Anna Nicole Smith helped Playboy model Sandra Taylor launch her career

Anna Nicole Smith unknowingly transformed the life of the woman Hugh Hefner once called his “sexiest role model.”

Sandra Taylor, who set hearts racing as a Playboy cover girl in the ’90s, is now the head sommelier at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. But long before that, his friendship with the 1993 Playmate of the Year changed the course of his life.

Taylor recently appeared on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kim Alexis’s “Unexpired” podcast, where she reflected on her life and career.

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Sandra Taylor attends the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Raising Helen’ at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California. (Wireframe)

“I was friends with Anna Nicole Smith and she was such a sweetheart,” Taylor recalled on Fox News Digital. “We shared two makeup artists. One was in New York, the other was in Los Angeles. And they introduced us very, very early on when she came from Texas, and we became friends. She needed a place to stay when she first got here.”

Anna Nicole Smith in a publicity portrait for the film “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult”, 1994. (Getty Images)

A visit to Smith on the set of “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult” changed the course of Taylor’s career. After Smith’s makeup artist urged her to meet Playboy during her 40th anniversary search, Smith encouraged her friend to go for it. The opportunity led Taylor to Playboy and launched a new chapter in her life.

WATCH: SANDRA TAYLOR REVEALS HOW ANNA NICOLE SMITH TOOK HER TO PLAYBOY

“It was my friendship with Anna Nicole Smith…that led me there,” Taylor said.

Model Sandra Taylor attends the Playboy magazine party in her honor on June 8, 1995, at Gauguin at the Plaza in New York. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

“I never thought in a million years that I would one day be in Playboy,” she said. “It seemed so out of the realm of reality. I was racing to become a mathematician, just like my father. … I studied macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, differential equations, and I was a dream dancer.”

Actress Sandra Taylor arrives at the National Lampoon premiere of “One, Two, Many” at the Arclight Theater on April 10, 2008 in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)

“I was only 19 when my father died,” she continued. “It was on my college campus at SUNY Purchase. He was walking with my mom and he had a heart attack all of a sudden and he passed away. And then I never went back to that campus again.

Actress Sandra Taylor appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on August 30, 1995. (NBCU/NBCUniversal Photo Bank via Getty Images)

After the sudden death of her father, Taylor abandoned her plans to pursue a degree in mathematics and embarked on a career in modeling. Looking back, she remains grateful for her friendship with Smith, whom she credits with helping open the door to Playboy before Smith’s death in 2007 at age 39.

“I remember how nice she was,” Taylor said. “She was a really, really sweet girl and she loved her son so much. She really wanted to be a great mom. She was really sweet, just a really nice girl. I don’t think she could hurt a fly.”

Anna Nicole Smith appears with her son Daniel at the Harald-Schmidt Show on June 24, 1997 in Germany. (Frank Hempel/United Archives via Getty Images)

For Taylor, posing for Playboy was just the beginning. She said this led to a friendship with Hefner that lasted until his death in 2017 at the age of 91.

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Sandra Taylor is seen here with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. (Courtesy of Sandra Taylor)

“Even when you do the magazine, it doesn’t stop there,” Taylor explained. “Hef is opening his home for years to come. … Because I was good friends with Kimberley, his wife, I was able to fly in their jet. I was able to really experience him as a family man, and how kind he was too. I loved his laugh. If I look back, his laugh was to me the most infectious and wonderful thing about him. And I miss him. I really think he changed the trajectory of things for me. I’m sure that it closed some doors…but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Sandra Taylor told Fox News Digital that she had a lasting friendship with Hugh Hefner. (Courtesy of Sandra Taylor)

Decades later, Taylor said she learned what Hefner thought of his Playboy photos.

Sandra Taylor is seen here on the cover of the July 1995 issue of Playboy magazine. (Alamy)

“You know Traci Bingham from ‘Baywatch’?,” Taylor said. “She told me that when she came to discuss doing Playboy, it was right when my layout was going to press. She said, ‘I want to do a layout like that!’ Who is that?” And he said, ‘Oh, this is Sandra Taylor. She’s our hottest model we’ve ever had. I say, ‘Why did you wait all these years to tell me this incredible story? I would have loved to have known years ago what Hef thought of me.'”

Traci Bingham from seasons 7 and 8 of “Baywatch”, which aired from 1989 to 2001. (Courtesy Everett Collection)

“I always knew he loved blondes so much, like real blondes,” Taylor said. “So to say he was a fan of my photos too. I just thought he should use diversity in the magazine. Brunettes, blondes… all the walks of life you want to represent in the magazine. But I always thought he preferred blondes. So when she told me that, it was so beautiful. … I was like, ‘Traci, can you tell me one more time?’

Hugh Hefner and actress Tracy Bingham pose for a photo in front of Barfly on August 17, 2002 in Hollywood. (Getty Images)

Becoming a sought-after model had many benefits for Taylor, such as attracting Fabio’s attention.

WATCH: SANDRA TAYLOR RECALLS MEETING WITH FABIO, POSING FOR ROMANCE COVERS

“Shooting the covers of romance with Fabio was exactly what you imagine,” Taylor said. “These elaborate wardrobes – the fan, the hair, everything. It was so wonderful. It was in New York. I met Fabio at this gym called the Vertical Club. He was so nice. We went out a few times and he was lovely. He said, ‘Have you ever thought about doing a romance novel cover?’ And I was like, ‘No, but I’d love to.'”

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Italian actor and model Fabio Lanzoni poses for a portrait with the book “Scandalous Love” by Brenda Joyce in New York, November 8, 1992. (Getty Images)

“I was on the yes train from the get-go,” Taylor said. “I’ve always been interested. I’ve always had an open mind and I’ve always stayed very interested in everything that happened to me. … I don’t know how many romance novel covers we did together, but it was a lot. You were shooting several, several in one (day). So it was really fun. It was a great experience.”

As an actress, Taylor frequently worked with director Garry Marshall. She has also appeared in projects with Steven Seagal, Robert De Niro and other Hollywood stars.

From left: Victoria Silvstedt, Carmen Electra, Sandra Taylor and Miss March Tina Jordan pose together at an event of unknown date. (Wireframe)

“Steven Seagal was really nice to me,” Taylor said. “He was a real gentleman to me. Every time I went to an audition, and it was several times, there were more beautiful women. The rooms were full of beautiful women. I prepared myself. But he was so professional. I remember I was wearing my lucky pink Chanel suit. The first thing he said to me was, ‘Oh, my wife has a suit similar to that.’ He was so chivalrous and nice to me.”

Canadian comedian and actor Dan Aykroyd with Playmate Sandra Taylor, circa 1992. (Getty Images)

“And Dan Aykroyd, I remember him being incredibly generous too. He bought me my SAG card for my first movie. Dan said to me, ‘I would love to pay for that for you and one day be able to say I bought you your SAG card.’ It was a nice surprise. He was also very kind and welcoming. I’ll never forget that.”

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Sandra Taylor is the head sommelier for the Las Vegas Raiders. (Courtesy of Sandra Taylor.)

Taylor’s life today is “a little different,” she said. She lost her home of 24 years in the Palisades fire in 2025. She continues to rebuild and has adopted a new role as a professional sommelier. She also contributed to the creation of Raider Rosé.

Sandra Taylor is seen here holding a bottle of her rosé. (Courtesy of Sandra Taylor)

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Today, Sandra Taylor enters the next chapter of her life. (Courtesy of Sandra Taylor)

“I’m proud of the life I’ve led,” Taylor said. “I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’ve been lucky. And I’m always ready for whatever life throws at me.”