Torresdale native Val Keil has paved her own path from Northeast Philly to the Playboy Mansion. Credit: Val Keil.
Val Keil sat with her father, brother and then-boyfriend inside her Northeast Philadelphia home and debated the proposition to pose for ‘Playboy.’
She submitted the photos without a peep, but when the legendary adult magazine responded with interest within three days, she asked for help.
“Wait,” said the now ex-boyfriend. “You won’t even send me naked pictures, but you’ll send ‘Playboy’ naked pictures?”
She thought that was trashy, “but it’s funny now because my naked pictures are all over the Internet.”
He took a hike, and now, the bartender from Torresdale is ‘Playboy’ magazine’s Miss August.
“I don’t like to say that I got lucky, ” said Keil, 22, “Because I feel everything happens for a reason.”
In this, her first-ever audition for a modeling gig, Keil scored the centerfold in the July/August issue on newsstands now.
Keil, a graduate of MaST Community Charter School, worked at Reedy’s Tavern on Frankford Avenue, the Torresdale Frankford Country Club and XFINITY Live! before she decided to submit. On Saturday, she’ll return to Reedy’s to sign the magazine from 2 to 10 p.m.
“I had a long year of just ups and downs,” she said.
She hopped between community colleges and beauty schools before she decided to take a shot. After all, she has good genes: both her aunt and mom are former Eagles’ cheerleaders.
Before, when people asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said she wanted to get married and stay at home with her eight children. Then, she changed the estimate to six because eight sounded a bit high.
She had it all mapped out, until she received a phone call from Beverly Hills, and the number may change again. “But it worked out,” she deadpanned.
Not long after the news of her centerfold spot leaked, the Facebook messages and emails rolled in: “Don’t change,” or, “You’re going to change.”
“That kind of annoys me,” Keil said, “Because I feel like if they knew me, they would know I’m not that type of girl and I’m not going to let it get to my head.”
“I’m definitely going to enjoy every minute of it,” she added, “But it’s not something that I’ll let get to me.”
And she still wants the six children. “Just when I’m ready.”
She’s one ‘bad-ass chick’
Val Keil was at the Playboy Mansion for the July 4 holiday, and took a spin on the 100-foot slip and slide.
“But somehow I managed to knee myself in the face,” she said.
She laughed, adjusted her bikini and stood up. And then another Playmate saw the blood.
“Sit back down,” the Playmate said, then screamed for the paramedics.
She tore a muscle in her face, just under her right eye on the cheekbone, which required 15 stitches and a touch up from a plastic surgeon.
“It was the worst timing,” she said, “This is my month!”
She had a black eye, but she shouldn’t have a scar.
“I mean, if I have a little scar, that’s cool,” she said. “It makes me look like a bad-ass chick.”
Meet the Playmate
Bust: 32 C
Waist: 24 inches
Height: 5 foot 4 inches
Weight: 108 pounds
Turnons: “A man who makes me feel like I’m the only thing that matters and who isn’t’ afraid to take control.”
Turnoffs: “Overly cocky, pumped-up meatheads who are afraid to show their goofy side. BE REAL.”
Frisky wish: “To learn pole dancing.”
Style: “I love cowboy boots, torn-up jeans and showing skin, preferably my belly and butt cheeks!”
