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00:00:08,175 --> 00:00:11,885
A female athlete's body
is strong.
2
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,420
[grunting]
3
00:00:13,497 --> 00:00:16,423
-Confident.
-[chanting] hold that goal!
4
00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:17,424
Sexy...
5
00:00:17,501 --> 00:00:19,118
[crowd cheering]
6
00:00:19,194 --> 00:00:21,428
Majestic.
7
00:00:21,505 --> 00:00:23,580
Toned.
8
00:00:23,582 --> 00:00:25,432
Powerful.
9
00:00:25,509 --> 00:00:26,674
Sweaty.
10
00:00:26,752 --> 00:00:29,360
-Secure.
-Muscular.
11
00:00:29,362 --> 00:00:32,455
And sometimes...It's naked.
12
00:00:32,532 --> 00:00:34,074
♪♪
13
00:00:34,109 --> 00:00:36,476
But there is a lot of backlash
14
00:00:36,511 --> 00:00:39,847
When you are a female athlete
who posed for "playboy."
15
00:00:39,882 --> 00:00:42,215
Reporter: The "playboy" cover
and 8-page spread
16
00:00:42,250 --> 00:00:43,667
Has a lot of tongues waggin'.
17
00:00:43,702 --> 00:00:45,568
Eventually they'll get
to the point to where
18
00:00:45,646 --> 00:00:48,955
They'll regret
that they done this.
19
00:00:49,032 --> 00:00:51,975
They asked me to show my vagina.
20
00:00:52,010 --> 00:00:54,319
At that point,
I just gave in and knew
21
00:00:54,396 --> 00:00:57,097
That I was probably
gonna go to hell.
22
00:00:57,132 --> 00:00:58,265
♪♪
23
00:00:58,300 --> 00:01:00,817
The backlash was huge.
24
00:01:00,894 --> 00:01:02,903
It was brutal.
25
00:01:02,938 --> 00:01:06,640
Commentator: This is two steps
to the rear for women's boxing.
26
00:01:06,675 --> 00:01:10,911
This issue hit the stands,
and then a bomb went off,
27
00:01:10,987 --> 00:01:16,224
Because this...Was...Shocking.
28
00:01:16,302 --> 00:01:18,752
And honestly,
once the magazine came out,
29
00:01:18,828 --> 00:01:21,371
I wasn't prepared at all
because I didn't think
30
00:01:21,373 --> 00:01:23,773
Anybody was gonna
make a big deal about it.
31
00:01:23,851 --> 00:01:25,626
♪♪
32
00:01:25,661 --> 00:01:29,070
And for some reason,
people lost it.
33
00:01:29,148 --> 00:01:31,590
[motor revving]
34
00:01:31,667 --> 00:01:32,966
My name is hugh hefner.
35
00:01:33,001 --> 00:01:34,467
I'm editor-publisher
of "playboy" magazine.
36
00:01:34,469 --> 00:01:35,719
Reporter: Playboy is one
37
00:01:35,754 --> 00:01:38,822
Of the most famous brand names
in the world.
38
00:01:38,857 --> 00:01:40,874
It was simply to include sex as
39
00:01:41,026 --> 00:01:44,027
One natural part of a package
for a male audience.
40
00:01:44,104 --> 00:01:45,646
Kari ann: When I made the choice
to do "playboy,"
41
00:01:45,681 --> 00:01:48,315
I didn't realize all
the choices that I was making
42
00:01:48,317 --> 00:01:50,167
That came with that choice.
43
00:01:50,202 --> 00:01:53,378
Pitzulo: We don't judge the men
for buying the "playboy"s,
44
00:01:53,455 --> 00:01:56,189
But we judge the women
for posing for "playboy."
45
00:01:56,224 --> 00:01:58,199
Jill:
I was never jill anymore.
46
00:01:58,201 --> 00:02:00,677
I was jill
that posed for "playboy."
47
00:02:00,712 --> 00:02:03,079
Ashley: I just gave in
and knew that I was
48
00:02:03,157 --> 00:02:04,647
Probably gonna go to hell.
49
00:02:04,725 --> 00:02:06,250
Zoe:
It got to a certain point
50
00:02:06,285 --> 00:02:08,836
Where it wasn't fun anymore.
51
00:02:08,871 --> 00:02:10,979
Sondra:
This process was very painful,
52
00:02:11,056 --> 00:02:16,093
But I should be able to tell
my story as I lived it.
53
00:02:24,536 --> 00:02:29,072
♪♪
54
00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:31,649
Guerero: Mia st. John entered
the boxing arena
55
00:02:31,651 --> 00:02:34,068
When she was
almost 30 years old
56
00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:35,696
And quickly gained
national attention
57
00:02:35,731 --> 00:02:40,825
For her pink shorts in the ring
and uncommon sex appeal.
58
00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:43,937
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen,
here is the knockout--
59
00:02:44,014 --> 00:02:46,156
Mia st. John!
60
00:02:46,191 --> 00:02:47,765
Commentator: There is st. John,
pulling the punches
61
00:02:47,843 --> 00:02:48,909
Together in bunches.
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00:02:48,985 --> 00:02:51,611
Mia pounding a right hand
to kelley downey.
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00:02:51,689 --> 00:02:53,655
Announcer #2: Mia st. John!
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00:02:53,732 --> 00:02:55,432
[crowd cheering]
65
00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:58,218
Guerrero: Her sex appeal
was widely used by promoters,
66
00:02:58,253 --> 00:03:00,845
But when mia chose to pose
for "playboy,"
67
00:03:00,847 --> 00:03:04,541
The reaction from
the boxing community was harsh.
68
00:03:04,543 --> 00:03:06,918
Commentator: I wonder
if this is one step ahead
69
00:03:06,996 --> 00:03:10,130
For women's boxing
or two steps to the rear.
70
00:03:10,206 --> 00:03:13,767
♪♪
71
00:03:13,843 --> 00:03:16,261
So, we have sat across
from each other
72
00:03:16,338 --> 00:03:18,155
Many, many, many, many times
73
00:03:18,190 --> 00:03:20,023
Over the last several years
'cause we're friends.
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00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:21,691
Mia: Mm-hmm, yeah.
75
00:03:21,768 --> 00:03:23,010
So, I'm really excited because
76
00:03:23,045 --> 00:03:24,686
I have so many questions
to ask you
77
00:03:24,763 --> 00:03:26,914
That I don't think I've ever
asked you before,
78
00:03:26,949 --> 00:03:28,432
Friend to friend.
79
00:03:28,467 --> 00:03:30,667
So, I'm gonna jump right in.
80
00:03:30,702 --> 00:03:33,503
You were a superstar boxer.
81
00:03:33,538 --> 00:03:36,815
-You already had a high profile.
-Right.
82
00:03:36,892 --> 00:03:38,926
Why did you choose
to pose for "playboy"?
83
00:03:38,961 --> 00:03:42,470
"playboy" was just something
that, um,
84
00:03:42,472 --> 00:03:45,799
Brought in more exposure,
no pun intended,
85
00:03:45,951 --> 00:03:51,471
But more, you know, brought me
to a greater audience.
86
00:03:51,548 --> 00:03:52,889
-You're on the cover of...
-[laughter]
87
00:03:52,966 --> 00:03:54,524
-Yeah.
-..."playboy" magazine.
88
00:03:54,559 --> 00:03:56,242
Yeah, that's--that's the theme,
but, you know, I noticed--
89
00:03:56,277 --> 00:03:57,627
I don't know many fighters
that have
90
00:03:57,662 --> 00:03:59,238
Their hands like that,
apparently.
91
00:03:59,314 --> 00:04:01,882
Is that just to protect the...
Kind of a strategic...
92
00:04:01,917 --> 00:04:03,641
Yeah, no, that's typical.
[laughs]
93
00:04:03,719 --> 00:04:07,078
You actually didn't start out
as a boxer.
94
00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,990
You practiced taekwondo,
correct?
95
00:04:10,066 --> 00:04:13,676
Right. I started in taekwondo
when I was 6.
96
00:04:13,753 --> 00:04:16,170
I-I always wanted to be a boxer,
but at the time,
97
00:04:16,172 --> 00:04:19,257
Women weren't
really going pro in boxing.
98
00:04:19,259 --> 00:04:21,017
Then I started seeing
christy martin
99
00:04:21,019 --> 00:04:25,430
Fight on the tyson cards, and I
said, oh, I wanna fight her.
100
00:04:25,432 --> 00:04:26,990
I wanna turn pro in boxing.
101
00:04:27,025 --> 00:04:32,061
So, don king made me an offer,
and I turned to pro in boxing.
102
00:04:32,063 --> 00:04:33,563
♪♪
103
00:04:33,598 --> 00:04:38,351
Your very first nickname
in boxing was "the knockout."
104
00:04:38,428 --> 00:04:40,353
-"the knockout."
-why?
105
00:04:40,430 --> 00:04:42,939
It was a name my trainer
came up with
106
00:04:43,016 --> 00:04:45,492
Because when he first saw me,
when he first met me,
107
00:04:45,527 --> 00:04:47,935
He said, "oh, my god,
you're a knockout."
108
00:04:48,013 --> 00:04:52,298
And in my first fight, I knocked
the girl out in 54 seconds.
109
00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:55,535
So, my trainer felt like
"the knockout" was appropriate
110
00:04:55,612 --> 00:04:58,338
With, you know,
a double meaning.
111
00:04:58,373 --> 00:05:01,466
We're gonna start you off
this evening with the super bowl
112
00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:04,210
Of women's boxing,
victoria's secret style,
113
00:05:04,287 --> 00:05:06,971
As mia "the knockout" st. John
114
00:05:06,973 --> 00:05:09,366
Tries to protect
her unbeaten record.
115
00:05:09,401 --> 00:05:13,127
There was a lot of criticism
at the weigh-ins
116
00:05:13,205 --> 00:05:16,356
'cause, you know, I always
came out in my pink bikini
117
00:05:16,391 --> 00:05:19,776
To weigh in and my makeup on.
