Phillip Picardi, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Brand Officer of Playboy, assured that “there has always been a colossal difference between Playboy and pornography—especially compared to the content available to everyone today in just two clicks on social media.” He added, “For me as a creative, the task of bringing artistry and intention back to nudity has been a super exciting challenge.”

The first issue of the revamped quarterly print edition, featuring Colombian pop star Karol G on the cover, has already completely sold out. For the second issue, starring actress and model Cara Delevingne (who appeared on the cover wearing only a latex corset), the publishers plan to increase the print run.

An Era of Consent and Zero Sexism

The print version of the magazine was suspended in 2020. Now, a new team has been hired to lead its revival. Phillip Picardi—Playboy's first openly gay editor-in-chief—maintains that the rules of the game have radically changed:

• Women decide for themselves how much they are comfortable revealing on set.

• Models personally approve the photographers and stylists, and actively participate in developing the creative concept.

• The publication focuses on raw, authentic, and unpolished shots without vulgarity.

“I won’t call what we’re doing at Playboy ‘feminism’—that’s a loaded word that many wouldn't agree with. But I will say this: our core rule is that the woman herself decides what to show and how to show it,” Picardi stressed, noting that he receives a lot of positive feedback not just from men, but from a female audience as well.

Ghosts of the Past and the Digital Age

The brand’s financial metrics are gradually improving: in 2025, the company’s revenue reached $120.9 million, while its net loss was reduced to $12.7 million (down from $79.4 million the previous year). However, experts remain skeptical about the relaunch.

Founded by Hugh Hefner in 1953, the magazine has fallen on hard times. At its peak in the 1970s, circulation exceeded 7 million copies a month. But the rise of the internet, free online pornography, and platforms like OnlyFans disrupted its traditional business model.

Furthermore, the brand is attempting to distance itself from its founder's dark legacy. Following Hefner’s death in 2017 and the 2022 release of the docuseries Secrets of Playboy, former models and girlfriends accused the media mogul of manipulation, sexual assault, and the exploitation of women.