What remains is the magazine itself—a "new" old copy of March 1977, bound in glossy paper and staple-bound nostalgia. For those who find it, Nicki Thomas is a time capsule: a blonde smile from a California that no longer exists, a brief flash of fame before the curtain fell, and a reminder that not every Playmate wanted to be a star. Some just wanted to be themselves—for one month, nearly 50 years ago.
Nicki Thomas Nancy Elizabeth Tritt ) was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for . Profile: Nicki Thomas Real Name: Nancy Elizabeth Tritt. Birth Date: March 22, 1954. Hometown: Berwyn, Illinois. Physical Stats: Height of 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m).
Her centerfold was photographed by the renowned Pompeo Posar.
Nicki’s iconic centerfold was captured by legendary photographer . Her appearance in the March 1977 issue reflected the era's growing focus on physical fitness, with her profile highlighting her dedication to working out at Chicago-area health clubs and practicing gymnastics. Measurements: 34-23-35 nicki thomas playmate of the month for march 1977 new
Born in 1954 in Glendale, California , she was a quintessential product of the Golden State’s sun-drenched suburban sprawl. With a head of tousled, sun-lightened brown hair and a face that balanced girl-next-door charm with a knowing, slightly mischievous gaze, Thomas was discovered while working as a waitress and part-time model in Los Angeles. Unlike some Playmates who pursued the title as a career-launching missile, Thomas seemed to fall into the role almost accidentally—a quality that photographer Dwight Hooker famously exploited in her centerfold.
Her quote in the magazine remains telling: "I’m not trying to be a sex symbol. I just want people to see me as a real person who happens to be comfortable with her body."
As the centerfold for the March 1977 issue (Volume 24, #3), Nicki Thomas followed Star Stowe (February) and preceded Lisa Sohm (April) in that year's lineup. What remains is the magazine itself—a "new" old
, Thomas remains a standout figure for those who appreciate the intersection of vintage fashion and the timeless "girl-next-door" appeal that defined the decade. A March to Remember
: The three-panel fold-out of Nicki Thomas must be fully attached to the original staples without tears or separation.
Issues that still contain the original subscription cards, gatefolds, and intact bindings are generally valued higher by purists. Nicki Thomas Nancy Elizabeth Tritt ) was the
The March 1977 issue represents the peak of Playboy's hybrid format, blending provocative imagery with heavyweight journalism, literature, and political commentary. Collectors purchasing a "like new" copy today will find significant cultural context alongside Thomas’s pictorial:
While her time in the spotlight was brief, Nicki Thomas lived a full life under her married name, . After her modeling career, she settled in Edgewood, Kentucky, where she raised two children, Michael Anthony and Marissa Nicole.
During the 1970s, Playboy shifted away from rigid, studio-lit pin-up styles toward softer, natural, and more cinematic photography. At the forefront of this movement was staff photographer Pompeo Posar , who captured Nicki Thomas's centerfold.
Nicki Thomas's story is more than just a footnote in a magazine's history. She was a product of her environment—a fitness-focused model for the late 1970s—but she used that platform to launch into a completely different career, however short-lived, as a singer. Her life after Playboy as a wife and mother in Kentucky shows a complete pivot away from that world, marking her as someone who took her brief moment in the sun and then built a completely private life on her own terms. In a way, she lived out the ethos she spoke about in her pictorial, treating her life not as something to be consumed, but as a gift to be used well.
: The original centerfold featuring Nicki Thomas must be completely intact and securely attached to the staples.