Dorothy Stratten

Her entry into modeling came in 1978 when Paul Snider, a 26-year-old club promoter, noticed her at the Dairy Queen. Snider convinced the then-17-year-old to pose for professional nude photos, which he sent to Playboy for their 25th Anniversary Great Playmate Hunt. Because she was under 19, the legal age in British Columbia, her mother signed the model release form. She moved to Los Angeles in August 1978 and became a finalist in the contest, though she lost to Candy Loving. She was named Playmate of the Month for August 1979 and later Playmate of the Year in 1980, receiving $200,000 in cash and gifts. Her Playboy appearances included pictorials photographed by Mario Casilli and a feature in the TV special Playboy's Roller Disco and Pajama Party (1979).

She transitioned into acting with roles in films such as Americathon (1979, as a bunny), Skatetown U.S.A. (1979, as a roller nymph), and Galaxina (1980, as the lead, a robot), which was released on the day of her death but pulled for later re-release. She also appeared in TV shows like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Fantasy Island. Her final role was in Peter Bogdanovich's They All Laughed (1981), alongside Audrey Hepburn and John Ritter, marking her as a rising star.

Physically, Stratten stood at 5'9" and weighed 123 lbs, with measurements of 36-24-36 and a bra size of 32D. She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a slim body type. Her natural beauty, with no verified cosmetic surgeries, contributed to her "girl-next-door" appeal. Public perceptions, drawn from contemporary accounts, emphasize her beauty, intelligence, and sensitivity. Co-stars like Colleen Camp described her as "otherworldly," and fans called her a "classic beauty." Her legacy is complex, celebrated for her talent and potential but overshadowed by her tragic death at age 20 on August 14, 1980. The Dorothy Stratten Foundation, established posthumously, supports victims of domestic violence. Her death, depicted in films like Death of a Centerfold (1981) and Star 80 (1983), sparked discussions about domestic violence and exploitation in the entertainment industry. A controversy arose from Peter Bogdanovich's 1984 book, The Killing of the Unicorn, which alleged that Hugh Hefner sexually assaulted Stratten in 1978. Hefner admitted to a nude Jacuzzi encounter but denied any assault. In 1985, Stratten's sister Louise sued Hefner and her stepfather for slander, alleging they falsely claimed Bogdanovich seduced Louise and funded her plastic surgery; Louise denied these claims.