I attended college at the University of Illinois, and during my first year there, I noticed an ad in the back of one of the spring issues: Bunnies were needed for the Chicago Playboy Club. That had to pay way better than working at the Pancake House in Urbana, where I had worked the summer before!

A friend took some bikini shots of me, we sent them in and that was it! I interviewed and got the job. I worked lunches that summer at the Chicago Playboy Club, and occasionally at the Lake Geneva Club. It was the beginning of a whole new life for me. I made great money and met so many friendly people. Being only 18 years old, I loved to flirt with all the men at my tables, but no one ever took it seriously. We weren't allowed to date the customers. It was all in good fun and everyone enjoyed it.

Playboy staff photographer Alex Urbanowski was a regular lunch customer at the Chicago Club. He always asked me to test for the magazine, saying I was exactly the "girl next door" they were looking for. I didn't think he was serious -- I was no glamour girl! But after some consideration, I decided to go for it. I knew Alex pretty well from talking with him at the Club, but I was still extremely nervous when we began shooting the test shots. He was very sweet and patient with me and soon I began to relax, enough so that eventually I started to help him with ideas -- different poses and styles, offering all kinds of suggestions. It was a lot of hard work over many hours, but it was worth every ounce of effort.

Then came the big moment: I will never forget shrieking with delight when Photo Editor Marilyn Grabowski called to tell me I'd been chosen to become a Playmate! This just didn't happen to Midwestern college girls! I knew this would radically change my life. No more boring suburban world for me! I called my sister right away to share the incredible news. We both screamed and cried and jumped up and down, absolutely ecstatic. To see unpublished photos from my Playmate pictorial join the Playboy Cyber Club.