Playboy is boldly returning to print after a five-year hiatus, and its Playmate of the Year, Gillian Nation, is embracing the iconic brand’s legacy and prestige.

The 27-year-old model made her grand debut during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans, dazzling in a $10 million diamond-studded Playboy bunny costume. She also paid homage to Monique St. Pierre’s June 1979 Playboy cover, further cementing her role in Playboy’s storied history.

While the magazine has seen its share of turbulence in the digital era—competing with online platforms like OnlyFans—Gillian Nation believes Playboy’s allure remains unmatched.

For Gillian Nation, the title of Playmate of the Year came as a shock.

“I knew I was going to be in the magazine, but I didn’t think anything beyond that,” she told Fox News Digital. “I didn’t really understand the gravity of what it meant to be a Playmate.”

The recognition has reverberated throughout her personal life, with family, distant relatives, and even her boyfriend’s conservative churchgoing family in Georgia celebrating her achievement.

“It’s heartwarming to see how many people are so supportive,” Nation said.

Founded by Hugh Hefner in 1953, Playboy was once a cultural powerhouse, boasting over 7 million readers in the 1970s. However, competition from digital platforms and changing attitudes toward nudity caused its circulation to decline.

In 2015, Playboy made the controversial decision to stop publishing nude images, citing the ubiquity of online adult content. That move was reversed in 2017, just months before Hefner’s death at age 91. The magazine ultimately ceased print publication in 2020, citing disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, Playboy is looking to reclaim its place in the media landscape, focusing on high-quality photography, celebrity interviews, and e-commerce initiatives.

OnlyFans is still stigmatized in many circles, while Playboy has decades of pop culture credibility to draw from.

Gillian Nation, for her part, was eager to be part of the brand’s revival.

“I wanted to do [classic Playboy] justice,” she said. “I think if you’re going to do it, you embrace it.”

With OnlyFans dominating the digital adult entertainment space, many question whether Playboy can compete in an era where anyone can monetize explicit content.

Gillian Nation, however, dismisses the idea that OnlyFans is true competition.

“Honestly, anybody can make an OnlyFans. Anybody can post a naked photo. Anybody can do those things,” she explained. “I’d like to think that Playboy picks and chooses more because you’re representing the brand, and they have this history behind them.”

For Gillian Nation, Playboy is about more than just nudity—it’s about artistry, legacy, and prestige.

“Obviously, it can’t compete in the same way as OnlyFans or all these different platforms where people can say, ‘You can see more.’ But that’s not really the point,” she added. “The point is that it’s something classic, and that’s what it’s always been.”

For her Playboy spread, Nation posed nude in a setting inspired by her rural Montana roots, featuring horses and the open countryside.

Initially, she hesitated to go fully nude, fearing it might typecast her career.

“I was trying to go in the other direction and expand,” she admitted.

However, Playboy’s creative team won her over with a vision that aligned with her personal aesthetic.

“They put together this beautiful mood board, which I just loved,” she said. “I made one just like it last summer while I was home in Montana. … I couldn’t say no to this.”

Despite pre-shoot nerves, the experience felt natural and empowering.

“It was very freeing. It was very liberating,” she said.

What’s Next for Playboy and Gillian Nation?

With Playboy’s return to print, the brand is betting on nostalgia and exclusivity to differentiate itself in a market saturated with digital content.

Meanwhile, Nation is embracing her role as an ambassador for Playboy’s new era, balancing the brand’s rich history with the expectations of a modern audience.

With Playboy returning to print after a five-year hiatus and OnlyFans continuing to dominate the adult content industry, many wonder if the legacy brand can thrive in the digital era. While both platforms feature adult content, they serve different audiences and operate with distinct business models.

You can follow Playboy on X at @playboy.