Hugh Hefner has seen a lot of gorgeous bodies in his time – but the founder of the Playboy empire was so impressed by Soweto bombshell Tshego Seakgoe that he ordered her splashed all over the May edition of South African Playboy magazine.
It’s easy to see why, though. The 21-year-old, homegrown beauty can easily compete with the international celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Marilyn Monroe, Kelly Brook, and Kim Kardashian, who have all been on the cover of Playboy in the past.
However, Seakgoe will not only feature on the cover – she has also been chosen as the Playmate of the Month.
“I decided to go for the test shooting because my friend had suggested it to me. Never in a million years did I expect to be chosen as the cover girl as well as a playmate… it’s such a huge honour,” she said.
Seakgoe, who also has become the first African Playboy cover girl in South Africa, follows Tracy McGregor, who appeared in the launch issue this month.
“Tracy is absolutely stunning. To be chosen as the very next Playboy cover girl after her is a dream come true. They normally choose celebrities to feature on the cover, that’s why I was taken by surprise when I got the good news,” she said.
However the Soweto beauty, who has been a model for just over a year now, is no stranger to fame.
She’s appeared as a guest on children’s shows such as KTV and YOTV as a youngster, and also sang for former president Nelson Mandela on his 80th birthday.
Asked what her family had thought of her posing semi-nude in Playboy, Seakgoe said everyone had been very supportive, especially her boyfriend.
“I didn’t tell my family until the photo shoot was done, but after I told them they reacted better than I expected,” she said.
“My boyfriend was so cool about it. He said he was very proud as not many guys get to say that their girlfriends have been on the cover of Playboy, so I was delighted.
“My mom passed away a while ago but I know in my heart that she would be very proud of my achievements,” Seakgoe said.
She added that she was delighted by the professionalism displayed by the team at Playboy, and would have no hesitation in going nude for Playboy again.
“When I did the shoot I even forgot that I was naked, that’s how comfortable I was with the team,” she added.
“Besides the team being great at Playboy, they also have a few charity organisations that they work with, which made me real happy because I have been involved in charities since I was a young girl,” Seakgoe said.
As a Playboy ambassador for the next month, Seakgoe said she hoped to get some charity work as well as to show the South African public that Playboy models are not “all looks and no brains”.
“I am completing my degree in international studies and I know numerous other models who have completed their degrees, so it’s not just all about the looks, we are also smart,” she said.
The May issue of Playboy hits stores next week. -Saturday Star