I love my work as a Reporter for SL Enquirer. I get to travel to places I might never visit
otherwise, and I get to help introduce our readers to some of the more
interesting aspects of life on the grid.
Some assignments are more challenging than others. This week we take a look at Playdolls
Magazine and the Playdolls Organization.
It meant going to parties, touring the compound, interviewing some of
the grid’s most gorgeous residents – Yes…a tough assignment, I know, but
SOMEBODY had to do it! I never would
have dreamed, as a 14-year-old adolescent, umm…” admiring” my Dad’s Playboy
magazine (for the articles, of course) …that I would one day get to interview
the proprietors of the modern-day equivalent:
Playdolls.
In the course of this assignment, I had the pleasure of
being shown around the Playdoll’s campus by Playdolls General Manager and 2021 PlayDoll
of the Year, (Silky) Cari Soulstar. She
introduced me to Chief Executive Officer Brea Brianna, 2016 PlayDoll of the
Year, as well as Miss November 2018, Gilly O’Connor, and Miss February 2021 Liz
Bergamasco. They were all gracious
enough to answer my questions.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):
Tell me, Silky? How did Playdolls
get started?
Silky Soulstar (SS): Playdolls
was founded by Tazzy Jenkins and a couple of partners in SL in 2007. She passed away suddenly in 2018, but it was
her consistency and kind demeanor that gave the group its longevity.
JB: How is Playdolls
Magazine different from the other gentlemen’s magazines on the Grid today?
SS: Playdolls
differentiates itself in that it has been around for so long, since 2007. It is
the authentic men's interest periodical in SL, and has won six SL awards over
that time. The periodical itself limits modeling to pinups and includes
creative writing and artistic representation. The periodical is also a popular
publication for our sponsors to market their businesses. As technology improves
in SL, and other advancements are made, you can also see those same evolutions
in the Playdolls Periodical. The longevity and consistency of the periodical
makes it the reader’s choice and attracts modeling talent because people trust
that we have lasting power.
JB: What makes the Playdolls
campus different from other adult sims out there?
SS: The campus
includes two buildings that our founder rezzed in their original location. We also have Tazzy's memorial on-premises. There is an outdoor dance club
with a pool, and our company headquarters.
One of Tazzy's buildings is the dormitory for our models. The other is our Mansion which includes
gathering spaces with activities. None
of the furniture on the premises is adult rated: All poses are PG. We believe the social
dynamic between the sexes is enough to attract a more rewarding interaction, as
opposed to open sex sims. Playdolls has
never really been about sex, or adult-rated content other than our pinups who
pose nude in the periodical. Think of
the models as the modern equivalent of the socially engaging flapper girls from
the 20's! The social gatherings that the
sim facilitates help support the sim and the magazine. People tend to support
one another when they are together!
JB: Tell me about
your VIPs. What makes these folks so
special, and what are the advantages of VIP Membership?
SS: VIPs are our
lifeblood. It's so important to have a vibrant and socially active following to
support the periodical and models. We do the magazine for everyone's
enjoyment... the ladies love modeling, our writers love writing... and our VIPs
love reading all of the content. We also all genuinely love each other's
company. We have a good time role
playing, chatting, or just playing social games like pool, darts, greedy,
chess, backgammon, or whatever! We also love to dance and listen to good music
together. The VIPs gain the company of the ladies of Playdolls in a rewarding,
unpretentious social setting. The staff has been tipped, but it's not expected at
all. Services are not for hire at Playdolls nor will they ever be. VIPs are there at Playdoll's for no fuss and
just for their enjoyment, no strings attached.
JB: What does it take
to become a Playdoll?
Liz Bergamasco (LB):
Before you decide to become a Playdoll you need to be sure you know
yourself very well and know you have the characteristics needed to be a good Playdoll. You need to be self-assured, socially
committed and most importantly, you need to have a true and honest heart so you
can really support and care about the VIPs and other ladies. You need to go through an interview to become
a Playdolls contestant after which you garner votes, 10L at a time, from your
family, friends, and everyone else willing to do you a favor. The contestant
with the most votes will become a Playdoll.
