Ida Ljungqvist (born September 27, 1981) is a Tanzanian-Swedish model and the first African-born person to be selected as a Playboy Playmate of the Month and the 50th Playmate of the Year.

Ida Ljungqvist
Ljungqvist in 2010
Playboy centerfold appearance
March 2008
Preceded byMichelle McLaughlin
Succeeded byRegina Deutinger
Playboy Playmate of the Year
2009[1]
Preceded byJayde Nicole
Succeeded byHope Dworaczyk[2]
Personal details
Born (1981-09-27) 27 September 1981 (age 43)
Tanzania[1]
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1]

Career

edit
 
Ljungqvist at Playboy Event with Kara Monaco

She was discovered by 2007 Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood at a bebe store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.[3][4] She was named Playboy's Playmate of the Month for March 2008 and the 2009 Playmate of the Year. She is the first African-born and second Swedish model to be named a Playmate of the Year.[5] She is also the first Playmate of the Year to publicly dedicate her title to philanthropic work through non-profit charities and organizations. Ljungqvist co-hosted the Playboy New Year's Eve Party 2009 in Miami, Florida alongside several other playmates.[6]

Since being named Playmate of the Year, Ljungqvist has worked with Empowerment Works, a non-profit, global sustainability think-tank. Her work includes raising awareness about the organization and fundraising.[7][8]

Personal life

edit

Ljungqvist was born in Tanzania to a Tanzanian mother and a Swedish father.[1][3] Due to her father's work for UNICEF, Ljungqvist traveled a great deal. She speaks English, Swedish, and Swahili.[4] Ljungqvist has a degree in fashion design and marketing, and plans to study economics.[3]

In December 2007, Ljungqvist married Joshua R. Lang. Lang filed for divorce in September 2008. In November 2008, MSNBC reported a custody struggle between them over their pet Chihuahua.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Playmate listing". Retrieved March 31, 2009.
  2. ^ "Playboy Goes 3-D". Archived from the original on May 15, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "Playboy bunny fights for her Chihuahua". Today.com. 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  4. ^ a b Hefner, Hugh M., ed. (March 2008). "Playboy". Playboy. 55 (3). Chicago Illinois, USA: Playboy Enterprises: 74. ISSN 0032-1478. Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood wasn't shopping for talent when she walked into Bebe in Beverly Hills, but in 26-year-old sales specialist Ida (pronounced "EE-duh") Ljungqvist she spotted a must-have item.
  5. ^ "Ida Ljungqyist is chosen Playmate of the Year". Vegas Deluxe. 2009-05-02. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  6. ^ "Ultimate New Years Eve Party Guide". Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  7. ^ "Empowerment Works". Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  8. ^ "Hugh Hefner announces Playmate of the Year in Las Vegas". 3 May 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
edit

  Media related to Ida Ljungqvist at Wikimedia Commons