With some awesome candidates like Amy Andrews, Katie Vernola, and Jamie Faith Edmondson, it seems strange that Playboy would go with a Playmate who comes from complete left-field to take the title. Although Claire was at #5 on my ranking, it comes as a bit of a disappointment. Claire has talent, and is undoubtedly a pretty girl, but she just doesn't have the all-around package that a PMOY really should have.
Claire lacks the body of a Playmate, and although there's nothing wrong with a few curves, her body is just not very photogenic. Her pale skin and lack of sleek, tight contours really hampers her appearance. The biggest issue with her, however, is her gimmicky look. Her entire PMOY pictorial stands as a perfect example: it showcases Claire in over-the-top "pinup" style poses, which is creative, but incredibly tacky. When it all comes down to it, fans just want to see some comfortable, sexual posing with intimacy and grace, like all the greats have done it. Miss Sinclair completely misses that boat, lookin overproduced and silly in a cartoonish beach setting, or in a bizarre bunny costume.
When it comes down to it, Claire is a sensible choice for PMOY. She's a bit of a risky pick, but it's somewhat refreshing to see a throwback girl take the title. On the other hand, it always feels like a whole lot is missing whenever Claire poses, and it leaves an empty feeling throughout her pictorials. The overdone pinup girl thing is cute for a while, but as in every great Playboy model, keeping it simple is always a great rule of thumb.
So, another year has gone by, and another Playmate prediction has gone awry. To be more accurate, I never "predict" the winner in my PMOY rankings, but merely identify who I think should win. So, let's take a look back at my picks for the ultimate Playboy title, and see who's won the prize instead for the last 10 years.
| Year | My Pick | Winner | Winner's PBC Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Amy Leigh Andrews | Claire Sinclair | #5 |
| 2010 | Jessica Burciaga | Hope Dworaczyk | #8 |
| 2009 | Juliette Frette | Ida Ljungqvist | #3 |
| 2008 | Brittany Binger | Jayde Nicole | #3 |
| 2007 | Monica Leigh | Sara Jean Underwood | #2 |
| 2006 | Raquel Gibson | Kara Monaco | #3 |
| 2005 | Tiffany Fallon | Tiffany Fallon | #1 |
| 2004 | Carmella DeCesare | Carmella DeCesare | #1 |
| 2003 | Teri Harrison | Christina Santiago | #5 |
| 2002 | Jennifer Walcott | Dalene Kurtis | #3 |
| 2001 | Shannon Stewart | Brande Roderick | #7 |
Ouch. Well, here's to next year!
