Longtime PLAYBOY fans and devoted readers likely recognize the soft-blush tones pictured above. The petal-perfect hue, dubbed “Playmate Pink,” was announced in the magazine in February 1965—“a striking new color shade conceived by Playboy”—in a pictorial featuring 1964 Playmate of the Year Donna Michelle. The cotton-candy color became a tradition in PMOY pictorials that lasted into the 1970s. But how did the practice of crowning a PMOY begin in the first place?

For years after its founding in 1953, the magazine editors received letters from eager readers expressing their favorite Playmates. In 1956, Michigan State undergrads wrote to declare they had named June Playmate Gloria Walker their Playmate of the Year, in addition to the standard title of Playmate of the Month. PLAYBOY recognized a good idea when it heard one, and soon decided to bestow the Playmate of the Year title upon one lucky winner each year. Choosing from 12 exceptional Playmates proved challenging, and reader feedback was key. December 1959 Playmate Ellen Stratton was named the first official Playmate of the Year in 1960. (Unofficially, Playboy gave the title to Lisa Winters in 1957 and Joyce Nizzari in 1959.)

To further honor the PMOYs, Playboy put together gift packages with items such as luggage sets, stereos, cars, clothing and novelty items—many of which came in Playmate Pink, naturally. Are you wondering what to give the queen in your life? Explore these photos of early PMOYs and their prizes for inspiration. (And, when in doubt, head to the Playboy Shop for your own Playboy gear!)

Jo Collins, 1965 Playmate of the Year

“If anyone had told me I’d be wearing mink by my 20th birthday, I’d have sworn they were ribbing me,” said Jo Collins of her white mink cape by Alper Furs. Collins was favored by PLAYBOY readers, who chose her as their favorite 1964 Playmate, and Vietnam soldiers, who requested that Playboy send her to pay them a visit during the war. Collins’s prizes, worth more than $10,000 at the time, included a gallon bottle of Kahlua, which she puts into perspective here.

Allison Parks, 1966 Playmate of the Year

The Dodge Charger fastback Allison Parks received as part of her Playmate of the Year gift package was the perfect means of transportation to speed to the local airway, where she was training for her private pilot’s license. In addition to her affinity for aviation, Parks also loved spending time in the pool and garden. Her new toolkit was perfect for her active lifestyle, while the Lilly Daché wig from Donna Elaine may have proved useful in her acting endeavors. Parks was also a regular on *Playboy After Dark,* Hugh Hefner’s variety show.

Lisa Baker, 1967 Playmate of the Year

Lisa Baker shows off two water looks here: a stylish swimwear set complete with Renauld of France sunglasses and a scuba diving getup featuring a Swimaster tank from W.J. Voit and other gear from U.S. Divers. Baker’s most tantalizing Playmate gift, though, was a record contract audition from Monument. The music lover, who counted Count Basie among her favorites, was discovered by photographer Bill Figge at a wedding. She went on to become the November 1966 Playmate—and Figge’s personal secretary.

Connie Kreski, 1969 Playmate of the Year

Baker’s scuba gear would certainly come in handy for Connie Kreski, an outdoors lover. When Kreski traveled to London after becoming a Playmate, she not only landed herself a role in a major movie (she met actor and director Anthony Newley in an elevator at the London Playboy Club), but also spent time shopping the latest styles. “The Mod shops in Knightsbridge sell the wildest outfits I’ve ever seen,” she told PLAYBOY at the time. Here, the free thinker and passionate Playmate rocks some equally far-out fashions, featuring the Walter Holmes Vibration collection and gloves from Aris.

Claudia Jennings, 1970 Playmate of the Year

Between working as a model and actress and traveling the world for Playboy promotion opportunities, Claudia Jennings had quite a full plate. That’s why she prioritized rest and relaxation. “You’ve got to sit down and relax sometimes, since the future will be unpredictable even if you work 24 hours a day,” she told PLAYBOY. We think these cassettes probably did the trick. Or, if she felt so moved, the master communicator may have enjoyed typing on this Smith Corona Electra 210 typewriter—a skill she put to good use while working as a receptionist at Playboy before becoming a Playmate.

Sharon Clark, 1971 Playmate of the Year

Sharon Clark keeps an eye on the time with her new Lady Hamilton 14-karat gold-and-diamond watch. Traveling—Clark went all the way to Micronesia for her Playmate pictorial—and being active were among her favorite ways to spend time, but the sunny Playmate also hoped to get into acting. Included in her many gifts were a Yamaha Mini-Enduro and a ruby-eyed gold Rabbit pin by Maria Vogt.

Cyndi Wood, 1974 Playmate of the Year

“I’ve always liked being in the spotlight,” said Playmate Cyndi Wood. Raised by an actress and recording-company executive, Wood gravitated to the arts. Not only did it land her a spot as Playboy’s February 1973 Playmate, but it also got her quite a few dancing, modeling, singing and acting gigs, including a memorable role in Francis Ford Coppola’s *Apocalypse Now.* The above Schwinn Super Sport 10-speed bike and four-piece set of Samsonite luggage (in Playmate Pink) are just a glimpse of the grand gifts Wood received in her Playmate of the Year package.