Teens Loving Playboy Bunnies? (2024)

By Tatiana Morales

/ CBS

It's safe to say that the people at Playboy don't shock easily. But even they were caught off guard by the popularity of their merchandise among teenage girls. Suddenly, they want to wear clothes made by the company that gave women's clothing a bad name.

They seem to be multiplying like, well, bunnies: shirts, jewelry, underwear and more all with the famous rabbit ears. The symbol of world's best-known girlie magazine is catching on with girls.

CBS News Correspondent Tracy Smith talked to some teens about their wardrobes and found out they all have clothing with the Playboy bunny on it. One has a belly ring, another a shirt and another underwear.

But this isn't exactly the market Playboy had in mind.

Christie Hefner, Playboy CEO says, "To tell you the truth, we were surprised to cross over to the teen market." That is: "Pleasantly surprised."

It should be no surprise that the trend grew out of the music industry: Playboy logos have been spotted on people like J.Lo and Jay-Z -- and that' s just the Js.

What do the parents think?

Stephanie Knezevich says, "My mom likes it. She really doesn't care."

Stephanie Blakovich says, "My dad hates it. He thinks I'm too young to wear it."

When you think of Playboy, what do you think of?

Sex!

But Playboy says that's not the idea.

When asked what the Playboy bunny says about the girl who's wearing it, Christie Hefner says, "I think it says she's self confident. I think it says that she is defining her own image and that she has the confidence to wear the rabbit head."

Of course, not every shopper feels the same way.

Asking some people on the street about what comes to mind when seeing a girl who wears it, 16-year-old Sierra says, "It just reminds me of someone who wants to take their clothes off. That's what the ad is for, that's what it's for."

A woman says, "I think no one under 21 should wear Playboy because at 18, you really don't know your sexual preference yet."

One thing parents will say is that Playboy is marketing to kids. So Smith asked Christie Hefner: Is Playboy marketing to kids?

"No. We've been asked to design for children, and we've passed, because we think the brand has a principal value as a brand for grownups," she answers.

And some grownups agree.

A man named Urion says, "I like the little ears on the pockets and whatnot."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the clothes are a hit with guys. Urion notes, "Hugh Hefner did a good job. Did Playboy send you in here? No."

But he doesn't have a teenage daughter.

And in case you were wondering, Playboy also designs clothing for men.

Teens Loving Playboy Bunnies? (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when a girl wears a Playboy Bunny? ›

Sex! But Playboy says that's not the idea. When asked what the Playboy bunny says about the girl who's wearing it, Christie Hefner says, "I think it says she's self confident. I think it says that she is defining her own image and that she has the confidence to wear the rabbit head."

What is the average age of a Playboy Bunny? ›

(Playmates average around age 22, but depending on Hugh's mood can range up into the 30s.) So, you may be thinking to yourself, are there any potentially associated events that fall on this timeline that could explain these trends?

Is Playboy Bunny appropriate for school? ›

There's nothing in the school district's dress-code manual that says you can't wear the Playboy brand — or any other brand for that matter — but school officials can ban clothing that displays messages or images considered “offensive, suggestive, or indecent.”

What do Playboy bunnies represent? ›

Hugh Hefner answered the question during an interview and to quote him: "The rabbit, the bunny, in America has a sexual meaning, and I chose it because it's a fresh animal, shy, vivacious, jumping – sexy. First, it smells you, then it escapes, then it comes back, and you want to caress it, to play with it.

What are Playboy Bunny girls called? ›

There are different types of Bunnies, including the Door Bunny, Cigarette Bunny, Floor Bunny, Pool Bunny, Fine Dining Bunny, Playmate Bunny, and the Jet Bunnies (specially selected Bunnies trained as flight attendants; they served on the Playboy "Big Bunny" Jet).

What does the Playboy Bunny symbol mean now? ›

The creation of the Playboy Bunny symbol marked the beginning of Playboy's ascent as a cultural and lifestyle powerhouse. The Rabbit Head Logo, with its distinctive bow tie, became more than just a logo; it evolved into a symbol of sophistication, sexual liberation, and high culture.

Does Playboy still exist today? ›

Playboy (stylized in all caps) is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online.

What year was Dolly Parton a Playboy Bunny? ›

Dolly Parton made waves when she became the first female country artist to appear on the cover of Playboy in 1978. Turns out, the outfit she wore for the magazine's photo shoot has a surprising connection to another A-list star.

What is the bunny dip? ›

bunny dip (plural bunny dips) A maneuver in which a bunny girl gracefully leans backward while bending at the knees with the left knee lifted and tucked behind the right leg, allowing her to serve drinks etc. while keeping her low-cut costume in place.

Why can't you wear Playboy at school? ›

“The Bunny image does . . . have a historical association with negative female stereotypes and bias, and discriminatory attitudes and practices with respect to women and girls,” according to newly published guidelines established for the board's 77,000 students at 160 schools.

Why is Playboy popular again? ›

With its trendy new clothing line, Playboy appears to be courting a younger generation of both men and women. Its clothing styles are explicit callbacks to the 1970s/80s (complete with pictures of past magazine covers), and you can easily see kids on TikTok sporting its brands.

What does the Playboy hoodie mean? ›

Wearing a Playboy hoodie can signal various meanings depending on the context and the individual wearing it. For some, wearing a Playboy hoodie may indicate a connection to the brand's history, including its hedonistic and sexually explicit connotations.

What does the Playboy Bunny emoji mean? ›

Because of the emoji's associations with Playboy Bunnies, the emoji is sometimes used to mark content dealing with adult entertainment like lap dances and party girls. Due to its adult and sexist connotations, be mindful of audience and context when using the people with bunny ears emoji.

How much did a Playboy Bunny waitress make? ›

In Gloria Steinem's 1963 expose on the life of a Playboy bunny in New York City, she says that because of minimum-wage laws, "we must get a salary of $50 a week." And an old advertisem*nt for Playboy bunnies, published by BuzzFeed, asserts that "a typical Chicago bunny may, for example, earn an average of $200 a week."

What does Playboy Bunny necklace mean? ›

Popular fashion icons want to make a statement on the red carpet whenever a camera is pointed at them. Thus, wearing a necklace with the eye-catching bunny symbol gives celebrities public and media attention. The Playboy Bunny is connected to glamor and beautiful women. But some people consider it controversial.

What does Playboy mean female? ›

playgirl (plural playgirls) The female counterpart to a playboy: a woman, specially a wealthy one, who devotes herself to a life of leisure and pleasure, often sexual, without commitments or responsibilities.

How do you know if your crush is a Playboy? ›

Signs the guy you're dating is a playboy
  • He's a really good dancer.
  • You don't know much about him. ...
  • He's a little too confident in himself. ...
  • He sends you flowers constantly. ...
  • He's inconsistent. ...
  • He throws money around like it's nothing. ...
  • He's always in a hurry. ...
  • He calls late at night. ...
Feb 10, 2015

What are the signs of a Playboy? ›

Here are the signs that you're in a relationship with a playboy:
  • He does not accept or acknowledge you in public. ...
  • He's careless with his money. ...
  • He often bails on you. ...
  • He's too quick to jump into bed with you. ...
  • He's a tad bit too confident.
Jul 1, 2024

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