Playboy New Zealand Cover Feature December 2020

with Amy Taylor

Photography by Wanthy D / @Wanthy_D

Hair & Makeup by @GlowBySusie

PR by LSA Publications / @leo.alderman / @lsapublications

Could you tell us a little about yourself, Amy? I was born in California but immediately moved to the East Coast, where I lived as a child. I returned to Northern California for high school, went to UC Berkeley for college, worked in the Bay Area in biotech, then came to Los Angeles to do my MBA. I obtained pilot licenses, and have flown cargo, charter and instructed as a flight instructor. All the while since I was a teenager, I’ve always modeled. Modeling adds fun, income, and creativity to my life, no matter what else I might also be doing. I’m now in my 40s, entering a more mature phase of modeling, and perhaps surprisingly, it’s more fun than ever! Life just keeps getting nicer, which has been such a pleasantly unexpected thing to experience. So far, so good.

What do you enjoy most about what you do? I most enjoy the freedom of the life I’ve created. I dream of a world in which we can all live and do what we want, and in which nobody tries to control us simply because they don’t understand or like our choices (very few of which typically affect anyone else; most of their discomfort is a fantasy or fear, not reality). I chose very purposefully to remain single and child-free, and because of that, I’ve lived a freer and fuller life than most women are able to, in this world. Modeling, flying and being self-directed has created the life I want, and I have absolutely no regrets so far.

What is your greatest life achievement so far? My greatest life achievement thus far has been staying independent, in the face of a world that often doesn’t want that for women (or men, heck!). Staying true to who I want to be, against a really heavy tide of pressure from cultural norms to which I don’t want to conform. I’m proud of that; it’s often very difficult and most people I know simply give in, give up, and fall in line, living lives of quiet misery for the few precious decades we have, until they die. I don’t want my one precious life wasted like that.

What would you say is your best feature? My best feature is by far my brain. Everything else pales in comparison to my ability to ruminate, process, solve and decide. I definitely make mistakes, but I regroup well and I never give up. I’m proud to be a brainy chick!

What makes you feel sexy? Private jets make me feel sexy.

What advice would you give to women aspiring to get into modeling? To women aspiring to get into modeling, if it’s the sexy style, my best advice would be to emigrate out of America and build a life somewhere more tolerant and liberal. America is not kind to women who are openly sexually liberal; you’ll lose a lot of cultural caches and be punished until you get exhausted, give up, and fake piety to survive…I’ve seen it a zillion times. Do yourself a favor and live somewhere more open-minded. You’ll thank me later.

Favorite shoot location? My favorite shoot location is Death Valley, California. The light is simply magical.

Do you prefer kissing or cuddling? I prefer kissing if he’s good at it and has great breath. Cuddling if he has a great body and is kinesthetic. So I guess it depends on the guy.

What are you really good at? I’m really good at learning. If I want to master a concept, there’s nothing I can’t study, work hard at, and get great at. I come from a long line of intellectuals and academics, so I sort of have the eternal student fetish… I absolutely love to learn. If I were a zillionaire, I’d just stay in school my entire life!

What is one thing people may be surprised to find out about you? One thing people may be surprised to find out about me is that I’m quite kind and gentle in person. I can be terse online (I don’t enjoy social media; it’s mandatory now but it’s a pain), and I’m still somewhat uncomfortable with strangers being overly familiar, when one is sort of a public figure (even on a small scale, like I am). So I can be a little cold, being careful about who I let into my life and who I allow to know the real me. I like my circle small and tight. But once in that circle, I’ll give the shirt off my back for a friend…so folks might be surprised to see how sweet I can be, to those I truly know. I save the “real” me for the offline world. Sorry, I guess I’m old school that way.