Kelly Monaco

Born on Sunday, 23rd of May 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kelly Monaco began her career at 21. In 1997, she became the Playboy Playmate of the Month for April, and throughout her tenure she appeared in 18 covers and 18 photosets before retiring from the magazine in 2010. Her career, however, extended far beyond modeling. She landed her first television role in the drama Baywatch from 1997 to 1998, where she also doubled for Carmen Electra. She followed with minor roles in films like BASEketball, Idle Hands, and Mumford, and then took on two roles on the ABC soap opera Port Charles, playing Olivia 'Livvie' Locke Morley and Tess Ramsey. In 2003, she joined General Hospital as Samantha McCall, a role that earned her two Daytime Emmy nominations: one for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2003 and one for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2006. Her television presence was further cemented when she co-hosted the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmys in 2006.

Her fame grew through reality television. In 2005, she won the first season of Dancing with the Stars, despite early criticism and a memorable wardrobe malfunction, and she returned for the 15th season in 2012, finishing in third place. In 2009, she starred in the burlesque show Peepshow in Las Vegas. She also appeared in a Maxim cover feature in 2005 and was named the magazine's number one sexiest cover model of the decade in 2009. As an activist, she has used her platform for various causes. Now at 50, Kelly Monaco boasts 235k followers on Instagram, where she continues to engage with fans. Her journey from centerfold to soap opera star to reality TV winner is a testament to her versatility and enduring appeal. She is American, and her career spans 13 years, from 1997 to 2010, and beyond.