Darine Stern

Born November 16, 1947 | Chicago, IL

Died February 5, 1994 | Chicago, IL

Stern began her career in the late 1960s as a 'Playboy Bunny' serving cocktails at the Playboy Club on Walton Street in the Gold Coast section of Chicago. While there she her her soon-to-be-husband, David Ray. 

After marrying Ray, she settled into the role of being a dentist's wife, and stepmother to Ray's son. She had various jobs in advertising, hostessing, and bank telling. That changed when a photographer visiting her bank asked to take her photograph, images which subsequently came to the attention of the Playboy editorial team.

Stern became the first black woman to appear by herself on the cover of Playboy magazine in the October 1971 issue. Her appearance followed Jean Bell who was featured on the magazine's January 1970 cover, though with four other models. 

Following her cover on Playboy, Stern went on to become a high-profile model, being represented by Ford Models, Nina Blanchard, Ellen Harth and Shirley Hamilton Models of Chicago and New York. She created Darine Stern Agency to foster the careers of emerging models. She died on February 5, 1994 due to complications of breast cancer.

[above cited from Wikipedia]