Bunnymania invades Times Square

JAKE VERTERANO ASST A&E EDITOR JCV722@CABRINI EDU

Sex sells.

While the topic may be controversial, history has shown that something marketed sexier will sell better. Playboy magazine certainly agrees with this strategy.

The magazine, which will celebrate its 55th anniversary this December, has World Wrestling Entertainment Diva, Maria Kanellis, on the cover this month. Kanellis is the seventh WWE Diva to pose for the magazine.

On March 6, Kanellis signed copies of her issue at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. A crowd of over 500 fans showed up to meet the auburn haired beauty.

“I grew up a very small town girl, so to be on national television is crazy,” Kanellis said. “But to be on the cover of Playboy, now that’s making a statement.”

While Playboy approaches the subject of nudity in a more tasteful light than their competitive male magazines, many people feel the magazine is inappropriate.

“I cannot believe any woman would ever choose to pose naked,” Emily Miller, a sophomore neural science major at New York University, said. “I don’t think it’s classy at all.”

Some people feel that nudity is something that should be kept private and not on public display. In some parts of Asia, sales of Playboy are so controversial that they have been banned.

“I don’t see the problem. I mean, everyone has private parts,” Kristen Alexander, a senior journalism major at New York University, said. “If someone wants to pose nude, more power to them.”

Kanellis joins the ranks of Marilyn Monroe, Kim Basinger, Denise Richards, Chyna and Drew Barrymore as a Playboy

Playmate. Many actresses, models, athletes, and musicians have posed for Playboy over their 54-year history.

Despite its controversy, Playboy has remained a staple of American culture. The Playboy logo can be seen on tons of merchandise and in many tattoos. ‘The Girls Next Door,’ which is about the lives of Playboy Playmates, is also one of the most popular shows on television.

“I’m glad Maria decided to pose,” Carolyn Sweeney, a sophomore education major, said. “Maria is proving that women can be strong and sexy at the same time.”

The majority of people who showed up to Kanellis’s signing were male, as the magazine is targeted towards an audience of young men. There were a few females in attendance.

“I think Playboy is a really positive influence for women,” Kristin Zaleski, a sophomore education major at St. Joseph’s University, said. “I would love to model for the magazine one day. The way I see it, if I’m proud of my body, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Maria’s Playboy hit newsstands on March 7. Maria can also be seen competing at Wrestlemania 24 which emanates from the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. She will be teaming up with fellow WWE Playmate, Candice Michelle, to take on the WWE Women’s Champion, Beth Phoenix and Melina in a Bunnymania tag team match.

“I think any girl would feel wonderful about being asked to pose nude,” Maria said. “For someone to say, I think you’d look hot naked…that makes you feel good.”