Syracuse University student Ali Baron in Playboy
Syracuse University student Ali Baron, a.k.a. Ali B, represents SU in the October 2014 issue of Playboy for the magazine's "Girls of the ACC" pictorial.
(Jared Ryder | Playboy)
Playboy isn't just recognizing the entire student body at Syracuse University this month. The famed men's magazine is also highlighting one particular SU student's body in particular.
Ali Baron, a 21-year-old sociology major, appears in the "Girls of the ACC" photo feature for Playboy's October 2014 issue. She's seen representing her school in a skimpy blue mesh top with "Syracuse" in orange across her chest, and little else before stripping further naked for the pictorial.
The same issue also names SU as one of 2014's top 10 party schools in the nation -- the first time the 'Cuse has made Playboy's list. Earlier this year, the Central New York college was also declared No. 1 for partying by The Princeton Review.
Baron, who goes by the nickname "Ali B," tells syracuse.com and The Post-Standard that she was discovered by Playboy representatives when they were visiting the campus earlier this year.
"A lot of people had always known this was something I wanted to do -- I had the posters, I had the '[Playboy] Girls Next Door' DVDs," she said in a phone interview.
"At first it was kind of like just a joke, and I'd forgotten about it [but one night] I just threw on jeans and a t-shirt and we went out... to Faegan's, and the minute I walked in the door two ladies, who were very beautiful -- I could tell that they weren't students -- kind of pulled me aside and said, 'hey, do you want to be in Playboy?' And I was like, 'Yeah! Of course!' So that's pretty much what happened, you know -- I was in the right place at the right time."
The blonde beauty appears in a spread for the magazine with students from other ACC institutions: North Carolina State, University of Miami, Florida State University, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina, Duke University, University of Virginia, University of Pittsburgh, University of Louisville, University of Notre Dame, Boston College and Virginia Tech. Most colleges have multiple women in their schools' colors -- VT's Sammie Lynn even poses with the Hokies mascot -- but Baron is the sole SU co-ed decked in blue and orange.
"Really, when it happened it was almost like a dream come true," she said of her professional modeling debut.
Baron is the first Syracuse University student to appear in the magazine's "Girls of the ACC" pictorial, but before the Orange switched conferences, co-eds posed for "Girls of the Big East" in 1989 and 1992.
Non-SU students from Central New York have also gone nude for Playboy. Miss November 1987 Pam Stein was a Syracuse native, and Lacy Spice represented the Salt City in 2009 before changing her name to Kayla Kayden for a career in porn films.
Baron is a full-time student originally from Syracuse who's in Florida on medical leave this semester, but is optimistic about how she'll be received when she hopefully returns for her senior year in the spring.
"I think [the photos] came out really tasteful. I would hope that everybody reacts to it positively," she said. "Playboy is iconic, and I think it's a good magazine."
She adds that her friends have all been supportive, though it's harder for her family.
"They had always known that I had wanted to do something like [pose for Playboy], but I think what they were more shocked about was that it actually happened [and] that the opportunity actually came up. They've been nothing but supportive. I'm sure it's not my parents' first choice for me, but if it makes me happy they're going to let me do it."
Baron has set up social media accounts for her potential fans to follow her at @alib4prezident on Twitter and Instagram. And though her online handles say "Ali B 4 Prezident," she says she has no interest in actually running for President of the United States of America.
Still, she's adjusting to her newfound fame.
"All these dudes trying to talk to me now?? GTFO here before I call u out," she tweeted on Saturday.
Ali B appears in the October 2014 issue of Playboy magazine, currently available on newsstands and online at playboy.com (censored version) and playboyplus.com.