5 Defining Moments: The Untold Story Behind Suzanne Somers' Boldest 'Nude' Photoshoots And Legacy

The enduring fascination with Suzanne Somers, an icon who seamlessly transitioned from sitcom star to fitness guru and controversial health advocate, continues to this day. On this date, December 15, 2025, the conversation around her life, career, and particularly her bold expressions of body confidence—including her famous "birthday suit" photos—is framed by her passing in October 2023, leaving behind a legacy that is far more complex and inspiring than her initial public persona suggested. This article delves into the true context behind the pictures, revealing the resilience and business acumen of a woman who was never afraid to own her narrative.

Her openness about her body, both in her early career and in her later years, was a testament to her philosophy of natural health and aging. From her groundbreaking role as Chrissy Snow on *Three's Company* to her multi-million dollar business empire built on the ThighMaster and a plethora of wellness books, Somers consistently used her platform to challenge conventions, making her a permanent fixture in American pop culture history.

Suzanne Somers: A Complete Biography and Career Timeline

Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney) was a quintessential American success story, marked by early struggles, massive television fame, and a remarkable second act as a businesswoman and author. Her life was a series of reinventions that showcased her relentless drive and entrepreneurial spirit.

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• Full Name: Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney)
• Born: October 16, 1946, in San Bruno, California
• Died: October 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, California (one day before her 77th birthday)
• Spouse: Alan Hamel (m. 1977–2023)
• Children: Bruce Somers Jr. (from her first marriage)
• Breakout Role: Chrissy Snow on the ABC sitcom *Three's Company* (1977–1981)
• Major TV Roles: Carol Foster Lambert on the ABC sitcom *Step by Step* (1991–1998)
• Business Ventures: Creator and promoter of the ThighMaster, a multi-million dollar fitness product.
• Author Career: Bestselling author of over 27 books, primarily focusing on alternative health, diet, and anti-aging, including *Sexy Forever* and *Tox-Sick*.
• Advocacy: Prominent advocate for alternative medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). She founded the Suzanne Somers Institute for the Effects of Addictions of Families.
• Awards: Received the Humanitarian Award from the National Council on Alcoholism in 1991.

The Financial Necessity: Suzanne Somers’ 1980 Playboy Shoot

The earliest widely circulated "nude" photos of Suzanne Somers came from her appearance in *Playboy* magazine, but the context behind the 1980 spread is crucial to understanding her career trajectory. It was not a move purely for fame, but one born out of financial desperation.

In the late 1970s, despite her success as Chrissy Snow, Somers faced a devastating personal crisis. Her son, Bruce Somers Jr., was involved in a serious car accident, which resulted in enormous, crippling medical bills.

To cover the mounting debt, Somers made the difficult decision to pose for *Playboy*. This choice, while controversial at the time for a primetime television star, was a pragmatic move to protect her family. It highlighted her fierce determination and willingness to make personal sacrifices for her loved ones.

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Interestingly, this was not her first foray into risqué photography. In 1970, when she was a struggling model and actress, she did a test photoshoot with photographer Stan Malinowski, which also produced revealing images that circulated in later years.

A Statement of Body Positivity: The 73rd Birthday 'Birthday Suit' Photo

Decades after her *Playboy* appearance, Suzanne Somers made headlines again for a photo that redefined aging and body confidence. In October 2019, on the occasion of her 73rd birthday, she posted a topless photo of herself on social media, crouched among plants in a field in Palm Springs, California.

She captioned the photo simply: "Here I am at 73 in my birthday suit!" The image, taken by her husband, Alan Hamel, was immediately met with a massive public reaction, sending social media into a frenzy of praise and, in some cases, backlash.

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Somers was unapologetic about the photo, stating that she felt "very hot" and that the act was a celebration of her commitment to health. This move was a powerful extension of her decades-long advocacy for natural health and anti-aging, demonstrating that her lifestyle advice, from using the ThighMaster to her diet and supplement regimen, was working for her. It became a symbol of defying ageism and embracing a "Sexy Forever" philosophy, a title she used for one of her best-selling books.

The ThighMaster and the Business of Wellness

The discussion around Somers’ body confidence is inextricably linked to her second, highly successful career as a businesswoman. After her departure from *Three's Company*, she leveraged her celebrity status to market the ThighMaster, an ingenious move that solidified her as a pioneer in the infomercial space.

The success of the ThighMaster was followed by a prolific run as an author, with her books becoming bestsellers and establishing her as a leading, albeit controversial, voice in the natural health movement. She wrote extensively on topics like bioidentical hormones, cancer treatment, and diet, often drawing criticism from the mainstream medical community but building a massive, loyal following who trusted her advocacy for alternative wellness.

The Unfulfilled Wish: Posing for Playboy at 75

In the wake of the positive reception to her 73rd birthday photo, Somers revealed a desire to come full circle with her career. In 2020, she publicly stated that she wanted to pose for *Playboy* one last time for her 75th birthday.

She expressed that it would be a powerful statement on aging and body image, a final act of owning her body and her narrative. While the photoshoot did not ultimately happen before her passing in 2023, the sentiment behind the wish—to celebrate her body at an advanced age—perfectly encapsulated her enduring spirit. Her willingness to embrace the "birthday suit" at 73 and beyond cemented her status as a figure who consistently challenged societal expectations of women in Hollywood and beyond.