Ida Ljungqvist is 2009's Playboy Playmate of the Year.
Ljungqvist, 27, is the first African-born Playmate, as well as the first to be officially crowned with the annual "Playmate" title in Las Vegas. The ceremony took place on Saturday night at the Palms Casino Resort.
Heretofore, the announcement was made at Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's mansion in Los Angeles.
Ljungqvist is the 50th woman to be named the annual Playmate, a big accomplishment according to Hefner: "Becoming a Playmate of the Month, people have no idea how . . . we go through, literally, and test thousands of girls to find the Playmates of the Month. When you pick, then, the best of the 12 - very, very special," he explained.
Ljungqvist was born in Tanzania to a Tanzania mother and Swedish father.
Her dad worked for UNICEF and the family travelled the globe, spending time in some 12 countries. She is fluent in three languages.
She was working at the Bebe boutique in Beverly Hills when she caught the eye of 2007 Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood. Ljungqvist went on to become Playboy's Miss March 2008.
Along with the title, Ljungqvist received a 2009 Mazda6 sports sedan and US$100,000.
APTN