The death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner yesterday was a sad moment for two women from Melba.
Turns out, Hef changed their lives. And they made history at the same time. Love it or hate it, Playboy Magazine touched millions of lives, including two 19 year olds from Melba.
"Definitely scandalous, but I didn't care," remembers Renee Tenison, "I wanted to. It was fun. This looks like a good world and looks like fun. And it really was. I'll never regret doing it."
Renee entered a Playboy contest in 1990 and was selected to be a centerfold and then playmate of the year, the first African American to hold that honor.
"Everyone at some point has possibly posed for Playboy, but it doesn't have the stigma and people get over it." says Renee.
Identical twin Rosie had to get over it because all her coworkers... Well, they saw the obvious.
"Oh, well," remembers Rosie, "Now we know what you look like seeing as you guys are twins."
Eventually, the two posed for Playboy together and moved to L.A. where they hung out with Hef at the mansion.
"He was really sweet. Just a great guy. We were going to Playboy mansion parties until last year."
The twins continued to work with Playboy for 20 years, and also opened their own clothing store in L.A.
A big change from the days in in tiny Melba. Years they remember fondly.
"Being part of the Melba Mustangs and doing sports," says Renee, "and it was great we lived by the Snake River and just born and raised. We got in a lot of trouble there."
But thanks to a controversial figure in history, they too have gone one to make their mark on the world.
Full Interview with Renee and Rosie Tenison:
