Victoria Silvstedt

Karin Victoria Silvstedt (born 19 September 1974) is a Swedish celebrity model, actress, singer, and television personality. Born in Skelleftehamn, Silvstedt was raised in a family of five in a small village in Northern Sweden, having one older sister and one younger brother. She was keen on horseback riding, and wanted to become a veterinarian. Silvstedt's father was the captain of a local ski team, and she started alpine skiing at the age of five. In 1989, Silvstedt placed fourth at a youth championship in the giant slalom won by Pernilla Wiberg. However, an accident in the middle of a skiing competition where she injured her shoulder ended Silvstedt's competitive skiing career at the age of 16. A few years later, Silvstedt was invited to participate in the Miss Sweden beauty pageant, after her mother and sister had sent some pictures of her to the pageant officials. Silvstedt participated in the Miss Sweden beauty pageant, and she was chosen to represent her country in the 1993 Miss World pageant in Sun City, South Africa, eventually making the Top 10. Silvstedt was then signed up by a modelling agency in Paris, and she started working for various prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Loris Azzaro and Valentino, appearing in advertisements and fashion shows in the mid-1990.Silvstedt was soon noticed by Hugh Hefner, who invited her to do a photo shoot for Playboy magazine in Los Angeles. She became the December 1996 Playmate of the Month,[13] and was then chosen to become the 1997 Playmate of the Year. Silvstedt has since appeared in various Playboy magazines, including Playboy Special Editions, as well as Playboy Videos.