has a Swedish (most likely Caucasian) mother and African-American father, hence the light skin referred to in the earlier comment.
I'm not putting her down for being mixed race because I too am mixed race. What's annoying is that the person AND the public decides to identify her with the African-American race if it furthers their career or cause. (Think Halle Berry)
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