'Playboy Shootout' Reality Show Crowns Winners

LOS ANGELES—"Playboy Shootout," Playboy TV’s hit competitive reality show, has revealed Shanna Marie McLaughlin and Kate Romero as its winning model and photographer pair. As a result of winning, Shanna has been named Playboy’s July 2010 Playmate of the Month and will be featured in a nude pictorial in the magazine (issue on newsstands and online at playboydigital.com on Friday, June 18). Romero’s work will be featured as part of Shanna’s pictorial. She joins a long list of famous photographers, including Hype Williams, Sheryl Nields, Rankin, Bunny Yeager, Terry Richardson, and Suze Randall, whose work has been published in the magazine.

“Since being named Playboy Shootout’s winner, I am eager to begin my modeling career with Playboy,” said Shanna, Miss July 2010. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of an iconic brand and work with amazing people. I realize now, nothing is unattainable if you work hard, follow through, and make connections.”
 
Kate shared similar enthusiasm about winning. “I can't wait to see my name next to my work in Playboy’s July issue. Like winning Playboy Shootout, this too will be so validating,” she said. “My strategy was to win a new client, so I really listened to longtime Playboy photographers Arny Freytag and Steven Wayda when they so generously gave their insights. I think my ability to listen and integrate their tips really helped me finesse my photographic work and, ultimately, become a winner.”

"Playboy Shootout" premiered in April with 10 models and 10 photographers from around the world who paired up to compete for a chance to be featured in Playboy magazine. Produced by "America’s Next Top Model" director Claudia Frank and hosted by "The Celebrity Apprentice 2" contender and 2001 Playmate of the Year Brande Roderick, teams were charged with one sexy photo shoot assignment in each of the series’ 10 episodes and critiqued by a panel of judges comprised of celebrities, Playboy Playmates and photographers.

After evaluation, one pair was sent home packing each week, leaving room for only one model and one photographer to shoot at Playboy’s famed Studio West and go on to be featured in Playboy magazine.