118
00:05:19,886 --> 00:05:21,219
My hair, you know, I mean,
119
00:05:21,221 --> 00:05:23,313
The weigh-ins were
a show in itself,
120
00:05:23,390 --> 00:05:27,592
And I definitely got
a lot of criticism for that.
121
00:05:27,669 --> 00:05:32,222
Who first said to you,
"mia, this is a good idea.
122
00:05:32,257 --> 00:05:33,907
I think you should pose
for 'playboy'"?
123
00:05:33,983 --> 00:05:37,911
It was my manager at the time,
bob arum,
124
00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:40,564
And he came to me
with the offer.
125
00:05:40,599 --> 00:05:44,592
I-I was all for it because
I was a businesswoman, too.
126
00:05:44,670 --> 00:05:46,352
When I posed for "playboy,"
127
00:05:46,429 --> 00:05:50,673
I was making more than what
I got in just one fight.
128
00:05:50,708 --> 00:05:53,393
So, it was
a strategic opportunity
129
00:05:53,428 --> 00:05:55,670
For you that you took?
130
00:05:55,747 --> 00:05:57,230
Yes.
131
00:05:57,265 --> 00:06:02,402
What was the process like
shooting for "playboy"?
132
00:06:02,437 --> 00:06:05,363
I got to choose how I posed,
133
00:06:05,365 --> 00:06:07,532
What I showed,
what I didn't show.
134
00:06:07,534 --> 00:06:09,959
What did you decide
to show and not show?
135
00:06:09,961 --> 00:06:13,914
So I did frontal, but I made
sure that my legs were always,
136
00:06:13,949 --> 00:06:16,633
Like, at an angle, you know,
137
00:06:16,668 --> 00:06:19,002
And, you know,
I got photo approval,
138
00:06:19,037 --> 00:06:24,925
So I was able to really control
how I was portrayed.
139
00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:30,146
What was the backlash
140
00:06:30,223 --> 00:06:34,451
From the boxing community
once you posed for "playboy"?
141
00:06:34,486 --> 00:06:37,804
The backlash was huge. Huge.
142
00:06:37,881 --> 00:06:41,458
♪♪
143
00:06:41,493 --> 00:06:45,979
I probably became the world's
most hated fighter...
144
00:06:46,055 --> 00:06:49,832
[laughs]
not--not by the public,
145
00:06:49,909 --> 00:06:51,618
But by just
the boxing community.
146
00:06:51,653 --> 00:06:55,246
Like, all of a sudden,
I was a horrible boxer.
147
00:06:55,248 --> 00:06:59,751
I wasn't very good.
Um, I didn't take it seriously.
148
00:06:59,828 --> 00:07:03,964
They made it sound as though
I was this terrible boxer
149
00:07:03,999 --> 00:07:07,850
That just, uh, made it to fame
because of my looks.
150
00:07:07,927 --> 00:07:09,760
Commentator:
Bob arum, the promoter,
151
00:07:09,762 --> 00:07:11,638
Says the drama of her fights is
152
00:07:11,673 --> 00:07:14,141
Whether she's gonna get hit
in her pretty face.
153
00:07:14,176 --> 00:07:16,693
There's been
a lot of drama so far, then.
154
00:07:16,695 --> 00:07:18,452
[laughter]
155
00:07:18,454 --> 00:07:21,422
All the female fighters
disliked me and thought--
156
00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:23,925
-Were they jealous?
-I think they were,
157
00:07:24,002 --> 00:07:26,536
Because later,
I found out from "playboy,"
158
00:07:26,613 --> 00:07:28,405
While they criticized me,
159
00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,124
They were submitting
their photo.
160
00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,677
Wait a minute.
Some of the same female boxers
161
00:07:33,712 --> 00:07:37,772
That criticized you for posing
submitted their pictures.
162
00:07:37,849 --> 00:07:39,382
Their photos, yes. Yes.
163
00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:41,142
They just weren't picked.
164
00:07:41,144 --> 00:07:44,704
Exactly. But yeah,
the backlash was--was brutal.
165
00:07:44,781 --> 00:07:49,375
You know, so I felt like I had
to go above and beyond
166
00:07:49,452 --> 00:07:50,844
To prove myself.
167
00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:54,380
I had to fight
the number one fighters.
168
00:07:54,457 --> 00:07:56,307
I had to fight the best
of the best
169
00:07:56,309 --> 00:08:01,387
Because I had to prove myself
more than any other fighter.
170
00:08:01,464 --> 00:08:04,191
I always
said that I wanted to be
171
00:08:04,193 --> 00:08:08,244
A top-ranked fighter
who posed for "playboy,"
172
00:08:08,279 --> 00:08:13,066
Not a "playboy" model
who fought for top rank.
173
00:08:13,142 --> 00:08:16,720
You're constantly facing, um...
174
00:08:16,755 --> 00:08:20,757
I don't--I don't know if
I wanna say sexual harassment,
175
00:08:20,833 --> 00:08:24,260
But you're constantly
being hit on
176
00:08:24,295 --> 00:08:27,046
By the managers, the trainers.
177
00:08:27,048 --> 00:08:28,631
That's called sexual harassment.
178
00:08:28,633 --> 00:08:30,400
Okay. [laughs]
179
00:08:30,435 --> 00:08:32,101
If your manager's
hitting on you,
180
00:08:32,178 --> 00:08:33,603
If a trainer is hitting on you,
181
00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:37,698
If the expectation
at a promotion or an event...
182
00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:39,025
-Yes.
-...Is that you date somebody
183
00:08:39,102 --> 00:08:41,411
Or sleep with somebody...
-Oh, always.
184
00:08:41,413 --> 00:08:44,338
As a woman,
you're always faced with that.
185
00:08:44,416 --> 00:08:46,173
Was this before or after
186
00:08:46,251 --> 00:08:47,858
You were
on the cover of "playboy"?
187
00:08:47,860 --> 00:08:50,837
It was around the same time.
It was the late '90s.
188
00:08:50,947 --> 00:08:53,990
There were, um...
189
00:08:54,025 --> 00:09:00,288
There were...Incidents that...
Happened that could have
190
00:09:00,365 --> 00:09:05,602
Literally destroyed
my entire career.
191
00:09:05,637 --> 00:09:08,037
-Yeah.
-What happened?
192
00:09:08,072 --> 00:09:13,927
There--there was, uh, a time
when we trained in big bear.
193
00:09:13,962 --> 00:09:15,978
♪♪
194
00:09:16,055 --> 00:09:18,889
You're just with your camp,
which is all men,
195
00:09:18,891 --> 00:09:22,877
And you're taken to a place
that's very remote.
196
00:09:22,954 --> 00:09:27,323
You're by yourself,
and the men are taken away
197
00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,459
From their wives,
their girlfriends,
198
00:09:29,494 --> 00:09:31,828
And we're there
for months at a time.
199
00:09:31,904 --> 00:09:36,165
And at times,
you do feel like you're--
200
00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:42,171
You're faced in that position,
like, to...To sleep with them,
201
00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:47,327
And, um, me being
the only female in camp...
202
00:09:47,403 --> 00:09:50,130
Did anybody ever physically
assault you?
203
00:09:50,165 --> 00:09:55,318
I was not physically assaulted.
Um...
204
00:09:55,353 --> 00:10:01,975
I...Did end up feeling like
I had to give in to it.
205
00:10:04,329 --> 00:10:07,680
Did somebody rape you at camp?
206
00:10:07,757 --> 00:10:13,778
♪♪
207
00:10:19,452 --> 00:10:24,389
I...Did end up feeling like
208
00:10:24,466 --> 00:10:28,268
You know, like I had
to give in to it.
209
00:10:28,303 --> 00:10:30,887
♪♪
210
00:10:30,963 --> 00:10:35,258
Did somebody rape you at camp?
211
00:10:36,211 --> 00:10:39,545
I don't wanna say rape, um...
Because I,
212
00:10:39,622 --> 00:10:43,808
You know, I was a grown woman,
and I knew what I was doing.
213
00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:45,568
Were you coerced into sex?
214
00:10:45,645 --> 00:10:51,858
I was. And--and as a result,
I became pregnant.
215
00:10:53,061 --> 00:10:55,545
Yeah.
216
00:10:55,580 --> 00:10:58,139
[voice breaking]
you never told me that.
217
00:10:58,216 --> 00:11:02,402
Yeah, I never told anyone.
218
00:11:02,554 --> 00:11:05,479
Did that person know
that you got pregnant?
219
00:11:05,557 --> 00:11:07,498
Yes. Yeah.
220
00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:09,817
Did the whole camp
know you got pregnant?
221
00:11:09,895 --> 00:11:11,244
Yes. Eventually, yes.
222
00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:12,712
-Everybody knew?
-Yeah.
223
00:11:12,747 --> 00:11:16,265
-And your manager?
-Yes.
224
00:11:16,342 --> 00:11:20,010
What did they say when you
told them, "I'm pregnant now"?
225
00:11:20,012 --> 00:11:23,089
"we'll arrange an abortion."
226
00:11:23,166 --> 00:11:25,182
Did you wanna keep the child?
227
00:11:25,184 --> 00:11:26,592
No.
228
00:11:26,669 --> 00:11:28,428
First of all,
229
00:11:28,504 --> 00:11:31,005
Um...
230
00:11:31,082 --> 00:11:32,565
It was with another fighter,
231
00:11:32,567 --> 00:11:35,935
And these fighters
are very high profile,
232
00:11:36,012 --> 00:11:38,287
And...
233
00:11:38,364 --> 00:11:43,426
And this happens all the time
with high-profile athletes.
234
00:11:43,461 --> 00:11:49,373
And it's--it's amazing
that they're not shamed.
235
00:11:49,375 --> 00:11:52,877
-Did you feel shamed?
-I was definitely shamed.
236
00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:55,688
Oh, yes. Yes.
237
00:11:55,723 --> 00:11:59,033
You get pregnant.
