Oregon's Sara Jean Underwood has been named Playboy magazine's 2007 Playmate of the Year. Her selection came as a surprise to the 23-year-old, who figured her freckles and low-profile native state would make her odd girl out.
"I didn't think I was pretty enough," she said of her modeling prospects. "I'm 5'3", short, freckle-faced. I'm from Oregon. It wasn't a thought in my mind that I could do something like that."
In fact, hearing she'd managed to reach the top of the bunny heap made her feel sick.
In fact, hearing she'd managed to reach the top of the bunny heap made her feel sick.
"I thought I was going to puke," she said. "I thought I was going to faint. I thought I was going to cry. It was every emotion you can imagine one would feel when given such an honor." Underwood beat out 11 others to become the magazine's 48th Playmate of the Year.
"I didn't think I was pretty enough," she said. "I'm five foot three, short, freckle-faced. I'm from Oregon. It wasn't a thought in my mind that I could do something like that."
Hefner described her as an "all-American beauty," but that's not all that's required to be Playmate of the Year.
"It has to do with personality," he said, adding that the honoree represents the magazine and its advertisers at personal appearances all over the country.
After her coronation luncheon, Underwood heads to Louisville, Ky., where she will host Playboy's Kentucky Derby party.
Underwood said her life has changed "100 per cent."
"It's incredible to get to experience a different life," she said. "I was in a very small bubble where I came from."
"It has to do with personality," he said, adding that the honoree represents the magazine and its advertisers at personal appearances all over the country.
After her coronation luncheon, Underwood heads to Louisville, Ky., where she will host Playboy's Kentucky Derby party.
Underwood said her life has changed "100 per cent."
"It's incredible to get to experience a different life," she said. "I was in a very small bubble where I came from."
