Malaysian model Amber Chia said she is proud to appear in the inaugural edition of Playboy in Indonesia, even though her mother thinks she looked sexier in photos featured by other magazines, a newspaper reported yesterday.
The Star daily said Chia was slightly bemused at the controversy and protests by Islamic leaders in Indonesia following the release last Friday of a toned-down edition of Playboy. Although it contained no nude pictures, the protesters said the publication was a form of moral terrorism.
"I didn't think it would generate that much interest. In fact, I am so proud to appear in the first issue of Indonesia Playboy as the eight pages of photos were tasteful, stylish and sensuous, but not pornographic," Chia was quoted as saying.
Chia, the current Guess International ambassador, was not the cover girl but was featured in the "Celebrity" pages of Playboy, in which she wore six outfits including low cut jeans and a black bra.
"When I showed my parents the proposed pictures, my mum laughed and said I had looked sexier in other magazines while my dad merely asked why they needed so many photos," Chia said.
"My boyfriend said if I believed this is good for my career, then go ahead," she said.
She said Playboy got in touch with her three months ago when she was in Jakarta to promote a fitness center. Initially, she turned down Playboy's offer.
"I assumed it would be a typical Playboy issue where I had to bare my breasts or expose my private parts," Chia said.
But after seeing the sample pictures, "I was surprised ... I secretly laughed as I had posed in sexier clothes before," she said.
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