Janet Pilgrim was a Playboy model who became famous for being the first “girl next door” Playmate of the Month. She appeared in the magazine three times: July 1955, December 1955, and October 1956. She died in Norwalk, Connecticut, at the age of 82 on May 1, 2017. What was the cause of her death and how did she live her life?
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How Janet Pilgrim Became a Playmate
Janet Pilgrim was born as Charlaine Edith Karalus on June 13, 1934, in Wheaton, Illinois. She was the daughter of Gedeminis Karalus and Hulda Wittekind. She had two brothers, George and Donald, and two sisters, Carol and Marilyn.
She worked for Hugh Hefner in the subscription department of Playboy’s corporate office in Chicago. She agreed to pose for the July 1955 issue in exchange for a new addressograph machine for the office. Hefner reportedly chose the name “Janet Pilgrim” to make fun of sexual puritanism.
She appeared topless with a tuxedo-clad man reported to be Hefner in the background with his back to the camera. The caption read in part: “We found Miss July in our own circulation department, processing subscriptions, renewals, and back copy orders. Her name is Janet Pilgrim and she’s as efficient as she is good looking.”
How Janet Pilgrim Became Popular
Readers responded well to her appearance as Miss July and sent in letters asking for more Janet Pilgrim. Despite getting offers to model for outside agencies, Janet chose to appear twice more as a Playmate and was listed on Playboy’s masthead as head of reader’s services department for the next 10 years. Hefner at one point offered a personal phone call from Pilgrim in exchange for enrollment in a lifetime subscription to his magazine.
Pilgrim is said to be the prototype of the “girl next door” approach to Playboy Playmates from that time onward. She was not a professional model, but a regular woman who had a natural beauty and charm. She was also smart, witty, and efficient. She represented the ideal woman for many men who read Playboy.
How Janet Pilgrim Lived After Playboy
In the early 1980s, Pilgrim attended college to become a registered nurse and worked in geriatrics. She married Alan Whitelaw, who predeceased her. She had two daughters, Linda and Lisa, and five grandchildren, Zachary, Rachel, Christopher, Jennifer, and Samantha.
She lived a quiet and private life, away from the spotlight of Playboy. She rarely gave interviews or attended events related to the magazine. She was proud of her work as a Playmate, but did not let it define her. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.
Janet Pilgrim Cause of Death
Pilgrim died in Norwalk, Connecticut, at the age of 82 on May 1, 2017. The cause of her death was not publicly disclosed, but it was reported that she had been ill for some time. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in a private ceremony.
She is survived by her sister Marilyn, her daughters Linda and Lisa, and her grandchildren. She is also remembered by her fans and admirers, who appreciate her contribution to Playboy and the culture of the 1950s. She was a pioneer, a legend, and a lovely lady.
