Anna Nicole Smith's Friendship Pushed Sandra Taylor Into Playmates Role

Anna Nicole Smith changed the life of a woman without even knowing it. Hugh Hefner once named this woman his "most sexy model." Sandra Taylor made fans dizzy as a Playboy cover girl in the 1990s before becoming head sommelier at Allegiant Stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders. Her friendship with the 1993 Playmate of the Year shifted her entire path long before she moved into that high-profile role.

Taylor recently joined Kim Alexis on the "Unexpired" podcast to discuss her journey and career. She spoke openly about how Smith became a friend early on after they shared two makeup artists, one in New York and another in LA. The team introduced them when Smith first arrived from Texas. Taylor needed a place to stay during that initial transition.

A trip to the set of "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" altered everything for her professional future. Smiths makeup artist pushed her toward Playboy for its 40th anniversary search. Smith encouraged her friend to seize the chance immediately. That single opportunity brought Taylor into the magazine world and started a brand new chapter.

"It was my friendship with Anna Nicole Smith ... it led me right there," Taylor stated clearly. She never imagined standing in such a place growing up. It seemed completely out of reach for reality at that moment. Her original goal involved math, just like her father taught her to pursue. She studied macroeconomics and microeconomics along with statistics and differential equations. Dancing was also a huge passion while she planned ahead.

"I was only 19 years old when my dad passed away," Taylor continued with emotion. He walked with her mom on the SUNY Purchase college campus one day. A heart attack hit him out of the blue, ending his life instantly. She never returned to that school ground after the tragedy. Her locker still held books she never cleared out or touched again. After he died, math died inside her too. She simply stopped wanting to do the work anymore.

Taylor abandoned her math plans and embraced modeling instead. She remains thankful for Smiths help opening doors before Smith passed in 2007 at age 39. Taylor remembers how sweet she was back then. She loved her son deeply and wanted to be a great mom. Taylor called her a sweetheart who could not hurt a fly.

Posing for Playboy marked just the start of her story. The work led directly to a friendship with Hefner that lasted until he died in 2017 at age 91. "Even when you do the magazine, it doesn't end there," Taylor explained about their bond. Hef opened his home for years because she was good friends with Kimberley, his wife. This access let her fly on their private jet often. She got to see him as a family man and witness how kind he truly was. His laugh remained the most infectious thing about him in her memory.

Decades later, Taylor finally learned what Hefner thought of her Playboy photos specifically. Traci Bingham from "Baywatch" told her she wanted a layout just like Taylors when discussing her own work around press time. When asked who the model was, he replied that this is Sandra Taylor and called her their most sexy model ever. Taylor wondered why anyone waited so long to share such amazing trivia with her.

Traci, could you tell me that one more time?" Sandra Taylor asked after learning a shocking truth about Hugh Hefner. She had long believed the Playboy founder favored blondes above all others. When she finally received confirmation that he was indeed a fan of her work too, the realization felt almost too good to be true. "I just thought he had to use diversity in the magazine," Taylor explained regarding his casting choices. "Brunettes, blondes, every single walk of life." The admission changed everything for her perspective on their past interactions.

Her career as a sought-after model brought plenty of perks along with that early fame. One significant highlight included catching the eye of heartthrob Fabio. Shooting those romance covers was exactly what you would imagine it to be, according to Taylor. These elaborate wardrobes, complete with fans and specific hair styles, made for such wonderful memories. The work took place in New York after they met at a gym called the Vertical Club. "He was so sweet," she recalled about their dating history. They dated a few times before he suggested she consider doing romance novel covers. She initially said no but admitted she would love to try it.

Taylor jumped on that yes train from the very beginning because she kept an open mind. She remained interested in anything that came her way during her time in Hollywood. "You shoot many, many in one day," she noted when describing the pace of their shoots. That experience was really fun and provided a great opportunity to showcase her range as a model. As an actress, Taylor frequently worked with director Garry Marshall on various projects. She also appeared in films starring Steven Seagal, Robert De Niro, and other big names in the industry.

Steven Seagal proved particularly kind to her during their professional relationship. He was always a real gentleman whenever she went into the audition rooms. "The rooms were just packed with beautiful women," Taylor admitted about the competition she faced. She braced herself for rejection but found him incredibly professional instead. On one memorable occasion, she wore her lucky pink Chanel suit to an interview. The first thing he said was that his wife owned a similar piece of clothing. That chivalrous comment stood out in her memory forever.

Dan Aykroyd also treated her with incredible generosity during her early career days. He bought her SAG card for her very first movie against all odds. "I would love to pay for that for you," he told her at the time. Dan was always welcoming and kind to everyone around him. That surprise gift remains one of her favorite memories from the set. Her life today feels a little different now compared to those glory days in the past.

Taylor lost her home of 24 years during the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire tragedy. She continues to rebuild while embracing a new role as a professional sommelier. She also helped create Raider Rosé wine alongside others in the industry. "I'm proud of the life I've led," she stated with confidence and grace. She has faced ups and downs throughout her journey but feels blessed every step of the way. Taylor remains always ready for whatever life throws at her next.