The entire camp knows it.
238
00:11:59,110 --> 00:12:02,219
Shames me, but not him.
239
00:12:02,221 --> 00:12:05,098
Yeah, 'cause it's expected
of him.
240
00:12:05,133 --> 00:12:08,351
He's a male athlete.
He's a superstar.
241
00:12:08,386 --> 00:12:10,561
Like, he can do
whatever he wants, you know,
242
00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:14,958
And sleeping with women
is not a big deal.
243
00:12:14,993 --> 00:12:19,462
But if you're the woman,
like, oh, my god, like...
244
00:12:19,497 --> 00:12:22,131
Yeah, I was definitely shamed.
245
00:12:22,166 --> 00:12:23,800
It was in the height
of my career.
246
00:12:23,835 --> 00:12:27,336
-So, you were already a star?
-Yeah.
247
00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:29,155
-And this happened to you...
-Yeah.
248
00:12:29,232 --> 00:12:30,957
...Even with all
of your power...
249
00:12:30,992 --> 00:12:32,658
-Yeah.
-...In the sport of boxing.
250
00:12:32,735 --> 00:12:35,745
♪♪
251
00:12:35,822 --> 00:12:39,840
Honestly, I just cringe
when I think about it. Um...
252
00:12:39,842 --> 00:12:44,821
It's just that I gave in
to that pressure,
253
00:12:44,856 --> 00:12:47,782
But I didn't have time
to process it.
254
00:12:47,859 --> 00:12:52,771
You put your big girl panties on
and you just keep going forward.
255
00:12:58,444 --> 00:13:03,039
Well, now I go, wow,
I was so young. [laughs]
256
00:13:03,115 --> 00:13:04,774
♪♪
257
00:13:04,809 --> 00:13:06,943
But yeah, you know,
I'm very proud of it.
258
00:13:07,019 --> 00:13:09,929
You know, I still do autograph
signings for the "playboy"--
259
00:13:09,964 --> 00:13:11,915
So it's still making me money.
260
00:13:11,950 --> 00:13:17,337
And eventually I did gain
respect late in my career.
261
00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,360
♪♪
262
00:13:24,395 --> 00:13:25,895
Andrea mann knows all too well
263
00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:29,398
About the exploitation
of female athletes.
264
00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:33,102
As a former nfl cheerleader,
she has seen it all.
265
00:13:33,179 --> 00:13:36,155
I was good at learning
the routines. I love to dance.
266
00:13:36,232 --> 00:13:38,157
That's always been something
that I've been good at.
267
00:13:38,234 --> 00:13:41,827
I'm very, very flexible.
I'm still very flexible.
268
00:13:41,862 --> 00:13:43,980
You know, I don't have any
trouble with the flexibility.
269
00:13:44,015 --> 00:13:45,882
Flexibility is my thing,
270
00:13:45,917 --> 00:13:48,234
So if that's what you like,
there you go.
271
00:13:48,311 --> 00:13:51,837
Andrea was a cheerleader
for the baltimore colts
272
00:13:51,872 --> 00:13:55,065
In the late 1970s,
a time when the nfl
273
00:13:55,143 --> 00:13:58,761
Was transitioning
from sweaters to midriffs.
274
00:13:58,838 --> 00:14:01,714
So, when "playboy"
was invited by the team
275
00:14:01,749 --> 00:14:04,717
To take photos of the women,
she was surprised
276
00:14:04,752 --> 00:14:09,889
That she was singled out
to pose nude for the magazine.
277
00:14:09,999 --> 00:14:13,350
First of all, we are
part of the same sisterhood.
278
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:16,012
I was a rams cheerleader
in the '80s.
279
00:14:16,088 --> 00:14:20,032
You were a colts cheerleader
in the '70s.
280
00:14:20,109 --> 00:14:22,919
In the 70s, for a team
that doesn't even exist anymore.
281
00:14:22,954 --> 00:14:24,528
-That's right. They moved.
-They moved.
282
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:25,905
-Those traitors.
-[laughs]
283
00:14:25,940 --> 00:14:29,592
Tell me about your experience
when you were first
284
00:14:29,627 --> 00:14:33,429
Absorbed into the colts
cheerleading organization.
285
00:14:33,464 --> 00:14:36,123
♪♪
286
00:14:36,125 --> 00:14:37,433
The way you joined was
287
00:14:37,468 --> 00:14:38,951
You found out where
they practiced,
288
00:14:39,028 --> 00:14:41,362
You went there and they said,
"okay, come on down."
289
00:14:41,439 --> 00:14:42,788
That's a little bit different
than it is today.
290
00:14:42,865 --> 00:14:44,457
It's a little different
than it is today.
291
00:14:44,533 --> 00:14:46,951
They weren't trying to prove
anything to anybody.
292
00:14:47,028 --> 00:14:49,570
This was before
dallas cowboy cheerleaders
293
00:14:49,647 --> 00:14:51,072
Became a thing,
294
00:14:51,149 --> 00:14:53,557
And suddenly you had to have
the best and the brightest
295
00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:54,817
And the most experienced
296
00:14:54,894 --> 00:14:58,312
And the biggest...Whatever.
Um...
297
00:14:58,314 --> 00:15:03,242
The dallas cowboy cheerleaders
became a huge thing...
298
00:15:03,319 --> 00:15:05,219
-Yes.
-...In the late '70s.
299
00:15:05,296 --> 00:15:08,581
And suddenly your uniforms
changed in baltimore.
300
00:15:08,657 --> 00:15:09,999
What did they look like after
301
00:15:10,076 --> 00:15:11,667
The dallas cowboy cheerleaders
became famous?
302
00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:15,838
Well, suddenly we were to wear
very short shorts,
303
00:15:15,915 --> 00:15:18,649
Long sleeve tops
that you tied at the middle
304
00:15:18,727 --> 00:15:21,827
And nothing to cover
the midriff.
305
00:15:21,904 --> 00:15:24,430
I wasn't really
that kind of girl.
306
00:15:24,465 --> 00:15:28,759
You know, I wasn't...
Fluffy, shall we say.
307
00:15:28,761 --> 00:15:31,638
I was much more demure,
but I had fun with it.
308
00:15:31,673 --> 00:15:34,307
From my understanding,
"playboy" reached out.
309
00:15:34,342 --> 00:15:37,693
After
the dallas cowboy cheerleaders
310
00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,253
Shot to fame,
311
00:15:39,330 --> 00:15:43,048
They reached out to a bunch
of nfl teams and said,
312
00:15:43,126 --> 00:15:47,277
"we wanna feature some of
the cheerleaders on our pages."
313
00:15:47,279 --> 00:15:50,657
Your team,
the baltimore colts, did say,
314
00:15:50,692 --> 00:15:54,718
"yeah, we would consider letting
some of our cheerleaders
315
00:15:54,796 --> 00:15:56,654
Be featured in 'playboy.'"
316
00:15:56,731 --> 00:15:59,682
I went to a rehearsal
one Wednesday night,
317
00:15:59,717 --> 00:16:02,852
And sam orofino,
the personnel director
318
00:16:02,887 --> 00:16:04,353
For the band
and the cheerleaders
319
00:16:04,388 --> 00:16:06,222
Came up to me and said,
"I have some people
320
00:16:06,298 --> 00:16:08,282
I would like you to meet."
he took me into a room,
321
00:16:08,359 --> 00:16:10,026
And there were
two gentlemen there.
322
00:16:10,061 --> 00:16:13,403
He said, "these are
'playboy' photographers,
323
00:16:13,405 --> 00:16:16,457
And they would like you
to pose for their magazine,"
324
00:16:16,459 --> 00:16:18,125
And I asked him,
"well, what do you want?"
325
00:16:18,203 --> 00:16:20,127
And he said, "well, you can
represent the baltimore colts
326
00:16:20,205 --> 00:16:23,539
In 'playboy' magazine,"
and I was thrilled.
327
00:16:23,574 --> 00:16:25,583
♪♪
328
00:16:25,660 --> 00:16:28,360
But I was also told,
"don't tell anybody."
329
00:16:28,362 --> 00:16:30,179
Oh, and maybe at the beginning,
I should have thought,
330
00:16:30,256 --> 00:16:32,164
"well, what do you mean,
don't tell?
331
00:16:32,199 --> 00:16:33,582
Why wouldn't
I not tell anybody?"
332
00:16:33,659 --> 00:16:34,900
Who told you not
to tell anybody?
333
00:16:34,977 --> 00:16:36,703
Sam. Sam orofino.
The same person.
334
00:16:36,738 --> 00:16:40,056
He said, "the other girls
might be jealous."
335
00:16:40,058 --> 00:16:42,149
In the photo session itself,
336
00:16:42,227 --> 00:16:45,094
How much did you show
of your body?
337
00:16:45,171 --> 00:16:46,379
Varying degrees.
338
00:16:46,414 --> 00:16:48,264
The photo
that they ended up using
339
00:16:48,299 --> 00:16:50,850
Shows very little of my body.
340
00:16:50,852 --> 00:16:53,219
This issue hit the stands,
341
00:16:53,254 --> 00:16:54,703
And then a bomb went off
342
00:16:54,781 --> 00:17:02,111
In the nfl because
this...Was...Shocking.
343
00:17:02,146 --> 00:17:04,605
All the press--
that became a big deal.
344
00:17:04,607 --> 00:17:07,583
And honestly,
once the magazine came out,
345
00:17:07,618 --> 00:17:10,028
I wasn't prepared at all
because I didn't think anybody
346
00:17:10,104 --> 00:17:12,188
Was gonna make a big deal
about it.
347
00:17:12,264 --> 00:17:15,241
♪♪
348
00:17:15,276 --> 00:17:19,078
And for some reason,
people lost it.
349
00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:23,883
Guerrero: When that issue
hit the newsstands,
350
00:17:23,885 --> 00:17:27,670
There was a lot of chaos
and a lot of publicity.
