Las Vegas Weekly

December 13, 2008 · 6:15 PM

Playboy’s 55th anniversary beauty wows during Palms visit

By Robin Leach

Dasha Astafieva.

Photo: TVT

Playboy's 55th anniversary Playmate flew into Las Vegas this morning, and everybody who met her agreed that she was the perfect centerfold to celebrate the magazine’s milestone event.

A stunning 23-year-old brunette beauty from the Ukraine, Dasha Astafieva was introduced by Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner last night for the first time in Hollywood alongside his former gal pals from The Girls Next Door.

Neither Dasha nor Hef would address rumors of a new romance now that Holly, Kendra and Bridget have moved out of the official bunny-hatch Mansion. As Vegas DeLuxe readers know, Holly is now dating Mindfreak magician Criss Angel here in Vegas, and the trysting twosome will celebrate their joint birthdays Friday with a party at LAX in the Luxor.

Said Hef: “For 55 years, Playboy has been the world’s leading authority on beautiful women. We wanted our 55th anniversary pick to continue that tradition and set a standard to be upheld for another 55 years to come. Our talent scouts scoured America and Europe, and we did test shoots with dozens of models before we chose Dasha -- and we think she is the ultimate perfect choice.”

Dasha jetted into Vegas to the Palms for an afternoon autograph signing of her centerfold issue, which features Carmen Electra on the cover with her own eight-page, bare-body pinup pictorial inside. Tonight, the two knockout beauties will hit the world’s only Playboy Club -- where Carmen will be escorted by Palms owner George Maloof for duty as a guest blackjack dealer.

Dasha told us: “I only started modeling in 2003, and when I became Playmate of the Year in the Ukraine last year, I began dreaming of becoming an American Playmate. To have been selected as the 55th anniversary centerfold is a great honor.”

In addition to European modeling assignments, Dasha is recording an album with her band, Nikita, which features a sexy pop-electro style of music hearkening to the 1950s and '60s.

When Carmen has been squeezed into her bust-popping bunny and bob-tailed corseted costume, I plan on placing a couple of bets at her blackjack table. Vegas DeLuxe will have the full sexy photo report later over the weekend.

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