Karen, a graduate student who has done some art modeling, didn't give her last name because she didn't want dad to find out by reading about it in today's newspaper. But she insisted she'd tell everyone if she made it into the magazine. Just for fun, we showed Rams a couple of pictures of the voluptuous Lady Parlez, Talk's feminine alter-ego who appeared in the 1999 Vista Queen Pageant. Over the years, Rams has encountered upset parents and boyfriends as well as picketing protesters. But he and producer Chelo Acosta, who coordinates the various administrative aspects of Playboy's visits, try to deal with them in as straightforward a manner as possible.
Rams notes most of the students are first-time models.
They come in nervous, but they relax quickly. Rams has fun, too, although he did discuss the grind of being on the road in college towns from Mississippi to Arkansas to Tennessee to Georgia to South Carolina with no days off for the last three months. Guys, raise your hands if you have any sympathy at all about how tough Mr. Playboy Photographer has got it. That's what we thought. Hey, we know how it goes, David.