351
00:17:27,705 --> 00:17:30,289
At the end of the day,
352
00:17:30,366 --> 00:17:34,843
The women that did pose nude
were all fired, and, in fact,
353
00:17:34,845 --> 00:17:37,597
Two entire squads
were disbanded.
354
00:17:37,632 --> 00:17:40,600
When you're a cheerleader,
you are part of a team,
355
00:17:40,635 --> 00:17:43,986
But if you go off
and do this one
356
00:17:43,988 --> 00:17:46,063
You know,
very controversial thing,
357
00:17:46,065 --> 00:17:48,991
It does reflect
on the rest of the squad.
358
00:17:49,068 --> 00:17:50,860
When I went
to the colts rehearsal,
359
00:17:50,895 --> 00:17:53,613
I was surrounded by other girls
who were asking me,
360
00:17:53,648 --> 00:17:57,967
"what did you do?
We heard about what you did,"
361
00:17:58,002 --> 00:17:59,910
And I was a little confused
362
00:17:59,912 --> 00:18:03,063
'cause I wasn't sure
what they meant.
363
00:18:03,141 --> 00:18:07,310
And the same sam orofino
came over and said,
364
00:18:07,345 --> 00:18:09,820
You know, "oh, we understand you
played--posed for 'playboy.'"
365
00:18:09,898 --> 00:18:12,215
And I said,
"well, that was your idea."
366
00:18:12,324 --> 00:18:14,817
He said,
"we had no understanding
367
00:18:14,852 --> 00:18:17,094
That there was
any nudity involved."
368
00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:20,339
Wait, your director,
who submitted you
369
00:18:20,416 --> 00:18:24,760
To "playboy" magazine,
is then feigning shock...
370
00:18:24,837 --> 00:18:26,086
Yes, he was--
371
00:18:26,164 --> 00:18:27,313
...That there was
nudity involved?
372
00:18:27,348 --> 00:18:29,439
Clutching his pearls,
he was so upset.
373
00:18:29,441 --> 00:18:30,516
When the issue came out
374
00:18:30,593 --> 00:18:33,319
And when all
of the publicity exploded,
375
00:18:33,354 --> 00:18:35,187
How were you treated--
376
00:18:35,264 --> 00:18:39,024
You, andrea, in your hometown
and within your community?
377
00:18:39,101 --> 00:18:41,952
Unfortunately,
the local newspaper
378
00:18:41,954 --> 00:18:44,213
Uh, did post my address,
379
00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:46,866
So people showed up
at the house occasionally.
380
00:18:46,942 --> 00:18:48,701
There were a couple of times
when I was going to work
381
00:18:48,777 --> 00:18:50,837
That I had to go
right to the police station
382
00:18:50,839 --> 00:18:52,688
And report the guy following me
383
00:18:52,723 --> 00:18:54,190
Is not somebody
I want to have following me.
384
00:18:54,225 --> 00:18:56,359
Wait a minute.
That's pretty serious.
385
00:18:56,394 --> 00:18:58,969
That's dangerous journalism,
in my opinion.
386
00:18:58,971 --> 00:19:04,216
Do you believe that you deserved
an apology from sam orofino,
387
00:19:04,293 --> 00:19:07,569
The director that submitted you
in the first place to "playboy"?
388
00:19:07,646 --> 00:19:08,688
Absolutely.
389
00:19:08,723 --> 00:19:11,131
He should have explained
to me what had happened.
390
00:19:11,209 --> 00:19:12,966
But to proclaim
391
00:19:13,044 --> 00:19:15,336
That they had never heard
of "playboy" magazine,
392
00:19:15,413 --> 00:19:19,999
They just submitted photos of me
on a whim is ridiculous.
393
00:19:20,075 --> 00:19:25,204
And it was very clear to me
that I should just walk away.
394
00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:32,712
The first thing I feel is how
very happy I was
395
00:19:32,747 --> 00:19:35,839
To be a part of that,
to be asked to represent
396
00:19:35,841 --> 00:19:38,734
The baltimore colts
in "playboy" magazine.
397
00:19:38,769 --> 00:19:41,603
The second thing I think
is how sad it is
398
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,513
That somewhere along the line,
399
00:19:43,515 --> 00:19:46,392
The same people who asked me to
pose for the magazine decided,
400
00:19:46,427 --> 00:19:49,395
"well, we don't really want you
to pose for the magazine."
401
00:19:49,430 --> 00:19:51,313
Or as they said, officially,
402
00:19:51,315 --> 00:19:54,283
"we didn't know there was nudity
involved with 'playboy.'"
403
00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:57,570
That was pretty shocking to me.
404
00:20:02,218 --> 00:20:05,528
Professional tennis player
ashley harkleroad
405
00:20:05,637 --> 00:20:09,448
Also knows what it's like
to be oversexualized.
406
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,041
Ashley harkleroad was
407
00:20:11,043 --> 00:20:13,085
Playing tennis professionally
at just 14
408
00:20:13,195 --> 00:20:17,573
And was quickly known as
the american anna kournikova,
409
00:20:17,608 --> 00:20:20,042
A player known
for her sex appeal.
410
00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:21,718
The pressure to both look good
411
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,030
And compete on a world stage
was high.
412
00:20:24,065 --> 00:20:25,581
So, after an injury
413
00:20:25,657 --> 00:20:28,709
And a surgery
had her briefly sidelined,
414
00:20:28,786 --> 00:20:31,403
Ashley thought "playboy"
would be a good way
415
00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,248
To get back out
and reclaim her body.
416
00:20:34,325 --> 00:20:36,542
She didn't realize
all that would come
417
00:20:36,577 --> 00:20:39,886
From posing for the magazine.
418
00:20:39,964 --> 00:20:43,549
At 14, you were number one
in the nation,
419
00:20:43,584 --> 00:20:45,767
Playing against 18-year-olds,
420
00:20:45,845 --> 00:20:48,054
Being compared
to anna kournikova.
421
00:20:48,089 --> 00:20:49,805
For a 14-year-old kid
from georgia...
422
00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:50,957
-Mm-hmm.
-...To be compared
423
00:20:50,959 --> 00:20:52,625
To a sex symbol...
-Yeah.
424
00:20:52,660 --> 00:20:54,293
...That has gotta put
a different kind of pressure
425
00:20:54,328 --> 00:20:56,812
On you outside of performing
on the court.
426
00:20:56,847 --> 00:20:58,847
-Right.
-What was that like for you?
427
00:20:58,924 --> 00:21:01,300
Looking back, um, I feel like
428
00:21:01,335 --> 00:21:05,203
I was definitely sexualized
at a super young age.
429
00:21:05,281 --> 00:21:07,022
Commentator: There's a lot
of buzz in the locker room
430
00:21:07,057 --> 00:21:08,949
When the draw came out
as this being
431
00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:11,510
The most attractive
first round matchup.
432
00:21:11,587 --> 00:21:13,496
♪♪
433
00:21:13,531 --> 00:21:15,531
Who was looking out for you?
Who was on those sets,
434
00:21:15,566 --> 00:21:18,517
Making sure that
you weren't overly sexualized?
435
00:21:18,594 --> 00:21:21,003
I wanna say my agent
436
00:21:21,038 --> 00:21:24,097
Because I traveled alone
or with a coach
437
00:21:24,175 --> 00:21:25,874
Because we couldn't
quite afford to, like,
438
00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:27,994
Have my parents travel with me.
439
00:21:28,029 --> 00:21:30,879
My mom was a schoolteacher,
so she was working.
440
00:21:30,956 --> 00:21:33,290
Did you feel like you had
to support your family...
441
00:21:33,292 --> 00:21:34,608
-For sure.
-...At 14 years old?
442
00:21:34,685 --> 00:21:35,868
-Yeah.
-Okay.
443
00:21:35,944 --> 00:21:37,536
-Mm-hmm.
-At 15, you're signed by nike.
444
00:21:37,613 --> 00:21:38,837
Mm-hmm.
445
00:21:38,839 --> 00:21:42,057
And immediately
they start putting you
446
00:21:42,134 --> 00:21:43,592
In, uh, tennis outfits...
447
00:21:43,594 --> 00:21:45,794
-Mm-hmm.
-...That were really revealing.
448
00:21:45,829 --> 00:21:49,849
I played the u.S. Open for
the first time when I was 15.
449
00:21:49,884 --> 00:21:52,976
I, um, went to the nike suite
450
00:21:52,978 --> 00:21:56,055
And was trying to figure out
exactly what I was gonna wear.
451
00:21:56,131 --> 00:21:59,258
But little did I know,
when I played tennis,
452
00:21:59,334 --> 00:22:02,469
Like, the shorts, they kinda
would ride up on me.
453
00:22:02,547 --> 00:22:04,413
So, when I tried it on
in the nike suite,
454
00:22:04,490 --> 00:22:07,633
I wasn't playing in it, so I
wasn't quite prepared for it
455
00:22:07,668 --> 00:22:09,718
To, like, ride up as it did.
456
00:22:09,753 --> 00:22:13,855
Anyway, I ended up doing
really well, but the next day,
457
00:22:13,933 --> 00:22:16,825
All over, like, the front page
of the newspapers,
458
00:22:16,902 --> 00:22:20,987
It wasn't about how I played
tennis or my match necessarily.
459
00:22:21,065 --> 00:22:23,615
It was about my outfit.
460
00:22:23,617 --> 00:22:27,969
The one photo
that I saw of my ass, I mean,
461
00:22:27,971 --> 00:22:30,672
I was like, that is ugly.
462
00:22:30,707 --> 00:22:34,226
And so that's kind of
when I started to spiral.
463
00:22:34,261 --> 00:22:36,586
♪♪
464
00:22:36,664 --> 00:22:40,023
Again, you were a child.
465
00:22:40,025 --> 00:22:44,453
Do you remember a time
when you just said to yourself,
466
00:22:44,530 --> 00:22:46,196
"I can't do this anymore.
I can't..."
467
00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:49,124
-Yeah.
