On Dec. 10, 1953, the first Playboy magazine was released. Which well-known woman was the first playmate?

When the first issue of Playboy magazine hit newsstands in December 1953, it was the iconic Marilyn Monroe who graced its pages as the inaugural "Sweetheart of the Month." This feature, which included a nude photograph of the actress, was a key factor in the magazine's immediate success, with the initial print run of over 50,000 copies selling out quickly. Interestingly, the magazine was undated, as founder Hugh Hefner was uncertain if there would be a second issue. The first issue was produced in his own kitchen and was funded in part by a loan from his mother.

The photographs of Monroe featured in the magazine were not originally intended for Playboy. In 1949, before she achieved major stardom, Monroe posed for a series of nude photographs for a calendar to make a car payment. Hefner later purchased the rights to these images for $500. While Monroe was featured on the cover and as the centerfold, she never actually posed for Playboy and did not consent to her images being used in the publication.

The term "Playmate of the Month" was not used until the second issue of the magazine, with Margie Harrison holding that official title in January 1954. Nevertheless, due to her appearance in the premiere issue, Marilyn Monroe is widely recognized as the very first Playboy playmate. The debut issue, which sold for 50 cents, not only launched a media empire but also played a significant role in the shifting cultural attitudes towards sexuality in the mid-20th century.