You might say AVN Online went a little girl crazy over the past year. As a respected Internet trade magazine, it's always been important for us to keep a consistent tone to our editorial tenor, but after quite a few caffeine-fueled discussions we decided it wouldn't be such a bad idea to spice things up. Sure, everyone likes to look at pretty girls, but we wanted to produce an engaging connection between the women appearing in the magazine and the industry itself; the girls are sexy, yes, but they also each have their own official Website. These are models that have embraced the Web, capitalizing on its value as entertainment as well as the business opportunities it offers.
All told, we've photographed and interviewed 21 women in the past year; 11 appeared on the cover (and in a corresponding "AVN Online Interview") and 10 were featured in pictorials like "Who's That Girl," "Viewpoint," and a revamped "What's On My Hard Drive." It seems so long ago that we began this pictorial experiment with Sunny Leone, who graced the cover of our Jan. '03 (show) issue.
The response was immediate and enthusiastic; we knew we were on to something. Over the next several months, we photographed the likes of Aimee Sweet, Dee, Jennifer Korbin, Alexus Winston, Linda Tran, Sandee Westgate, Roxanne Galla, Tawny Roberts, Anna-Marie Goddard, Masuimi Max, and Martina Warren, to name just a few.
With each issue came a new and creative theme for the shoot, playing off the model's unique personality and sexuality. As word-of-mouth spread within the tight circle of world-class beauties that their experiences on the shoots ranked with the best of their careers, we started getting calls from other high-profile models: Would we put them on the cover? Life was good and getting better.
Over the course of the year, I had the pleasure to interview each of the ladies who appeared in the magazine. What I discovered was that each is not only unique in her beauty, but also in what she has to say about life, love, career and, of course, the Internet. The goal has always been to keep it entertaining and flirtatious, while engaging the women in conversation that isn't the same old thing. I tried to mix it up and tailor each Q&A session to the model. Of course, I also asked each girl to describe the underwear she was wearing. The answers didn't bode well for underwear manufacturers.
Hard to believe it's been a year, but we've come full circle with this, our annual Internext show edition, not to mention it's also our fifth anniversary issue. To celebrate, we've gathered together five of last year's cover girls for a special photo shoot. (Okay, we know Lindy Foxx didn't appear on a 2003 cover, but look for her early in ?04.) It's not easy getting five of the most gorgeous women in the business to assemble on a Saturday for a long day of make-up and hair, posing under hot lights and looking their absolute best from start to finish. Between the editorial staff, art director, and the brilliant work of photographer Laurent Sky, we couldn't be happier with the result. This latest layout is the cherry on top of a great year.
And what of the next year? We'll continue to tweak and play with the medium, always striving to bring the best to our readers, and we promise it will be even more exciting, informative, and sexier than ever.
But before we look ahead, let's take a look back as we catch up with our five beautiful cover girls.
ALEXUS WINSTON
Tripp: What's your next move?
Alexus: I'm headed off to Canada to shoot my first TV series that will be airing on ESPN. I'm pretty much consumed with this these days. I'm hosting 13 episodes of a new show called Sports Car Revolution, which is set to air this year ... Also somehow managing my Website and my online portfolio, Alexus Winston.com and Alexus Winston.net. I'm also taking acting classes full-time, and enjoying my beautiful ocean-front condo in Santa Monica.
ANNA-MARIE GODDARD
Tripp: So what do you have on your plate these days?
Anna-Marie: I'm still working hard on my Website, going after commercials and some acting jobs and - possibly and hopefully soon - I'll be hosting a show for Dutch television covering everything about Hollywood.
Tripp: Did you have a good time at the photo shoot?
Anna-Marie: Yes, I had a great time at the shoot. A lot of fun to shoot with the three other girls whom I'd seen many times on the Internet and in magazines, but never had actually met before. It was also interesting and different to shoot with the Polaroid film and immediately see the pictures.
LINDY FOXX
Tripp: What have you been focusing on?
Lindy: Lately I've been occupied with school. I graduated in December and it was a pretty hectic semester. On the weekends, I go out drinking with my girlfriends. We like to find fun new restaurants and cute boys. I'm just trying to chill, and have fun, before I have to get a "real" job.
AIMEE SWEET
Tripp: What's Aimee been up to?
Aimee: I have been very, very busy. Not only have I been shooting a lot for my Website, AimeeSweet.com, but I've actually taken over a lot of the day-to-day maintenance of my site as well. I really want my site to be the best model site on the Web, so besides updating with a lot of new pictures and videos, I've started live Webcam shows for my members and a pay-per-view for non-members. Then there's my new free site that was recently built for fans at www.aimee-sweet.com. I suppose the most exciting project is the launch of my new affiliate program ModelCash, which offers a 60/40 split and pay-per-signups for high-volume Webmasters.
Tripp: When we did our interview for the Feb. 2003 issue, I asked you to describe the underwear you had on. Needless to say, it was a lovely moment for me. So here we are almost a year later, and I would ask for you to - again - describe the underwear you have on.
Aimee: The underwear I am wearing ... actually, right now I'm naked. I am sitting at my computer, typing away and getting some work done. I know most people probably don't sit naked at their desks, but I do all the time. I guess I'm just one of those people who likes to wander around the house all day in the nude. I don't answer the door naked or cook naked (since there are far too many dangers cooking sans clothing), but I do spend a lot of time in the buff.
Tripp: Is cr�me brul�e still your favorite sweet/desert?
Aimee: Cr�me brul�e is definitely in my top three favorite desserts. It's hard to narrow down my favorite sweet to one specific item because they're all so good.
Tripp: Did you have a good time at the photo shoot?
Aimee: I had a great time at the shoot. It was five beautiful girls having fun and laughing; the energy was fantastic. Alexus and I have been best friends since we started working together about five years ago, so any time I get to work with her is a blast. I also adore Sunny. She is so sweet. The three of us are Penthouse Pets so we've all worked together a bunch and we always have a good time. Anna-Marie and Lindy are both great girls, it was the first time I have had a chance to work with both of them and it was a pleasure.
SUNNY LEONE
Tripp: So what have you been up to these days?
Sunny: I moved up to Seattle, and I'm working with Pornkings in the main office. I help run Sunny-Leone.com and then I run SunnyLeone.com, which I do by myself. And I'm going to school full time.
Tripp: How do you like Seattle?
Sunny: It's nice. The people are nice. But it just started raining.
Tripp: How was your experience at the cover shoot with the other girls?
Sunny: It was nice because I was with two of my favorite people to work with, Alexus and Aimee. I don't get to see them very often, so when we do we chat away until we have to leave each other. We just pick up where we left off. But the make-up was great, the whole atmosphere for the shoot was perfect, there's no cattiness ... all the girls are very nice.
