Playboy Names New Playmate of the Year | SPIKE

Hugh Hefner and 50 years worth of Playboy Playmates travelled to Las Vegas over the weekend to unveil this year’s 2009 Playboy Playmate of the Year.

Hef named 27-year-old Swedish/African beauty Ida Ljungqvist the 50th Playmate of the Year at a ceremony held in the grounds of the Grand Ballroom in Sin City's Palms Place Hotel & Resort.

Hef described the big-busted Ida as the Playmate that “tops them all.” He told the crowd, "Iva is truly unique. She was born to a Tanzanian mother and a Swedish father and she traveled the globe while her father worked for UNICEF. She is fluent in three languages -- English, Swedish, and Swahili."

Ida was discovered by 2007’s Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood in a clothing boutique in Los Angeles. The size zero model and vegetarian was named Miss March 2008.

Ida is the first Playmate born in Africa. Ida has a degree in fashion design and marketing and plans to study economics. As Playmate of the Year she was awarded an engraved bottle of Patron Platinum, keys to a new Mazda 6 sports sedan, and a check for $100,000.

Ida Ljungqvist - 2009 Playboy Playmate of the Year

Source: Denise Truscello/WireImage/Getty Images