Who Wants Candy? I Do!
One of my Facebook friends shared this picture, and introduced me to Candy Loving – so for my “2020 Sex Kitten Countdown”, I’m going to share her story and ask the question: what happened to Candy?
Gorgeous brunette Candy Loving was born Candis Loving in 1956 in Oswego, Kansas.
Candy grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Ponca City High School in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
As happens when someone is as beautiful as Candy is, Playboy came calling.
Playboy’s 25th Anniversary Playmate!
Candy was featured in the magazine in January 1979 as the Playmate Of The Month.
Then, Candy received an incredible honor: she was paid $25,000 dollars when chosen as Playboy’s 25th Anniversary Playmate!
I am watching a terrific documentary about the late Dorothy Stratten – and it points out that she came in second in the 25th Anniversary search – losing out to Candy!
A year later, Stratten would be chosen “Playmate Of The Year” but she had a tragic end to her life…
I posted this homage to Stratten to celebrate what would have been her 61st birthday in January – here’s a look at her life:
As for Candy, she did a follow-up pictorial in the August, 1979 issue of the magazine, and as with many popular Models at the time, it seems Hollywood was next!
Surprisingly, her sole feature film credit was a fleeting walk-on bit part at the end of Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories.” This is his controversial film where the lead character, played by Allen, is a Director who hates his fans who want him to do funny movies – and it’s a sour, demeaning attack on his fans.
As for TV, Candy played herself in the “Who’s the Sexiest Girl in the World?” episode of the TV show “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo.”
Like Stratten, you would have thought that fame was right around the corner, which is what made this article all the most mystifying:
So What Happened To Candy?
After these credits, Candy disappeared….or did she?
After graduating from high school, Candy attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a bachelor’s degree. She later got a graduate degree in human relations.
So, after being featured in Playboy, and making a film and TV appearance, reports say that Candy Loving moved to Florida in 1984 and works in the health insurance industry!
So, it seems that Loving used her education to move on from the entertainment spotlight to work in an profession she loved!
That said, Playboy didn’t forget her: she was voted #6 in Playboy’s “Top 100 Playmates Of All Time” in 2000 – so bravo to Candy for all of her success!
Candy’s not the only Actress who showed up in Playboy:
Cult Movie Queen Barbara Crampton did a Playboy pictorial – and also starred in such terrific cult films as “Re-Animator” and “Chopping Mall!”
See more of her best work by clicking on my story here:
Another great Actress / Playboy Model was Roberta Vasquez:
Vasquez also had a great cult movie career, and you can see it by clicking on my story here:
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Categories: 70's Films, Books / Media, JRsploitation, Nudity, sex kittens, Talent / Celebrites
JR-Sploitation! 
She was very attractive indeed. I never saw her in Playboy, and certainly don’t remember her from ‘Stardust Memories’, but well done to her for continuing her education, and getting out of a business that ruined many young women.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Met her back in Dec/80 and got an autographed picture. She was very sweet.
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Thanks for sharing that! It’s always great to know they embrace their fame and are nice to fans…sadly, some do NOT.
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Hey John…enjoy your work.
Not sure old BentleyPete here should moralize on what the centrefold concept did or didnt do to the girls. Nobody forced them to do it after all.And also mate..seriously..you never saw her before? I’d say a mis-spent youth.\0/
I always thought, and still do, that Nancy Cameron (20th Anniversay Playmate) was a better choice.
Another One-in-a-Million figure on a beautiful girl next door face …wooohooo
Anyway, John, I searched long and hard for this list your mention but cannot find it anywhere.: Playboy’s “Top 100 Playmates Of All Time” in 2000
Any chance you might still have the link.?
Regards from DownUnder
Peder Halvorsen
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Let me look for it an thanks for commenting!
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The obvious choice among many candidates to be Playboy’s 25th anniversary, Her busty beauty, sweetness and charm was all too evident.
It irritated me when Hefner said she was really the second choice after they found out that Dorothy Stratten was underage at the time. Candy was still the obvious choice no matter what Dorothy’s age was!
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