Most people still picture her in the mid-2000s glow of the Playboy Mansion. Honestly, it’s hard not to. Sara Jean Underwood didn't just appear in the magazine; she basically owned an entire era of it. But if you’ve been looking for her on a red carpet lately, you’re looking in the wrong place. She’s probably 20 feet up in a tree or hauling reclaimed cedar through a Pacific Northwest rainforest.
The transition from being the 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year to a rugged, off-grid builder isn't just a career pivot. It’s a total identity overhaul.
The Playboy Era: More Than Just a Centerfold
Sara’s rise was fast. Like, dizzying fast. She was a business marketing student at Oregon State University when a scout spotted her. Suddenly, she wasn’t just a student; she was the face of the "Girls of the Pac-10" issue in 2005.
She wasn't some untouchable Amazonian goddess. At 5’3”, she was the "girl next door" archetype that Hugh Hefner built an empire on. When she was named Playmate of the Month in July 2006, the momentum became unstoppable. By the time 2007 rolled around, she was crowned Playmate of the Year.
I remember she once told the press that the news made her feel "sick"—not because it was bad, but because the sheer weight of the honor was overwhelming. She thought she was going to puke. That’s a human reaction you don't hear often from celebrities. It wasn't all just posing, though. She parlayed that fame into a hosting gig on G4’s Attack of the Show!, where she became a staple of geek culture for years.
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Why Sara Jean Underwood Left the Glitz Behind
The question everyone asks is why? Why leave the parties and the TV sets for a жизни in the dirt?
Basically, the "glam" life has a shelf life. It’s exhausting. For Sara, the shift started when she met Jacob Witzling, a builder known for creating these incredible, moss-covered cabins that look like they belong in a Tolkien novel. She originally reached out to him for a photoshoot. She wanted to pose in front of his art.
She ended up staying to help him build it.
They call their project Cabinland. It’s not a gimmick for social media, though it certainly performs well there. They are literally building a compound of unique, hand-crafted structures on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State and in the high desert.
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What People Get Wrong About Her New Life
- It’s not a vacation. This is manual labor. We’re talking about carrying heavy timber, dealing with freezing rain, and learning the intricacies of roofing.
- The money hasn't dried up. People think models "retire" when the phone stops ringing. Sara just changed the business model. Between her massive social media presence and other ventures, her estimated net worth sits around $5 million.
- It isn't "fake" for the 'gram. While the photos are stunning and professional, the YouTube videos show the sweat. They show the mistakes.
The Impact of the "Playboy Model" Label in 2026
Being a sara jean underwood playboy model comes with a lot of baggage. In the past, that label might have limited a woman’s career. You were a model, and that was it.
But Sara used it as a launchpad. She’s part of a generation of women who realized that the "Playmate" title was a tool, not a cage. She took the audience she gained from Playboy and redirected their attention to something she actually cared about: sustainability, craftsmanship, and the outdoors.
She’s also been incredibly open about the realities of the industry. She’s confirmed having breast implants on The Howard Stern Show, breaking that weird "is she or isn't she" taboo that used to haunt models. That kind of transparency is why her fans have stuck around for twenty years.
The Cabinland Evolution
If you check out their YouTube channel, it’s a trip. You see this former TV host, someone who used to be under heavy studio lights, now wearing work boots and flannel. They’ve built things like:
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- The "Diamond House," which serves as a dressing room and closet.
- A "Truck Cabin" built onto the back of a pickup.
- The "Crescent Cabin," their latest massive undertaking.
They use reclaimed materials. They use moss. They use whatever the land gives them. It’s a stark contrast to the plastic world of Los Angeles.
What You Can Learn From Her Pivot
Honestly, Sara’s story is a masterclass in rebranding. She didn't let a title she earned at 23 define what she had to do at 40. She recognized that her interests had shifted and she had the guts to follow them into the woods—literally.
If you’re looking to follow her journey or get into the DIY spirit, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, authenticity sells better than perfection. People like seeing the moss being pinned to the roof, not just the finished photo. Second, don't be afraid to leave a "successful" situation if it doesn't fulfill you anymore.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
If you want to see the actual builds, head over to the Cabinland YouTube channel. It’s the best way to see the technical side of what she and Jacob are doing. For those interested in the photography side, her Instagram still features the high-end production value she’s known for, just with more trees and fewer red carpets.
Understand that Sara Jean Underwood hasn't disappeared. She just stopped playing a character and started building a home.