Most people know Kelly Monaco as the fiercely protective, leather-clad Sam McCall on General Hospital. Or maybe you remember her as the woman who defied the odds to win the very first season of Dancing with the Stars. But before the Mirrorball trophy and two decades of daytime drama, there was a different chapter. A chapter defined by a glossy magazine and a centerfold that launched a career.
Honestly, the Kelly Monaco and Playboy connection is one of those things fans either completely forget or obsess over. It wasn’t just a one-off photo shoot. It was the foundation.
The 1997 Centerfold That Changed Everything
In 1996, Kelly was just a girl from the Poconos who had worked as a lifeguard at a local resort. She wasn't a "nepotism baby" or a child star. She was competitive—excelled in soccer and track—and had a dream of acting. So, she did what a lot of aspiring actresses did in the late 90s: she sent her photos to Playboy.
It worked.
Kelly was named the Playmate of the Month for April 1997. If you track down a vintage copy, you’ll see her photographed by Richard Fegley. She was 20 years old. Interestingly, the cover of that specific issue actually featured Joey Heatherton, but Kelly was the breakout star inside.
More Than a One-Hit Wonder
A lot of Playmates appear once and vanish into the "where are they now" files. Kelly didn't. She became a staple of the brand’s special editions throughout the late 90s. We're talking about titles like Playboy’s Book of Lingerie and various "Girls of Summer" specials.
She also appeared in several Playboy home videos. You might find her in Video Playmate Calendar 1998 or Playboy: Babes of Baywatch. That last one is a bit of a meta-moment because, while she was a Playmate, she was also starting to get real TV work.
From the Mansion to the Beach
While she was still doing shoots for Hugh Hefner, Kelly landed a recurring role on Baywatch. It was a perfect fit. She had been a real-life lifeguard, so she actually knew what she was doing. She played a rookie named Susan, but here’s a fun piece of trivia: she also served as a body double for Carmen Electra.
Why? Because Carmen Electra couldn't swim.
So, if you’re watching old Baywatch reruns and see "Carmen" diving into the surf with perfect form, there’s a good chance you’re actually looking at Kelly Monaco. This era was a wild mix of modeling and "getting her feet wet" in the industry, literally.
The Daytime Shift: Port Charles and General Hospital
By 1999, the Playboy era was starting to transition into the soap era. She was cast as Livvie Locke on the General Hospital spin-off, Port Charles. This is where she proved she had the acting chops to back up the looks. She eventually played dual roles—Livvie and Tess Ramsey—which is a soap opera rite of passage.
When Port Charles was axed in 2003, ABC didn't want to lose her. They created the role of Sam McCall specifically for her on General Hospital.
The 2005 "Resurrection" of the Playboy Connection
When Kelly joined Dancing with the Stars in 2005, she became a household name. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know who this "soap actress" was. Naturally, the media dug up the Playboy past.
📖 Related: Where Lil Poppa From: The Truth About His Jacksonville Roots
Playboy actually tried to capitalize on her new DWTS fame. They asked her to pose for a fresh celebrity pictorial to celebrate her win. Kelly said no. She was moving on.
But Playboy being Playboy, they didn't let it go that easily. In the November 2005 issue, they published a "celebrity" pictorial anyway. It wasn't new photos; they used a bunch of outtakes from her 1997 sessions. It caused a bit of a stir at the time because Kelly hadn't authorized a new shoot, but the magazine owned the rights to the old images. It sort of cemented the fact that no matter how famous she got, that early career choice would always be part of the narrative.
Why It Still Matters Today
Kelly recently made headlines for her exit from General Hospital after 21 years. It’s the end of an era. When people look back at her legacy, they see a woman who navigated the "glamour" industry of the 90s and turned it into a legitimate, decades-long acting career.
✨ Don't miss: Danielle Fishel Cancer: What Really Happened with the Boy Meets World Star
She didn't let the "Playmate" label define her, but she didn't run from it either. She used it as a stepping stone.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking into the history of Kelly Monaco and Playboy, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The "April 1997" Issue: This is the primary collector's item. If you're looking for it on eBay, make sure it still has the centerfold intact, as many were removed by fans.
- The 2005 November Issue: This is the one featuring the "outtakes." It's often marketed as a "celebrity" issue, but remember, the photos are actually from her early days, not from her Dancing with the Stars era.
- Digital Archives: Most of her Playboy work has been archived digitally, but the physical Special Editions from 1998-2000 are where the rarer, less-seen photography lives.
Kelly Monaco’s career is a masterclass in rebranding. She went from a lifeguard sending in photos to a magazine, to a body double who couldn't be kept in the background, to the leading lady of daytime television. It's a reminder that where you start doesn't have to be where you end up, but it sure makes for a hell of a story.