-"I can't be a sex symbol,
468
00:22:49,201 --> 00:22:50,367
Be a tennis player,
469
00:22:50,369 --> 00:22:52,094
Be the breadwinner
for my family"?
470
00:22:52,129 --> 00:22:54,630
It just got to the point where
I used to play tennis for fun,
471
00:22:54,706 --> 00:22:57,466
And I enjoyed winning,
but now I'm, like,
472
00:22:57,543 --> 00:23:00,603
So concerned about how
I look in outfits,
473
00:23:00,638 --> 00:23:03,138
And I'm so concerned
about my image.
474
00:23:03,140 --> 00:23:07,951
That was just the beginning
of what started, honestly,
475
00:23:08,029 --> 00:23:10,704
Some health problems because
476
00:23:10,781 --> 00:23:13,115
I developed an eating disorder
after that
477
00:23:13,150 --> 00:23:16,552
Because I felt like
I looked fat in these photos,
478
00:23:16,628 --> 00:23:19,321
So the expectations
were too high.
479
00:23:19,398 --> 00:23:22,899
And I--like I said,
I felt even in the sport,
480
00:23:22,901 --> 00:23:26,378
I became, like, I was
so good as a junior,
481
00:23:26,413 --> 00:23:28,305
And I was so good really young,
482
00:23:28,382 --> 00:23:34,077
And I just slowly felt like
I was slipping away.
483
00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:37,731
My contract was up with nike,
my contract was up with caa,
484
00:23:37,808 --> 00:23:41,493
And I signed with a different
agency because moving forward,
485
00:23:41,570 --> 00:23:44,254
I said,
if I'm gonna play this sport,
486
00:23:44,256 --> 00:23:46,832
I'm going to play it,
you know, for me.
487
00:23:46,909 --> 00:23:48,300
It's gonna be on my terms.
488
00:23:48,335 --> 00:23:51,820
And I just--I sort of
just changed my team.
489
00:23:51,855 --> 00:23:53,489
And that was kind of
the beginning
490
00:23:53,524 --> 00:23:57,643
Of sort of a new life that
I developed in tennis again.
491
00:23:57,678 --> 00:24:00,846
You made the very controversial
decision...
492
00:24:00,998 --> 00:24:02,831
-Yeah.
-...To pose for "playboy."
493
00:24:02,866 --> 00:24:05,208
-Yeah.
-Why did you do that?
494
00:24:05,286 --> 00:24:08,361
Well, I was 22 years old
when I posed for "playboy."
495
00:24:08,363 --> 00:24:11,773
I really felt like I had
to do it back then
496
00:24:11,850 --> 00:24:13,993
Because I thought,
you know what?
497
00:24:13,995 --> 00:24:16,937
If I do this,
if I pose for "playboy,"
498
00:24:16,939 --> 00:24:20,616
This will be my decision
to actually say yes.
499
00:24:20,692 --> 00:24:23,944
I want to commodify
off my body now.
500
00:24:24,021 --> 00:24:25,671
Like, it was empowering.
501
00:24:25,706 --> 00:24:28,857
So beforehand,
did you negotiate with "playboy"
502
00:24:28,892 --> 00:24:30,375
About what kinds of pictures
503
00:24:30,452 --> 00:24:32,728
You were going to allow them
to take of you?
504
00:24:32,804 --> 00:24:35,347
I remember sitting there
with my agent being like,
505
00:24:35,382 --> 00:24:39,368
Oh, my, god, this is so amazing.
This is such an iconic magazine.
506
00:24:39,403 --> 00:24:42,037
But it'll just be, like,
my boobs, right?
507
00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:43,405
Like booty shots.
508
00:24:43,482 --> 00:24:46,208
And, you know, we just kind of
trusted the process,
509
00:24:46,243 --> 00:24:48,318
And we were like,
great, it's a go.
510
00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,245
-So, the photo shoot begins.
-Mm-hmm.
511
00:24:50,322 --> 00:24:52,080
And did you feel good
at the beginning
512
00:24:52,157 --> 00:24:54,491
About how they were
photographing you?
513
00:24:54,493 --> 00:24:56,142
I think the first scene
was on a tennis court,
514
00:24:56,220 --> 00:24:57,661
And they were like,
515
00:24:57,663 --> 00:25:00,472
"okay, move your body here
and turn your head there."
516
00:25:00,507 --> 00:25:01,874
And my boyfriend was there,
517
00:25:01,909 --> 00:25:04,259
And then my boyfriend
got a call,
518
00:25:04,336 --> 00:25:05,728
So he stepped away.
519
00:25:05,730 --> 00:25:10,733
And then they moved me onto, um,
like, the umpire chair,
520
00:25:10,768 --> 00:25:12,417
And the umpire chair
has a ladder.
521
00:25:12,494 --> 00:25:15,237
And they were like, "okay, like,
kind of pull your skirt up
522
00:25:15,272 --> 00:25:17,847
And lift it up and let it fly
523
00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:19,925
Like the wind is taking
your skirt up," you know?
524
00:25:20,002 --> 00:25:24,230
And I was kind of like, "but I'm
not really showing that--"
525
00:25:24,265 --> 00:25:27,023
Because you didn't wanna show
full frontal nudity.
526
00:25:27,025 --> 00:25:28,675
I didn't, no. I was just--
527
00:25:28,786 --> 00:25:31,194
The energy I was feeling
around me was like,
528
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:35,407
"if you're not gonna do this,
I guess it's a no-go."
529
00:25:35,442 --> 00:25:38,351
It was kind of like,
this is the way it is.
530
00:25:38,429 --> 00:25:40,020
And I wanted to get paid,
531
00:25:40,097 --> 00:25:44,416
And I had bills to pay, and I
had a family to take care of.
532
00:25:44,451 --> 00:25:46,618
And I just--I kinda had
to make that decision
533
00:25:46,695 --> 00:25:48,287
Right there in that moment
534
00:25:48,363 --> 00:25:50,213
Whether I was
gonna move forward or not.
535
00:25:50,215 --> 00:25:52,641
And I don't think
it would have happened
536
00:25:52,718 --> 00:25:55,928
If I didn't lift up my skirt.
537
00:26:00,059 --> 00:26:02,167
When I felt like I wasn't
538
00:26:02,244 --> 00:26:05,971
Supposed to show
anything from the waist down,
539
00:26:06,048 --> 00:26:09,808
And they told me,
in fact, that is not the case,
540
00:26:09,885 --> 00:26:11,944
And I had to make a decision
right then and there
541
00:26:11,979 --> 00:26:14,554
Whether I was gonna
continue on with the shoot,
542
00:26:14,632 --> 00:26:16,164
I just felt scared.
543
00:26:16,241 --> 00:26:18,166
♪♪
544
00:26:18,168 --> 00:26:21,169
I'm naturally just a "yes" girl,
545
00:26:21,246 --> 00:26:24,573
And, um, I definitely felt like
546
00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:29,061
I don't wanna let everyone down
that's here at the shoot.
547
00:26:29,096 --> 00:26:33,732
And, you know, I just wish
I would have been more...
548
00:26:33,767 --> 00:26:37,836
Assertive and been like,
"these are my boundaries,
549
00:26:37,913 --> 00:26:41,056
And this is
what I'm willing to do."
550
00:26:42,509 --> 00:26:44,417
But I wasn't.
551
00:26:44,495 --> 00:26:47,763
When--when he asked me
to pull my skirt up, you know,
552
00:26:47,798 --> 00:26:49,339
And I was kind of like, "what?"
553
00:26:49,417 --> 00:26:51,016
He was kind of like, "what?
What's the problem?
554
00:26:51,093 --> 00:26:53,426
You know, you're doing,
'playboy'," you know?
555
00:26:53,504 --> 00:26:55,020
And I was kind of like,
"hold on."
556
00:26:55,097 --> 00:26:57,038
My boyfriend came back and said,
557
00:26:57,115 --> 00:27:00,450
"it's actually not
in the contract
558
00:27:00,452 --> 00:27:02,602
That you're not supposed
to show waist down,
559
00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,380
And basically at this point,
you can decide
560
00:27:05,457 --> 00:27:07,624
Whether or not
you wanna move on."
561
00:27:07,626 --> 00:27:09,351
-So, you had an agent.
-Mm-hmm.
562
00:27:09,386 --> 00:27:10,869
-You had a manager.
-Mm-hmm.
563
00:27:10,946 --> 00:27:12,554
You had a coach.
You had parents.
564
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:14,373
-You had a boyfriend. Did--
-sometimes I think about it,
565
00:27:14,449 --> 00:27:17,951
And I'm just like, apparently
no one read the fine print.
566
00:27:18,028 --> 00:27:20,896
We were--'cause it all
happened so quickly.
567
00:27:20,972 --> 00:27:22,364
When they approached me
to do "playboy,"
568
00:27:22,399 --> 00:27:24,624
Within three weeks,
I was shooting it.
569
00:27:24,702 --> 00:27:28,403
My heart goes out to you,
ashley, because I feel like
570
00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:35,802
You weren't allowed to have
direction over your own life.
571
00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,138
My boyfriend said,
"what do you want to do?
572
00:27:38,215 --> 00:27:39,823
I support you no matter.
573
00:27:39,825 --> 00:27:42,034
We can walk off this set
right now."
574
00:27:42,069 --> 00:27:46,980
And I was basically,
at that point, hair and makeup.
575
00:27:47,057 --> 00:27:48,407
I'd already, you know,
576
00:27:48,442 --> 00:27:51,543
The skirt had already
flew up a few times,
577
00:27:51,578 --> 00:27:53,562
And I just thought to myself,
578
00:27:53,597 --> 00:27:56,548
With the amount of money
that we settled on,
579
00:27:56,583 --> 00:27:58,491
It would have taken me
eight months to a year
580
00:27:58,569 --> 00:27:59,826
To make that.
581
00:27:59,904 --> 00:28:02,929
And you make really good money
playing tennis,
582
00:28:02,931 --> 00:28:05,690
And, um, I could make that money
in three days.
