Kristy Garett is suddenly the centerfold of attention.
The globetrotting model bares all in the upcoming issue of Playboy as the magazine’s 749th Playmate — and the last to appear in its pages completely au naturel.
“I’m so happy,” said Garett, officially designated as Miss February 2016. “It’s such a big deal. It’s so iconic — being the last nude Playmate makes me cry and feel happy inside.”
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Playboy, after a top-to-bottom redesign, will return with a March edition featuring “sexy, seductive pictorials of the world’s most beautiful women.” Those will include the monthly Playmates.
Except those women will no longer be naked. Unlike Garett, who was thrilled to take it all off for her October photo shoot.
“I know what I’m doing, and I know that I’m lucky,” she told the Daily News. “Do you believe in miracles? This is a miracle.”
The blond beauty is featured in a 12-page pictorial in a special January/February 2016 issue, available for sale this Friday.
Her centerfold shot marks the end of an era that started shortly after Hugh Hefner rolled out his magazine in 1953 — featuring nude photos of Marilyn Monroe.
The magazine’s iconic centerfold actually dates to March 1956, when long-ago Miss March Marian Stafford received the star treatment.
Among the most prominent of Playmates across the ensuing decades were “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson, actress Shannon Tweed, model/actress Anna Nicole Smith and pinup idol Bettie Page.
While Garett, 26, grew up in southern Russia, closer to the Kremlin than the Playboy Mansion, she was still attracted by the magazine’s storied past and evolving present.
“I was so proud to do Playboy,” she said. “This is history. It’s probably going to change mylife.”
She has yet to meet the 89-year-old Hefner, although plans for a get-together are in theworks: “I know his story. Heis a big man, a very talented gentleman.”
The native of the Republic of Georgia is a globetrotting fashion model who’s fluent in six languages. Playboy editorial director Jason Buhrmester says she’s the perfect choice for the final unclad centerfold.
“I think she really represents where the Playmate evolved to over the past 60 years,” said Buhrmester. “She’s international, she’s a model — but she still looks approachable.”
Buhrmester, an 18-year Playboy veteran, said the time was right for the magazine’s reinvention — although he had his doubts initially.
“My first reaction was, ‘That’s crazy,'” he said. “But it’s common sense. Sixty-two years ago, Hef set out to really push the boundaries of sexual freedom into the mainstream. Now we’re in an era where nudity is more ubiquitous than it ever was.”
Garett echoed his sentiment about the revamping, which includes a larger-size mag printed on higher-quality paper.
The March 2016 issue will be the first without full nudity. Last summer, Playboy unveiled its website as a safe-for-work viewing operation.
“I think Playboy is making the right choice,” said Garett. “After more than 60 years, of course they know what they’re doing. Even if the models are not nude anymore, they’re still sexy.”
Famous Playmates:
Bettie Page, Miss January 1955: pinup icon
Jayne Mansfield, Miss February 1955:
Actresses:
Shannon Tweed, Miss November, 1981: Actress, reality-TV star
Susie Scott (Krabacher), Miss May 1983: Co-founder of the Mercy and Sharing Foundation, which does humanitarian work in Haiti.
Julie McCullough, Miss February 1986: Actress, standup comedienne
Pamela Anderson, Miss February 1990: Actress, animal rights activist
Anna Nicole Smith, Miss May 1992: Actress, Guess model, reality show star
Jenny McCarthy, Miss October 1993: Actress, TV host, autism activist
Kelly Mon-aco, Miss April 1997: Soap star, first winner on “Dancing With the Stars”
Brande Roderick, Miss April 2000: Actress, “Celebrity Apprentice” finalist
Playmates in the movies:
Yvette Vickers, Miss July 1959: “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)
Stella Stevens, Miss January 1960: “The Nutty Professor” (1963) and “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972)
Cyndi Wood, Miss February 1973, and Linda Carpenter, Miss August 1976: “Apocalypse Now” (1979)
Ava Fabian, Miss August 1986: “Ski School” (1990) and “Dragnet” (1987)
Erika Eleniak, Miss July 1989: “Under Siege 2” (1992) and “Beverly Hillbillies” (1993)
The Dahm Triplets, Misses December 1998: “Juwanna Mann” (2002)
Victoria Silv-stedt, Miss December 1996: “Boat Trip” (2002)
Karen McDougal, Miss December, 1997; Summer Altice, Miss August, 2000: “Grind” (2003)
Hiromi Oshima (top photo), Miss June 2004; Lauren Michelle Hill, Miss February 2001; Sara Jean Underwood, Miss July 2006: “House Bunny” (2008)