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.
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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