Background
Gillian Nation is a 27-year-old model originally from rural Montana, now based in Los Angeles. She was selected by Playboy as the Playmate of the Year for 2025, as part of the brand’s revival and print-return efforts. designrush.com+1
Significance
Her selection marks a deliberate shift by Playboy to blend its iconic legacy with contemporary values: embracing individuality, authenticity, and a fresh aesthetic that resonates with younger audiences. According to Playboy’s Creative Director, the goal was “to strike a balance between paying homage to the publication’s legacy while bringing it into the current moment.” designrush.com+1
Career & Image
Before her breakthrough with Playboy, Gillian Nation had worked with major brands such as GUESS and CoverGirl, and appeared on the covers of fashion magazines. designrush.com Her upbringing in a rural setting, homeschooling environment, and her move into modelling give her story a “small-town-to-big-city” narrative that adds to her appeal. designrush.com
Why She Matters
-
She exemplifies the evolution of the Playboy brand: not just about glamour, but about authenticity, personal story, and modern representation. designrush.com
-
Her image bridges classic beauty and contemporary sensibility, making her relevant in a time when modelling and media are undergoing major cultural shifts.
-
For fans of modelling, fashion and mediaculture, she’s an interesting example of how the “Playboy model” role is being reinterpreted in the 2020s.
Looking Ahead
As Playboy returns to print and renews its editorial and pictorial identity, Gillian Nation will likely remain a key figure in the brand’s next chapter — from special features and cover shoots to broader media appearances. Her trajectory offers insight into how modelling careers are changing: brand collaborations, meaningful story-telling, and multi-platform visibility.
