With scads of reporters, film crews and would-be suitors chasing after Leilani Rios since she appeared naked on Playboy.com, her speedy wheels have served her well. Following her dismissal from the Cal State Fullerton cross-country team after the coach learned she was moonlighting as an exotic dancer, Leilani has really sprinted into the public eye.
There was a time, not long ago, when she could run through the streets of her Southern California neighborhood and pass for most any other really hot college student. But after Leilani's face popped up in countless newspapers, magazines and news programs nationwide, as well as on MTV, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, SportsCenter, HBO's Real Sports and upcoming episodes of 20/20 Downtown and Montel Williams, the young speedster set America's collective heart racing. Sentiment is almost unanimously in favor of Leilani, whose night job pays for her education. Even Keith Olbermann, who came off like an undersexed schoolmarm when commenting on Playboy.com's Sexiest Sportscasters poll, was sympathetic to her plight. "What's the fuss about Ms. Rios stripping?" he said on Fox Sports Net. "She's studying kinesiology, the mechanics of human motion!"
"People recognize me everywhere I go," says Leilani of her newfound celeb status. "At school, at work, when I go out. Everyone tells me how awesome they think the whole thing is." The overwhelming presence of media people at the Flamingo Theater in Anaheim, her place of employment, resulted in a month-long hiatus for Leilani -- meaning the Playboy Cyber Club was the only place to catch a glimpse at her lithe, naked body.
To the delight of Southern California men everywhere, Leilani is back dancing at the Flamingo. The support of her fellow students and the Fullerton professors has been astounding, and she's optimistic that she'll be reinstated on the track team come fall. In the meantime, Leilani's keeping fit by running several days a week. Want to see how fit? Take a peek at the Cyber Club pictorial that made her famous.
