On Dec. 10, 1953, the first Playboy magazine was released. Which well-known woman was the first playmate?

The inaugural issue of Playboy magazine, released in December 1953, famously featured Marilyn Monroe. While she graced the cover and appeared as the central image, she was actually designated the magazine's "Sweetheart of the Month," a precursor to the "Playmate of the Month" title that would be introduced in the second issue. This groundbreaking publication, launched by Hugh Hefner, was initially undated because Hefner was uncertain if a second issue would even materialize.

Monroe's inclusion was pivotal to the magazine's immediate success. The nude photographs used were not taken specifically for Playboy; rather, they were from her "Golden Dreams" calendar shoot in 1949, a time when she was a struggling actress named Norma Jeane Mortenson. Hefner acquired the rights to these pre-existing images for a reported $500, leveraging Monroe's rising stardom to create a sensation.

The first issue, priced at 50 cents, sold an impressive 50,000 to 54,000 copies, far exceeding Hefner's expectations and establishing Playboy as a significant new voice in men's entertainment. Her iconic presence in that debut issue cemented her legacy in pop culture and played a crucial role in launching the magazine that would go on to become a cultural phenomenon, influencing discussions around sexuality and lifestyle for decades.