Playboy's Double Feature

"Playboy" reciprocated by devoting much of it's May issue to supermodels. Enhancing the cover is a seductive photo of Claudia Schiffer. She appears inside as well with fellow supermodels: Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Iman, Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss, and Stephanie Seymour (pictured). We won't say whether or not the photos expose much. We will say that you'll see more of Claudia in her special calendar than you will in "Playboy."

Most of the photographs used had been taken in the past by a variety of photographers hired to shoot for the magazine. Claudia, however, was the only supermodel paid for her appearance. "Playboy" wanted her on the cover, so it paid to put her there. There's speculation that her paycheck will instigate some claw sharpening among the other models who made unexpected appearances. The photos are either owned by "Playboy" or are being published under "editorial use," which means they don't have to get permission from the models to publish them. Using Claudia on the cover, however, could be construed differently in the courts. So, the magazine punted and paid up.