Mayfair was one of the most popular magazines for men during its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. It featured lingerie modeling, nude photography, and interviews with celebrities willing to take risks or push boundaries. This article explores the reasons why celebrity features occasionally appeared in Mayfair magazine, including their role in promoting the publication, the impact on adult entertainment, and how it helped blur the lines between mainstream culture and pornography.
The first appearance of a celebrity in Mayfair was in 1968 when Marilyn Monroe posed fully clothed for a photo shoot. However, this was an exception rather than the rule, and most models were unknown women from Britain. Inclusion of Celebrity Features may have helped attract more readers and boost sales at the time, but it also had unintended consequences. Some critics argued that it made the magazine less focused on eroticism and more like a traditional glossy magazine. Others saw it as a sign of desperation by editors struggling to compete with newer publications.
Occasionally, Mayfair featured interviews or pictorials with celebrities willing to push boundaries or participate in more risqué shoots. These appearances helped boost the magazine's profile and attract wider attention. For example, in 1972, Mayfair published an interview with actress Jane Fonda about her role in the film Barbarella, which included pictures of her wearing only body paint. In 1974, it ran a feature on actor Richard Gere posing naked for a series of photos. Both articles generated significant media coverage and brought new readers to the magazine.
Celebrity involvement also helped blur the lines between mainstream culture and adult entertainment, making Mayfair part of broader pop culture conversations. It was not unusual for celebrities to discuss their sex lives or relationships in detail, often with explicit language and imagery. This created controversy and sparked debates about censorship, morality, and the relationship between entertainment and pornography. The magazine became known for its frankness and dared to challenge taboos around sexuality and gender roles.
While celebrity features did help Mayfair stand out from other publications, they were not a long-term solution for its success. By the late 1970s, the market had become saturated with similar magazines, and sales declined significantly. The last issue of Mayfair was published in 1986, ending an era that changed the way men's magazines approached eroticism and adult entertainment.