Brittny Ward is the definition of versatile. A tall, willowy brunette from Sacramento, California, witty Brittny was born to a California Highway Patrol officer and a hairdresser – though her family was her center, she found her own nature split somewhere down the middle. “Growing up, I was a pretty busy kid,” she says. “I was a model, and I danced – jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop and lyrical. I also played volleyball. All of that on top of competing in pageants!” Miss Ward wore gowns and tiaras with the best of ‘em, but in the end, pageants just weren’t for her – more of a rocker and athlete, Brittny preferred to stay home and listen to the Stones. “I’m a Gemini, so I can be quiet and reserved, and I can be wild and fun,” she says. “Either way, I’m pretty mellow. Pageants are so not my personality.” Being a Playmate, however, serves Brittny very well – between her talent as a model and her fearless sensuality, we find our Miss January 2015 a woman after Playboy’s own heart. “I’m a humongous fan of 90’s supermodels,” she explains. “I’ve seen pictures of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss in Playboy. They aren’t just models – they’re icons – and looking at their photos, I decided that I wanted to be in Playboy too!” When she’s not in front of the camera, Brittny is just as adventurous – she loves the outdoors and classic, stadium-shaking rock, and says that skydiving is next on her list of risks to take. “Now that I’m a Playmate, I’ll have a lot more followers on Instagram,” she jokes. “But really, I think that being a Playmate is life-changing in such a great way. I’ll have so many new opportunities, and I’ll meet so many new people.” We sure are pleased to meet you, Brittny.