583
00:28:05,767 --> 00:28:07,493
-Posing for "playboy."
-yeah.
584
00:28:07,528 --> 00:28:10,503
And I just thought to myself...
[sighs]
585
00:28:10,581 --> 00:28:13,649
I'm not gonna
let this opportunity pass.
586
00:28:13,759 --> 00:28:18,253
I'm just gonna have to, like,
grow some balls,
587
00:28:18,288 --> 00:28:20,422
Man up, and I wanna get paid.
588
00:28:20,457 --> 00:28:22,607
And again,
you're coming from this,
589
00:28:22,684 --> 00:28:24,701
It sounds like,
from a business perspective.
590
00:28:24,703 --> 00:28:27,629
For sure, but, you know,
I cried a little bit
591
00:28:27,706 --> 00:28:31,433
Because I grew up
in a religious background.
592
00:28:31,468 --> 00:28:33,376
♪♪
593
00:28:33,378 --> 00:28:37,973
My grandfather was a preacher
of the church of christ,
594
00:28:38,049 --> 00:28:41,860
And I was definitely, like,
running around as a little girl,
595
00:28:41,895 --> 00:28:43,553
Like, worried to say a cuss word
596
00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:46,314
'cause I was afraid I was gonna
get, like, struck by lightning.
597
00:28:46,391 --> 00:28:48,817
So, I always kind of
was checking myself
598
00:28:48,894 --> 00:28:51,653
And making sure
I was living the right way.
599
00:28:51,730 --> 00:28:56,108
But when I decided to pose
for "playboy,"
600
00:28:56,143 --> 00:29:01,070
It was always in the back
of my mind, like, if I do this,
601
00:29:01,072 --> 00:29:02,998
You know,
am I gonna go to heaven
602
00:29:03,074 --> 00:29:05,074
Or am I gonna go to hell?
603
00:29:05,076 --> 00:29:09,838
And, um, obviously, like,
when I was shooting
604
00:29:09,915 --> 00:29:13,809
And they asked me
to show my vagina,
605
00:29:13,844 --> 00:29:16,736
At that point...I just gave in
606
00:29:16,814 --> 00:29:19,481
And knew that I was probably
gonna go to hell.
607
00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:23,117
♪♪
608
00:29:23,270 --> 00:29:25,970
-So, you shoot the magazine.
-Mm-hmm.
609
00:29:26,048 --> 00:29:27,856
The issue comes out.
610
00:29:27,933 --> 00:29:29,599
-That became top of news.
-Mm-hmm.
611
00:29:29,601 --> 00:29:32,268
The fact that you were nude
in "playboy."
612
00:29:32,270 --> 00:29:33,528
-Yeah.
-And you did receive
613
00:29:33,605 --> 00:29:35,088
Some backlash.
-Yeah.
614
00:29:35,165 --> 00:29:38,317
Ashley harkleroad makes news
in her birthday suit.
615
00:29:38,352 --> 00:29:41,195
The 72nd ranked player
on the wta tour
616
00:29:41,271 --> 00:29:43,338
Is the first professional
tennis player
617
00:29:43,373 --> 00:29:46,933
To appear nude in the magazine.
618
00:29:47,011 --> 00:29:49,127
What was the backlash like
for you?
619
00:29:49,162 --> 00:29:52,347
The press went around, like,
my small, little town
620
00:29:52,382 --> 00:29:54,123
And was interviewing people
621
00:29:54,125 --> 00:29:57,277
About my decision
to pose for playboy.
622
00:29:57,354 --> 00:29:59,462
Some people were supportive,
and some people were,
623
00:29:59,464 --> 00:30:01,523
You know, they're very,
like, god-fearing people.
624
00:30:01,558 --> 00:30:03,558
-The bible belt.
-The bible belt, right.
625
00:30:03,635 --> 00:30:05,277
Well, you've probably seen
or heard
626
00:30:05,312 --> 00:30:06,545
That a tennessee valley native
627
00:30:06,621 --> 00:30:08,363
Graces the cover
of "playboy's" August issue.
628
00:30:08,398 --> 00:30:09,731
Here in the bible belt,
629
00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:11,307
You could expect that
to cause quite a stir.
630
00:30:11,309 --> 00:30:12,901
You know, a lot of people
look down on it.
631
00:30:12,903 --> 00:30:15,521
To me, it's whatever,
you know, to each their own.
632
00:30:15,556 --> 00:30:17,572
It's okay for somebody else,
but not for your baby.
633
00:30:17,649 --> 00:30:20,709
No, no, it's not for anybody
in my eyes.
634
00:30:20,744 --> 00:30:22,544
Eventually, they'll get to
the point
635
00:30:22,579 --> 00:30:25,246
To where they'll regret
that they done this.
636
00:30:25,323 --> 00:30:33,755
♪♪
637
00:30:33,832 --> 00:30:35,815
Can you describe how that felt?
638
00:30:35,893 --> 00:30:38,151
I have thick skin for sure,
639
00:30:38,228 --> 00:30:43,006
So I--I'm very good
at ignoring the haters
640
00:30:43,008 --> 00:30:46,902
And, uh, you know, just putting
one foot in front of the other
641
00:30:46,937 --> 00:30:48,494
And thinking about the positive.
642
00:30:48,496 --> 00:30:51,514
I learned that, like,
through therapy, basically.
643
00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:52,941
-Once you had a daughter...
-Mm-hmm.
644
00:30:52,943 --> 00:30:55,060
...I understand
that there was some negativity
645
00:30:55,095 --> 00:30:56,945
That came back up again.
646
00:30:56,947 --> 00:30:59,114
-What happened?
-Well, you know,
647
00:30:59,190 --> 00:31:02,191
Because of social media,
and I'm so accessible,
648
00:31:02,193 --> 00:31:04,177
And people
can write me messages,
649
00:31:04,254 --> 00:31:06,446
I got some dm saying,
650
00:31:06,448 --> 00:31:10,158
"your daughter is gonna be
a slut just like you,"
651
00:31:10,193 --> 00:31:14,763
You know, stuff like that,
that people will say, and...
652
00:31:14,798 --> 00:31:16,415
-That must have been painful.
-Yeah.
653
00:31:16,450 --> 00:31:20,635
There's nothing
that you can say to hurt me.
654
00:31:20,712 --> 00:31:22,421
Like, keep it coming, you know?
655
00:31:22,456 --> 00:31:25,807
Like, I've just developed
thick skin.
656
00:31:25,884 --> 00:31:27,626
♪♪
657
00:31:27,702 --> 00:31:30,028
I...I really haven't
opened my "playboy"
658
00:31:30,063 --> 00:31:32,431
In probably
five, six, seven years.
659
00:31:32,466 --> 00:31:34,466
I do like this picture.
660
00:31:34,542 --> 00:31:37,603
That's a cool,
really cool photo.
661
00:31:37,605 --> 00:31:38,895
Yeah.
662
00:31:38,897 --> 00:31:40,856
This particular shot
I-I really don't like
663
00:31:40,891 --> 00:31:44,050
Because, again,
I wasn't prepared to show
664
00:31:44,128 --> 00:31:45,994
From the waist down,
665
00:31:46,071 --> 00:31:48,480
And I think you can really
kind of see it in my face.
666
00:31:48,556 --> 00:31:51,057
I feel like my face is tense.
667
00:31:51,135 --> 00:31:53,785
These two photos right here,
I love.
668
00:31:53,820 --> 00:31:55,654
These were my two favorites.
669
00:31:55,730 --> 00:31:57,122
I felt like if the whole shoot
670
00:31:57,157 --> 00:31:59,307
Would have been something
more like that,
671
00:31:59,342 --> 00:32:01,843
Like, that was
kind of what I was anticipating.
672
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,087
♪♪
673
00:32:04,164 --> 00:32:06,131
And...You know,
674
00:32:06,241 --> 00:32:09,768
Moving forward,
there's probably nothing
675
00:32:09,844 --> 00:32:14,522
That I would be able to change
except for if I could have,
676
00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:19,427
I would have been more involved
in the contract
677
00:32:19,462 --> 00:32:26,442
And what photos I was willing
to share with the public
678
00:32:26,444 --> 00:32:30,855
And what photos I would
have wanted to be erased.
679
00:32:30,932 --> 00:32:34,025
I wish I would have had
a little more say-so.
680
00:32:34,102 --> 00:32:37,679
And I wish I wouldn't have been
so scared to speak up,
681
00:32:37,789 --> 00:32:39,864
But I was young.
682
00:32:39,941 --> 00:32:46,004
♪♪
683
00:32:48,475 --> 00:32:51,784
♪♪
684
00:32:51,862 --> 00:32:54,379
You know, women wanna be taken
seriously as athletes,
685
00:32:54,456 --> 00:32:56,731
And they wanna be able to
prove themselves on the field,
686
00:32:56,808 --> 00:32:59,292
On the pitch,
on the court, in the ring.
687
00:32:59,369 --> 00:33:03,671
And there is a feeling
by purists that say, that's all.
688
00:33:03,749 --> 00:33:06,191
You should only be
monetizing what you do...
689
00:33:06,226 --> 00:33:09,361
-Ashley: Mm-hmm.
-...As an athlete in your sport.
690
00:33:09,396 --> 00:33:11,721
But that's simply not
the reality or the economics
691
00:33:11,799 --> 00:33:14,249
Of female sports.
-Well, no, look at the men.
692
00:33:14,284 --> 00:33:17,076
-Mm-hmm.
-All the men that are out there
693
00:33:17,078 --> 00:33:24,333
Doing commercials
and products and, um, movies
694
00:33:24,335 --> 00:33:25,744
And, well... [scoffs]
695
00:33:25,820 --> 00:33:28,263
I mean,
they do it all the time.
696
00:33:28,339 --> 00:33:32,517
♪♪
697
00:33:32,552 --> 00:33:35,420
There are so many controversies
698
00:33:35,497 --> 00:33:39,607
With what a female athlete wears
and what she doesn't wear.
699
00:33:39,684 --> 00:33:41,042
♪♪
700
00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:44,929
People are looking at you to
see if you've gained weight,
701
00:33:45,006 --> 00:33:48,349
If you've lost weight,
if you look fit,
702
00:33:48,426 --> 00:33:52,087
If you don't look fit,
if that outfit looks frumpy,
703
00:33:52,122 --> 00:33:57,625
Instead of really just focusing
on the task at hand,
704
00:33:57,660 --> 00:33:59,794
The game that they're playing.
705
00:33:59,871 --> 00:34:02,430
Ashley, you saw a picture
of yourself
706
00:34:02,540 --> 00:34:03,999
In a newspaper,
and you were appalled...
707
00:34:04,034 --> 00:34:05,374
-Yeah.
-...At the way
708
00:34:05,376 --> 00:34:07,102
You thought you looked.
-Mm-hmm.
709
00:34:07,137 --> 00:34:09,955
Where was that pressure
coming from in your case?
710
00:34:09,990 --> 00:34:11,623
The pressure was
probably coming a little bit
711
00:34:11,658 --> 00:34:14,760
From my trainers, like,
"you need to lose weight."
712
00:34:14,795 --> 00:34:17,112
I had a coach one time
that actually said,
713
00:34:17,147 --> 00:34:19,472
"I see cellulite
on the back of your legs.
714
00:34:19,549 --> 00:34:21,541
Like, you need to get up
before school..."
715
00:34:21,543 --> 00:34:23,285
-[scoffs]
-"...And go for a run."
716
00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:24,977
How old were you when
somebody told you--told you--
717
00:34:24,979 --> 00:34:25,795
And I--15.
718
00:34:25,873 --> 00:34:27,773
Did that kind of behavior
719
00:34:27,808 --> 00:34:30,225
And that kind of attitude
contribute to you
720
00:34:30,260 --> 00:34:33,111
Having an eating disorder?
-Probably, for sure.
721
00:34:33,146 --> 00:34:37,823
How can I ever live up
to this expectation?
722
00:34:37,825 --> 00:34:39,742
And I just always felt like
723
00:34:39,744 --> 00:34:42,370
I'm never gonna be able
to be as sexy.
724
00:34:42,447 --> 00:34:43,813
And that was kind
of my thought process
725
00:34:43,891 --> 00:34:45,148
When I did "playboy," too.
726
00:34:45,225 --> 00:34:46,641
I mean, I just remember
when I was
727
00:34:46,676 --> 00:34:48,927
Looking through
"playboy" magazines,
728
00:34:48,962 --> 00:34:51,646
I was quite intimidated
by, like,
729
00:34:51,681 --> 00:34:54,482
"oh, my goodness, I need
to, like, step up my game here
730
00:34:54,517 --> 00:34:56,075
Before I do this photo shoot."
731
00:34:56,153 --> 00:35:00,246
Andrea, you said at one point
that after posing for "playboy,"
732
00:35:00,324 --> 00:35:03,141
You were the target
of criticism by feminists.
733
00:35:03,176 --> 00:35:05,493
-Yes.
-Why was that at the time?
734
00:35:05,528 --> 00:35:06,852
What was their argument?
735
00:35:06,854 --> 00:35:10,665
Their argument was
women need to behave like women.
736
00:35:10,775 --> 00:35:15,170
Women need to aspire to bigger
things rather than being naked.
737
00:35:15,205 --> 00:35:20,283
Naked just keeps men thinking
that all women are available.
738
00:35:20,285 --> 00:35:24,612
The shaming, I think,
is really what's most hurtful.
739
00:35:24,689 --> 00:35:28,958
A lot of people have said
about "playboy" in the past,
740
00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:31,310
That "playboy" uses women.
741
00:35:31,312 --> 00:35:33,137
I knew they were using me.
742
00:35:33,214 --> 00:35:37,049
I never thought of me
using "playboy" because they--
743
00:35:37,051 --> 00:35:38,426
That just
sort of landed in my lap.
744
00:35:38,461 --> 00:35:40,779
So, in my case, it was--
I knew they were gonna use
745
00:35:40,814 --> 00:35:43,264
My picture
to sell some magazines.
746
00:35:43,266 --> 00:35:47,218
I had no idea it was
gonna become a thing.
747
00:35:47,295 --> 00:35:51,522
There's a lot of assumptions
made, and I've had that--
748
00:35:51,524 --> 00:35:53,157
I'm sure you two
have had that, too.
749
00:35:53,192 --> 00:35:54,559
People assume,
"oh, you were in 'playboy,'
750
00:35:54,636 --> 00:35:56,411
Therefore
you're this kind of person,
751
00:35:56,487 --> 00:35:59,731
Therefore you're this kind
of girl, therefore you want me."
752
00:35:59,807 --> 00:36:01,833
I used to get that
every now and then.
753
00:36:01,909 --> 00:36:08,540
Yeah, it's like people think
because you posed in "playboy,"
754
00:36:08,575 --> 00:36:11,409
That you're open to anything.
755
00:36:11,486 --> 00:36:14,670
I had kind of
two different, uh, demographics.
756
00:36:14,748 --> 00:36:17,498
I had the boxing fans,
I had the "playboy" fans.
757
00:36:17,533 --> 00:36:23,829
And some of the "playboy" fans
were very lewd, um,
758
00:36:23,907 --> 00:36:27,183
Quite rude comments,
very sexual,
759
00:36:27,260 --> 00:36:31,512
Um, outspoken,
and just assumed that I was
760
00:36:31,589 --> 00:36:35,099
Wild and crazy in bed, which was
the total opposite of me.
761
00:36:35,176 --> 00:36:36,751
-You know?
-[laughter]
762
00:36:36,786 --> 00:36:39,571
Like, I'm the most conservative,
like, person in bed.
763
00:36:39,681 --> 00:36:43,791
Do you think that "playboy"
has set up
764
00:36:43,826 --> 00:36:46,127
Unrealistic standards of beauty
765
00:36:46,162 --> 00:36:50,539
For most normal women
to ever achieve?
766
00:36:50,541 --> 00:36:53,051
Absolutely.
To fold out the picture,
767
00:36:53,127 --> 00:36:55,027
And I don't know
anyone who looks like that.
768
00:36:55,105 --> 00:36:59,107
And remember that everything
is computerized now.
769
00:36:59,142 --> 00:37:03,661
Like,
I was able to go in and say,
770
00:37:03,738 --> 00:37:05,705
"okay, make my calves smaller."
771
00:37:05,782 --> 00:37:07,648
They could do anything, so--
772
00:37:07,650 --> 00:37:09,034
-You said that to them?
-Yes.
773
00:37:09,069 --> 00:37:10,543
Oh, I wish I would have done
stuff like that.
774
00:37:10,620 --> 00:37:12,812
So the end result of what
you see in "playboy,"
775
00:37:12,814 --> 00:37:15,774
You said, you know, not all
women can look like that.
776
00:37:15,809 --> 00:37:17,742
Not even the centerfold
can look like that.
777
00:37:17,819 --> 00:37:20,578
-Andrea: Right.
-In mia's case,
778
00:37:20,655 --> 00:37:22,897
She didn't get into "playboy"...
-Mm-hmm.
779
00:37:22,974 --> 00:37:24,324
...The first time she wanted to.
780
00:37:24,401 --> 00:37:28,336
Yeah, I was rejected
because I was too "ethnic."
781
00:37:28,371 --> 00:37:30,913
I wasn't good enough
for the magazine.
782
00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:32,657
And then when
I became world champion,
783
00:37:32,734 --> 00:37:35,084
All of a sudden,
"okay, now you're good enough
784
00:37:35,086 --> 00:37:38,754
To be in the magazine."
had nothing to do that
785
00:37:38,756 --> 00:37:40,781
All of a sudden,
I became beautiful.
786
00:37:40,859 --> 00:37:44,502
I looked the same
as when I was rejected,
787
00:37:44,579 --> 00:37:47,639
So I knew
it was all fake bull[bleep].
788
00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:54,412
It's kind of amazing
that people think that
789
00:37:54,414 --> 00:37:56,088
Because you've been
in "playboy"...
790
00:37:56,166 --> 00:37:58,441
-Ashley: Mm-hmm.
-...Number one, that they are
791
00:37:58,443 --> 00:38:01,352
Allowed to go onto your property
to ask you for your autograph...
792
00:38:01,429 --> 00:38:02,945
-Mm-hmm.
-...Or why they would even
793
00:38:02,947 --> 00:38:04,990
Bring out the magazine
in public.
794
00:38:05,025 --> 00:38:06,691
I've been to charity events,
795
00:38:06,768 --> 00:38:10,136
And people will pull out
my "playboy" magazine
796
00:38:10,213 --> 00:38:11,621
To ask me to sign it.
-Mm-hmm.
797
00:38:11,698 --> 00:38:13,948
...Which is really
inappropriate, in my opinion,
798
00:38:14,025 --> 00:38:15,550
In some venues.
-Mm-hmm.
799
00:38:15,626 --> 00:38:17,252
How about you guys? Have you
ever been made to feel
800
00:38:17,287 --> 00:38:20,538
Uncomfortable if somebody's
ever pulled out a "playboy"?
801
00:38:20,615 --> 00:38:23,207
I'll probably get, like,
five or--five "playboy"s
802
00:38:23,284 --> 00:38:26,845
Sent to me a week
in the mail to my p.O. Box.
803
00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:28,530
I don't have my address
out there
804
00:38:28,565 --> 00:38:30,682
Because that would freak me out.
-That would be bad.
805
00:38:30,717 --> 00:38:32,892
Um, but no,
I've never felt like I was
806
00:38:32,894 --> 00:38:35,053
In a situation
where it was inappropriate.
807
00:38:35,129 --> 00:38:38,464
Normally, it's just
sent to me through the mail.
808
00:38:38,542 --> 00:38:40,408
I sign it and send it back.
