Mom helps daughter get in Playboy

08:24 AM CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Russell Kinsaul, News 4

Click here for photos from Russell's story

Washington, Missouri (KMOV) -- Parents work hard to help their kids succeed in life, but what if your child's goal is to pose in Playboy magazine?

KMOV

Jillian Grace

A local mom did not stand in the way of her daughter's ambition. She helped her daughter become this month's centerfold.

Across the Missouri River on the Highway 47 bridge and down by the historic Washington, Missouri train station you might catch a glimpse of Missouri's newest celebrity.

You may see Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace signing autographs or posing for a picture. She posed for Playboy’s current issue and was chosen playmate of the month.

Appearing in playboy is a dream come true for this small town girl with big time support for her magazine debut.

“It's been real cool that all my friends are going out to get them and they'll come up and go, oh you've got to autograph it for me. So that's been really sweet of them," says Jillian.

Playboy calls her Amazing Grace, and how she ended up on its pages, is amazing in itself.

Jillian Grace never would have made it from the Washington High School graduating class of 2004 to Playboy magazine's Miss March 2005 without the help of her mother. What kind of mom would not only allow her daughter to appear nude in front of millions of people, but help make it happen?

The story starts at age 12 when Jillian fell in love with the costumes of Playboy bunnies she saw on television. A deep curiosity had begun, which would grow into a career choice that her mother says she neither pushed nor prohibited.

"I didn't raise her to be in Playboy," says her mother Katharine Walter. “Whatever career she would choose, I wouldn't forbid it, that's not a parents position."

Jillian made her position clear in a high school English paper; her dream job was to be a playmate.

KMOV

Jillian Grace and her mother Katharine Walter.

Convinced of her daughter's commitment, Katharine Walter secretly sent a copy of the paper to Howard Stern who invited Jillian to appear on his show for a playmate audition.

Jillian impressed Stern and Playboy who told her on the show, she was chosen, Miss March.

"When they finally said that I did make it, it was very overwhelming and I had tears of joy as they say," says Jillian.

She is only 19 but not bashful about her centerfold being seen by millions.

"I don't think it's immoral at all. I mean god created the body and it's a very beautiful thing. It’s a work of art in itself and Playboy really tries to play it up that way," she says.

Playmates are paid a flat fee of $25,000 for appearing in the magazine and after buying a used car, clothes and opening an IRA, Jillian says she's not rich.

She might be someday if her new goal of a career in showbiz unfolds as quickly as her Playboy plans did.

“Hopefully I'll be getting an agent soon and um, maybe heading out to LA or Chicago or New York just to try the big city life and trying being close to acting lessons and stuff like that," says Jillian.

What kind of mom would let her daughter pose for Playboy? A mom who sees Playboy as artistic, not immoral and supports her daughter in whatever she does as long as it's not hurting someone else.

By the way, Jillian says her stepfather also supports her choice to be a playmate.

Click here to watch Russell Kinsaul’s report

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