Pet of the Year 2003

Story - "This is a dream come true! " Sunny Leone exclaimed when she learned she had been chosen as our new Pet of the Year. "I'm thrilled to serve Penthouse and represent the magazine and the freedoms it stands for. To think that only one woman the entire year is picked to do this . . . the feeling is out of this world! " For now, our world revolves around the smart and sexy Sunny. In addition to receiving the adoration of her court, she'll be bequeathed $100,000 from publisher Bob Guccione and a 14-karat-gold, ruby and diamond-encrusted Pet of the Year key, designed exclusively for Penthouse by Michael Hayden, Inc. Every year we call on you, our faithful readers, to help us select a new Pet of the Year, and every year you rise to the occasion. In the months that followed our Pet Play-Off this past June, ballot boxes in our New York headquarters were stuffed full with snail mail and e-mail proclaiming that you wanted more (much more! ) of sensational Sunny. We couldn't get enough of her, either--that's why we had not one but two seasoned photographers capture her on film. We're certain that after taking in this all-new, very special pictorial, you'll join us in giving our new Queen a very warm welcome indeed. Since captivating us with her charms as the March 2001 Pet of the Month, Sunny's life has undergone "a dramatic change--a complete 180. I've been given opportunities this past year that I've never been offered before. Working with Penthouse has given me the chance to see the USA from coast to coast," the Canadian-born bombshell tells us. "And I've made some lifelong friendships with the other Pets--we really are like a family. But the best part, by far, has been meeting my fans, and I'm looking forward to doing lots more of that as Pet of the Year. I'm always telling guys not to be shy. I like when they come up and introduce themselves. " In addition to its bolstering her social life, Sunny credits this magazine with helping to reshape her career path. Modeling has enabled the 21-year-old to create a nest egg for herself, so she can focus her attention on what truly makes her happy. She has since stepped off the business-school track and is now working diligently toward a nursing degree. "I love giving to people," she says. "I've always been the kind of person to lend a hand or take care of a sick friend. Eventually I'd like to be a pediatric nurse. Children are special people who need special care. " When she's not hitting the anatomy books, Sunny likes to lose herself in a juicy thriller or some erotic fiction. "That's good stuff," she says with a smile. "They both get my juices flowing. " "Sunny's a wonderful woman," says photographer Suze Randall. "Some girls get puffed up by success, but Sunny is down to earth and very loving. I can't wait to work with her again. " Echoes fellow lensman Stephen Hicks, "She's very natural. She's the complete sexy, exotic package, which makes her very easy to shoot. Plus, she's so hard-working-- she knows her stuff. " Though our Queen has yet to find her king, she certainly knows what she wants: "Someone who's honest, secure, and happy. A man who's beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. " When she does meet a man who captures her interest, Sunny doesn't hesitate to let him know. "Honesty really is the best policy, so I'll drop some not-so-subtle hints," she says. "At the end of a first date, after we know each other better, I'll give him a nice, soft kiss--nothing more. But it's the kind of kiss that will drive us both nuts until the next time we're together. " And what might Sunny plan for a second date? "I'll wear something sexy. I'll light candles and play soft music. I'll prepare dinner--even make him a cake. When we're done eating, maybe we'll jump right onto the table and have sex . . . using the icing on that cake I baked. When a man knows how to please me, the orgasms are endless. " The 34-24-34 Sunny may describe herself as quiet and bookish--"perhaps not your typical Pet," she says--but she does indulge her wild side every once in a while. "I once had a girls-only slumber party. It started out innocent enough, but it turned into a big orgy. It was great--definitely an experience I'd like to repeat. " Of course, our sultry brunette is into more intimate gatherings as well. "I'd love to be with a woman and have our male partner sit in the corner and watch," she reveals. "We'd make him smell the scent of a woman--two women, really--and drive him wild. Then, when she and I are in the middle of things and really heated up, we'll invite him to join in. That's my ultimate fantasy. " "I hope the men who look at these pictures are as thrilled to see them as I was to pose for them. Knowing that I'm turning a guy on is a turn-on for me too," Sunny tells us. "And to all the women who see these photos and would love to be in my place, I say go for it. This has been the most rewarding experience of my life. " Sunny, the rewards are all ours.