809
00:38:40,485 --> 00:38:43,394
Mia, in public, has anybody
ever come up to you in an--
810
00:38:43,429 --> 00:38:45,171
In an inappropriate way?
-Oh, my gosh.
811
00:38:45,248 --> 00:38:48,557
Yes, all the time,
like, at grocery stores or...
812
00:38:48,668 --> 00:38:50,234
Because I go
to the same grocery store.
813
00:38:50,269 --> 00:38:55,815
Um, and someone showed up
at my home with the "playboy."
814
00:38:55,892 --> 00:39:00,645
My favorite, though, is not long
after the magazine came out,
815
00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:04,932
The first one--I had an
appointment with a gynecologist,
816
00:39:05,009 --> 00:39:07,235
And he had a stack of them
and asked me to sign them.
817
00:39:07,270 --> 00:39:11,072
Your gynecologist asked you
to sign your "playboy" ma--
818
00:39:11,107 --> 00:39:13,916
And I said to him, "I thought
that was pretty weird."
819
00:39:13,994 --> 00:39:15,643
[laughs]
820
00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:17,169
-But you know what he said?
-Are you kidding me?
821
00:39:17,247 --> 00:39:19,505
He said to me,
"I have a lot of patients."
822
00:39:19,583 --> 00:39:20,615
I...
823
00:39:20,691 --> 00:39:22,950
No, wait, I need--
I need a moment.
824
00:39:23,027 --> 00:39:24,952
I'm still freaked out
that a doctor would have--
825
00:39:24,987 --> 00:39:27,513
-He's--
-...That your gynecologist would
826
00:39:27,624 --> 00:39:29,240
Have your "playboy" magazine.
-He's the only person
827
00:39:29,275 --> 00:39:31,959
That brought me a stack.
-I would have slugged him.
828
00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:33,945
-Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
-[laughter]
829
00:39:34,021 --> 00:39:36,380
-He was very nice.
-Did you get a lot of backlash
830
00:39:36,415 --> 00:39:37,915
When you did it?
-Oh, honey.
831
00:39:37,917 --> 00:39:39,133
-Yeah.
-Oh, yeah.
832
00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:40,635
Yeah. I still do.
833
00:39:40,711 --> 00:39:44,071
But again, you know, that wasn't
the last line on my résumé.
834
00:39:44,106 --> 00:39:45,223
-Mm-hmm.
-As I keep working
835
00:39:45,258 --> 00:39:46,815
And accomplishing more...
-Mm-hmm.
836
00:39:46,817 --> 00:39:48,401
...That kind of fades
into the rear-view mirror.
837
00:39:48,478 --> 00:39:51,070
-Yeah.
-I mean, I got bitched out once
838
00:39:51,072 --> 00:39:52,788
By a russian girl
in the locker room
839
00:39:52,866 --> 00:39:54,232
After I did it, so...
840
00:39:54,308 --> 00:39:56,058
-Ooh. What happened?
-[sighs]
841
00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:58,269
She just was basically like,
"I can't believe, like,
842
00:39:58,304 --> 00:40:00,638
You would sell yourself
so short like that."
843
00:40:00,715 --> 00:40:02,290
And, um, we were
in the training room,
844
00:40:02,292 --> 00:40:04,325
And I just said,
"well, you're just jealous
845
00:40:04,402 --> 00:40:06,402
Because no one
asked you to do it,"
846
00:40:06,404 --> 00:40:07,946
And that was about it.
[laughs]
847
00:40:07,981 --> 00:40:09,814
-The catfight.
-Oh, wow. Okay.
848
00:40:09,891 --> 00:40:13,334
But that was--you were
being honest about how you felt.
849
00:40:13,411 --> 00:40:15,411
Yeah, I mean, it was true.
850
00:40:15,413 --> 00:40:17,838
Does the fact
that you posed for "playboy"
851
00:40:17,915 --> 00:40:21,643
Going to forever be
part of who you are?
852
00:40:21,678 --> 00:40:23,794
Is "playboy" forever?
853
00:40:23,872 --> 00:40:25,713
No, definitely not.
854
00:40:25,715 --> 00:40:29,283
I mean, now in my career,
you know, I'm an author.
855
00:40:29,361 --> 00:40:33,138
I'm a mental health advocate
and speaker.
856
00:40:33,173 --> 00:40:36,941
These people don't even know
about "playboy."
857
00:40:36,976 --> 00:40:39,035
For me, at the same time, like,
858
00:40:39,112 --> 00:40:41,529
No one can ever take that away
from you as well,
859
00:40:41,564 --> 00:40:43,347
And that's kind of
how I see it, too.
860
00:40:43,424 --> 00:40:46,609
It's like,
this was an iconic magazine,
861
00:40:46,611 --> 00:40:49,194
And I'm proud of it.
862
00:40:49,196 --> 00:40:52,690
It was empowering
because I felt like, oh, I'm--
863
00:40:52,767 --> 00:40:58,329
I'm here to show off, like,
what an athletic body looks like
864
00:40:58,364 --> 00:41:02,717
And how it can be sexy
in its own way.
865
00:41:02,793 --> 00:41:03,951
Like, I have a butt.
866
00:41:04,028 --> 00:41:06,629
I have, like,
strong hamstrings and thighs,
867
00:41:06,631 --> 00:41:11,693
And so I was excited to show off
a different type of body
868
00:41:11,728 --> 00:41:14,378
Than your average, you know,
"playboy" model.
869
00:41:14,455 --> 00:41:16,230
♪♪
870
00:41:16,307 --> 00:41:18,307
But I had gotten
to a point in my life
871
00:41:18,309 --> 00:41:20,785
Where I was finally okay
with that, you know,
872
00:41:20,820 --> 00:41:22,394
Because I had struggled
with just,
873
00:41:22,472 --> 00:41:26,024
Uh, you know,
body dysmorphia, basically.
874
00:41:26,059 --> 00:41:29,218
So, I had gotten
to a point where I was like,
875
00:41:29,296 --> 00:41:30,811
Now I feel like a woman.
876
00:41:30,888 --> 00:41:37,868
Now I feel, you know, sexual
and sensual and also powerful.
877
00:41:37,870 --> 00:41:41,915
No one can ever
take that away from me.
878
00:41:41,991 --> 00:41:45,676
Finally, have things changed
for women in sports?
879
00:41:45,711 --> 00:41:47,879
Has society become
more forgiving
880
00:41:47,914 --> 00:41:50,005
If women want to show
their sexuality
881
00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:52,850
By, for example,
posing in "playboy"?
882
00:41:52,927 --> 00:41:54,827
In this country, no.
883
00:41:54,904 --> 00:41:59,440
I think even today,
if the female fighters decided
884
00:41:59,517 --> 00:42:04,111
To pose for "playboy,"
that would still be a big no-no.
885
00:42:04,188 --> 00:42:05,529
Even all these years later
after you do--
886
00:42:05,531 --> 00:42:07,524
All these years later, yes.
887
00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:10,117
I mean, for me,
I feel like I got away with it
888
00:42:10,152 --> 00:42:13,362
Because my name
wasn't as big as someone
889
00:42:13,364 --> 00:42:16,532
Like serena williams
or maria sharapova.
890
00:42:16,534 --> 00:42:18,484
So, yeah, I'm pretty sure
891
00:42:18,561 --> 00:42:20,178
There would be
a lot of backlash
892
00:42:20,213 --> 00:42:23,689
If one of those girls
were to do "playboy."
893
00:42:23,767 --> 00:42:25,466
And we sure know that today
894
00:42:25,543 --> 00:42:27,602
If nfl cheerleaders posed
for "playboy,"
895
00:42:27,637 --> 00:42:29,804
They would probably also be
fired from their squad.
896
00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:32,197
Yeah, well, I think
nowadays that they actually have
897
00:42:32,275 --> 00:42:35,593
Cheerleaders sign agreements as
to what they will and won't do,
898
00:42:35,628 --> 00:42:37,111
What they will and won't wear,
899
00:42:37,146 --> 00:42:38,546
Where they will
and won't appear.
900
00:42:38,581 --> 00:42:39,872
So, I didn't have any of that.
901
00:42:39,949 --> 00:42:41,899
Right.
Thank you for being so honest.
902
00:42:41,976 --> 00:42:44,135
It was really
an incredible opportunity to--
903
00:42:44,211 --> 00:42:46,954
To learn more about sex
in sports...
904
00:42:47,064 --> 00:42:48,631
-Yeah.
-...And how we feel
905
00:42:48,708 --> 00:42:49,941
About "playboy"...
-Mm-hmm.
906
00:42:49,976 --> 00:42:51,650
...And our connection
to the magazine.
907
00:42:51,652 --> 00:42:53,194
-Mia: Thank you, lisa.
-Ashley: Thanks for having us.
908
00:42:53,229 --> 00:42:54,929
-Amanda: Thank you.
-Thanks for being here.
909
00:42:55,005 --> 00:42:56,297
♪♪
910
00:42:56,332 --> 00:42:58,991
I didn't think a regular girl
could get in "playboy."
911
00:42:58,993 --> 00:43:02,286
I said, you know, "I am a cop."
and she goes, "what? Where?"
912
00:43:02,288 --> 00:43:03,654
I said, "nypd."
913
00:43:03,731 --> 00:43:07,325
"playboy" featured you as
an air force drill sergeant.
914
00:43:07,401 --> 00:43:10,152
Right. But when
the magazine came out,
915
00:43:10,230 --> 00:43:11,746
My whole life
was flipped upside down.
916
00:43:11,822 --> 00:43:15,023
Makes no sense.
I didn't break the law.
917
00:43:15,025 --> 00:43:16,241
I didn't commit a crime.
918
00:43:16,319 --> 00:43:18,494
They said, "we're opening
an investigation on you."
919
00:43:18,571 --> 00:43:19,804
I was like, "on what?"
920
00:43:19,839 --> 00:43:23,248
"playboy" knew this was
gonna be a very big story.
921
00:43:23,326 --> 00:43:25,310
Oh, my god, it blew up.