Elena Romanova - Body Heat

If you’re familiar with the bar scene in Huntington Beach, California, you may have already met Playboy Cybergirl Elena Romanova, who works nights as a bartender. Born and raised in Melitopol, Ukraine – an intercultural city best known for its fresh fruit and honey – Elena came to America to pursue a career as a model. With ice blue eyes, raven hair and classic proportions, this Slavic princess is sure to succeed.

She was an art student in Russia, where she honed her talent for drawing and nurtured an interest in dance. In America, she was a finalist for Maxim’s Hometown Hotties 2011 competition, and has done promotional modeling for Lowrider Magazine and a few calendars. But she had her sights set a lot higher than that. “I’ve always wanted to be in Playboy because it sets a standard of beauty,” she explains. “I’m proud to be a part of that.”

“I’m outgoing,” says Elena. “I love to go out drinking with the guys – after all, I am a bartender. I don’t really hang out with girls.” It won’t surprise you to know that a strong, independent girl like Elena is single – or that she likes it that way. “I don’t have to deal with another person’s problems,” she says. “But I love guys with a nice chest and arms. And respect is very important. Where I grew up, that’s what men are like, and that’s what I expect.”

Q&A with Elena Romanova

Playboy: What do you do when you’re not modeling?
I’m a bartender.

Playboy: What is your favorite kind of beer and why?
The place I work sells beer only. Probably a Dutch wheat beer or short tap, anything that has an orange flavor to it. Wheat beer is my favorite.

Playboy: Where did you grow up?
I was born in Ukraine and lived there for 14 years and then moved to Russia and lived there for five years. I have dual citizenship. I live in the States now and I’ve been here for five years; I love it. I’m so glad to be here because there’s a lot of freedom to make money, no matter if you come from a poor family or if you have an education there’s still a possibility to make money. In Russia it’s completely different. So that’s what I like about America the most; it’s the land of opportunity. Everyone has an opportunity to make something out of themselves.

Playboy: What inspired you to become a Cyber Girl?
I’ve always wanted to work with Playboy. Once I got a chance I went to casting and that’s how it started.

Playboy: Do you have any other secret talents?
I went to art school; I know how to draw and paint. I haven’t done it for a while, but I’m pretty sure if I picked it up again it would click. I was always more into dance, but my parents took me to art school instead.

Playboy: What are your goals for this fall?
There are so many things. Keep modeling; hopefully get a test shoot for Playmate.

Playboy: Do you model outside of Playboy?
I’ve done a lot lately; I’ve started taking modeling seriously. I was on the cover of Street Chopper Magazine recently. I do mostly glamour and car modeling, bikini or lingerie.

Playboy: You work around cars often; what is your dream car?
I have two dream cars. One is a Mercedes CL and the other is a Bentley Continental GT. Both are very classy cars with smooth lines, totally matches my style!

Playboy: What attributes are you most proud of physically?
My butt and my legs. I’m only 5’3” but my legs are long so I photograph much taller than I really am.

Playboy: You’ve got a killer body. How do you keep in such great shape?
I do aerial arts, which is aerial acrobatics, like Cirque du Soleil — that’s what keeps me in shape. I started doing it in March and have done a few shows with my school at different art festivals or parks. It’s a lot of fun.

Playboy: What has been your biggest accomplishment in your life to date?
I met Hugh Hefner last weekend — I always wanted to meet him; it was a great experience. I went to Fun in the Sun this past Sunday and I got to meet him. It was slow, usually there are a lot of girls but there were only ten that day. I got to meet a lot of cool people. Hugh Hefner was quiet, polite and always smiling.

Playboy: Do you have a favorite Playmate?
Dasha Astafieva. She was a Ukrainian girl that posed in Playboy’s 55th Anniversary edition in January 2009. She was gorgeous. That’s what a Playmate should be; she was perfect.

Playboy: What’s the best dating advice you can give to our male readers?
Don’t try too hard. Don’t try to impress a girl from the get-go by telling her how much money you have, how many houses you’ve got. It’s kind of annoying. When it happens to me it feels like they’re trying to buy me. Be yourself; not everyone is impressed by money.