Well I guess I should begin
in the beginning. I was born in Glendale,
California and was raised in South Pasadena, California.
My parents were foster parents and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair. I have two sisters one who is much older
and my little sister who is just two years younger. I went to Elementary, Jr. High and High
school all in South Pasadena. All
of which I was a big NERD!!! I was
such a reject. But I hear I had a
lot of boyfriends, I wish I knew
that back then!! I went to Jr. College
in Glendale where I played Volleyball (The only reason for college).
I have been modeling for over
10 years. I had just come back from
Paris modeling in August 1993, I
was on a photo shoot when the photographer asked me if I had considered doing
Playboy. My initial reaction was
”You've got to be kidding, right?“ But I went to my man and asked for his opinion
and his exact words were ”It’s like you don’t know who is going to see these.
It could help your modeling career.
And it’s not like you're in the magazine.“
Well, I did the photo test and three weeks later I got the call and turned
to my man and said "Not in the magazine, Huh?!!!"
My first day was nerve wracking.
I have never even shot a topless shot let alone a nude one.
So, of course the first photo you do is your centerfold. Talk about breaking the ice. Arney Freytag shot my pictorial and he
was just awesome. Nicest group of
people that I have worked with. Not
to mention the Cream cheese croissants every morning! Thank you guys! I was lucky enough to
have golf as my theme! It was a blast!
I got to cruise around in the golf cart and play golf all day.
Rough life I know, but, someone had to do it and I am glad it was me!
I got to stay at the Mansion
when doing my layout because we started shooting when the BIG earthquake hit in
the San Fernando Valley and my travel was taking four and a half hours. That is
not a total, it was 4.5 hours in and 4.5 out! The Mansion is absolutely gorgeous. Everything was in its place. The lawn perfectly manicured. The pool
at the precise temperature. The Grotto steaming and the animals, too cute!! My favorite, besides the bunnies, are
the monkeys!!!! I loved feeding them!
They would get on your shoulder and just eat the grape or whatever you
gave them.
Meeting Hef was under strange
circumstances. My grandfather, by
marriage (Joan Staley’s {Miss November 1958} Husband) was Mel Tormes manager.
Mel and Hef were great friends. So,
one evening after one of my long photo shoot days, I saw Mel and I went up to
him and said ”We are practically family.“
Then told him who I was and got a great big hug. I went back and finished my dinner when
Hef, in his silk PJ’s, came over and started talking with me. I felt so over dressed! I kept thinking this man is so Classy
and Exceedingly Smooth. I feel very
lucky to have had that opportunity.
I think the best part about
becoming a Playmate, is the people you work with and meet. I have met my absolute closest and best
friend, Julie Cialini. We were doing
a shoot together and had never met, but it didn’t take us long to realize that
we were meant to be friends. I felt
like she was my sister. But closer
than any of mine. There are other
people who are in the Playboy corporate offices that I adore and those who I will
miss. Love to you all!!!
People have always asked me
if I would do it again, My answer always remains the same. YES!!! I have had the best experiences with Playboy.
Going to such wonderful places. The
people I've met. The friends I’ve made. The memories that I’ll have forever. These are things I can never imagine without.
It has been such a great part of my life.
I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to be a Playboy Playmate. I do hope that I have met the expectations
of the fans of Playboy and those who have come before me and those who are to
come.
Aloha!
Donna Perry
Miss
November 1994