Gilly O’Connor (GO):
In a way, it is a popularity contest BUT, it is all up to the
model/contestant to promote herself. She can do that by visiting the Mansion
and chatting and getting to know other Playdolls and guests. Additionally, you
need to promote yourself in other groups and among family and friends. It is
helpful, though not a requirement, to be current with a mesh body and head.
JB: Why would someone
want to be a Playdoll?
LB: When I became a
dancer, I loved the aspect that you can make people happy by what you are doing
and also the fact that you are part of a social group. I am a lady with social graces who loves to
take care of people. As a Playdoll I can
use these natural talents. I absolutely love the strong connection between the
gorgeous ladies of the sorority and I feel honored to be part of it. I enjoy giving men the attention they
need. To be a listening ear for them and
make them feel appreciated is a real pleasure for me.
GO: I was searching
for my niche in SL that would give me something to be a part of to bring me out
of my shell. I came across Playdolls at a motorcycle rally where they had a
promotional stand. I visited and here I am now! *smiles*
JB: What are the
advantages or responsibilities of being a Playdoll?
LB: As a Playdoll you are not just a model. You represent our community. You wear your title with pride and dignity.
One of the advantages of making it as Playdoll is the wonderful chance you get
to shine and sparkle on the cover as well as on a bunch of pages in our
precious magazine. You are not just a
model for a month. Once you win the
voting, you will become a Playdoll's model for life. There will be opportunities to have more
Photoshoots and you will be on the Playdoll's Annual Calendar.
GO: I think the
biggest advantage, especially here lately, is the bond and sisterhood we have.
For our active Playdolls we have our dormitory where we get an apartment. We
have areas within the dormitory where we lounge and hang out together when we
have downtime. I love planning our outfits each month for our themed
pictorials for the magazine.
SS: Playdolls models
take on the responsibility of being stewardesses of the Playdolls brand so
that it can continue. The benefits to
being a model with Playdolls is that the model gets to be featured in one of
SLs longest-running periodicals. How
cool is that! Our models also get a two-room suite to decorate to their liking
on campus.
JB: How is the Playdoll
of the Year selected? What is that
process like?
LB: Every active Playdoll
of the Month will automatically be entered into the yearly contest. There is a contest board where people can
vote for you as often as they want. The
one with the most success will become Playdoll of the Year. She gets the honor to be one of the few lucky
ones to be an ambassador of Playdolls.
SS: The winning PDOY
then takes up the honor of being a prominent ambassador to the Playdolls
brand. If the PDOY cannot serve for any
reason, the runner up became the next girl up! Hopefully going forward things
will become more stable in the future.
JB: Where would you
like to take Playdolls? What is the “Big
Picture” here?
SS: We will continue
to refine the periodical, and take that art form as far as it can possibly
go... taking advantage of new advancements and technologies as SL evolves. We
want exquisite photography, and enticing journalism and entertainment for our
readers. We want to collaborate, and
give notice to all the fabulous content creators in SL. We hope to connect with
the wider SL grid socially and expand our network so that we collaborate with
a diverse group of VIPs and contributors. We really would like more diversity
too, so we are casting a wide net to welcome everyone and be very inclusive
(within reason to the adult human form factor of course).
A letter from the CEO, Brea Briana
Playdolls is not only a magazine, it is a culture built on dreams. We all join
SL to refine our lives and accomplish things that may not be attainable in real
life. What we offer is a chance for normal girls in SL to wear our tag with
pride, build confidence, and feel wonderful about themselves. This culture, if
embraced, can change your SL life forever. And with every new model, and every
new Issue we aim to only convey the pride and love we have for our models all
across the SL Grid.
When I won Miss February in 2016 both my worlds changed forever. It is an
experience I have never regretted and Playdolls has been in my heart since that
day and has never left it. After the
tragic passing of our founder Tazzy Jenkins in 2018, I pledged to remain
tireless and steadfast in my aim to make Playdolls Magazine the premier Men’s
pictorial in SL. With my trusted
colleagues, Silky and Gilly, and all the models and staff, I feel we are well
on our way to accomplishing this dream.
Brea
So, there you have it, Folks. Playdolls is always looking for models and
DJs. See if you have the right stuff to be a Playdolls model or a Playdolls
VIP. Go check ‘em out the original Playdolls
at the Relaxation Sim:
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