Melinda Messenger insists Playboy magazine is still sexually objectifying women despite re-brand

Melinda Messenger compares Playboy magazine’s re-brand to a ‘toxic relationship’ as she insists the magazine is still sexually objectifying women

  • Former glamour model believes publication’s transformation is a ‘PR spin’
  • Melinda, who refused to pose nude for the magazine in her 20s, believes women don’t need to be naked to get important messages across
  • However, Aisleyne Horgan Wallace disagreed and claims that a woman’s body should still be celebrated
  • New magazine features a cover that focuses on sexual fluidity and includes an interview with the founder of the #MeToo movement

Former glamour model Melinda Messenger, 48, has hit out against Playboy magazine’s recent re-brand, claiming that the publication is still sexually objectifying women. 

During a debate with former Big Brother star and model Aisleyne Horgan Wallace, 40, Melinda argued against the idea that Playboy is now empowering women following the publication’s reinvention.

The magazine, created by Hugh Hefner, has undergone a transformation with the new issue featuring a cover that focuses on sexual fluidity, an interview with the founder of the #MeToo movement and the celebration of LGBT rights. 

However, the nudes have returned and it’s a feature that Melinda believes is no longer necessary.

Melinda disagreed with Playboy’s re-branding by declaring that it was still sexually objectifying women

The former glamour model debated the topic with model and former Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan Wallace

The former glamour model debated the topic with model and former Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan Wallace

‘There’s no getting away from it, it’s a sex magazine, it’s aimed at men and of course it sexually objectifies women, that’s it’s core business that’s what’s its all about,’ Melinda, who turned down the offer to pose for Playboy in her 20s, told Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shepherd and Sean Fletcher.

‘I think the fact that it’s in Playboy. For me, it’s like a toxic relationship where the partner says, “I’ve changed, I do respect you”, but they haven’t changed at all!,’ she went on to add.

However, Aisleyne, who posed topless for Playboy in 2009, didn’t agree and insisted that the return of naked pictures and the magazine’s new look highlights the beauty of the female body.

‘It’s consensual though. It’s consensual objectification. I love being naked and I love people looking at me naked if I’m honest. I was born naked and I think the woman’s form is beautiful!,’ she said. 

The front cover focuses on sexual fluidity and also features an interview from the founder of the #MeToo movement

The front cover focuses on sexual fluidity and also features an interview from the founder of the #MeToo movement 

Aisleyne argued that there was nothing wrong with women posing nude if that's what they want to do

Aisleyne argued that there was nothing wrong with women posing nude if that’s what they want to do

Pointing out that the magazine is now offering a platform where serious topics can be discussed, Aisleyne argued: ‘There’s so much good that they’re doing in this issue. So many issues they’re bringing to the forefront.’

Refusing to believe that the magazine had changed in any way, Melinda stated that she thought it was all a PR stunt aimed at drawing back the millions of readers the publication has lost over the years. 

‘I just laughed when I heard that this is what they were trying to do because I thought it’s all words.

‘It’s a PR spin! I mean it’s fine for it to be what it is but don’t try to pretend that it’s suddenly about empowering woman.’

During the debate, Melinda explained why she turned down the offer to pose for Playboy during her glamour modeling career

During the debate, Melinda explained why she turned down the offer to pose for Playboy during her glamour modeling career 

However, Aisleyne pointed out: ‘Just because you’re naked doesn’t mean you don’t have an opinion or your opinion doesn’t matter. I just think it’s more arty now.’

During the debate, Melinda explained why she refused to pose for the magazine. 

‘We’re going back 22 years! In my 20s I did some glamour modeling for The Sun and at the time and I got asked to do Playboy and I got invited to go to the Playboy mansion.

‘It actually made me feel really sick. The thought of it. I just didn’t want to put myself in that environment, I didn’t want to be photographed nude. 

‘I’d already reached the limit of what was kind of OK for me or I thought was OK for me at the time and it just didn’t fit. It just didn’t sit right.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk