"My dad would kill me," said the blond Magna woman, who declined to give her last name. "I'm not worried about my mom. My dad's the one with the temper. I know I'd eventually have to tell him. But why tell him before I have to?"
The cocktail waitress was among several dozen hopeful young women who filtered through Room 154 of the Sheraton City Centre hotel for the magazine's two-day casting call - its first ever in Utah. Scores more wannabe Playmates were expected to audition today.
Senior photography editor Kevin Kuster said Playboy finds most of its models in such warm-weather states as California, Florida and Texas. But a handful of recent Utah centerfolds - most notably 45th Anniversary Playmate Jaime Bergman in 1999 and last month's Miss February, Cassandra Lynn - encouraged the magazine to make its inaugural visit to Utah.
"For some reason, we've been very successful in getting images from girls in Utah. It surprised us," said Kuster, a bald, goateed man who's heard more than his share of "You have the best job in the world!" comments. We were like, 'Wow! What's going on in Utah that we don't know about?' "
Playboy holds monthly casting calls to find centerfolds plus nude models for its Web site and the dozens of special newsstand publications, such as College Girls, it produces annually.
Kuster estimates that 10 to 15 percent of the women who audition will ultimately be hired to appear nude somewhere within the Playboy empire.
As of Monday afternoon more than 100 women, some from nearby states, had registered online to try out in Salt Lake City.
Candidates were asked to prove they are over 18 (there is no maximum age limit), fill out a form and then change into a bikini or lingerie - with heels, of course - to pose for photographs and a short video.
Photographer Jarmo Pohjaniemi snapped digital images of the women one at a time in an upstairs bedroom, directing each with a rapid-fire volley of Austin Powers-like encouragement.
"There you go, baby!" he said to Skylar Evans, 27, a buxom Las Vegas blonde in a lacy pink bra and panties. "Yeah, over the shoulder. Look back towards me. There you go! Now stretch yourself across the couch. Nice, nice! Don't behave, baby!"
Each candidate then sat for a brief one-on-one interview.
Kuster said Playboy likes women with unique life stories, such as the recent San Diego model who works as a guard in a maximum-security mens' prison.
Would-be models interviewed Monday said they trust Playboy because it is the "classiest" of the men's magazines.
"I'd love to get published in the magazine and ultimately get Playmate status. I think it'd open a lot of doors," said Evans, a bikini model and former flight attendant. "Everyone [at Playboy] is really accommodating and friendly. It's not anything weird."
Rose Shakespeare, 25, flew in from Idaho for the casting call.
The petite blonde works in Boise as a beauty consultant and modeled for Pohjaniemi in a black see-through teddy.
"It would be an honor to be cast in anything Playboy does," she said. "My parents are completely supportive of anything I do. I know they'd be proud of me."
griggs@sltrib.com
Tryouts today
Playboy is seeking nude models for its mens' magazine, Web site and other publications. Walk-in candidates may audition between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. today at Room 154 of the Sheraton City Centre, 150 W. 500 South in Salt Lake City. Candidates must be over 18 and bring two forms of ID.
