Undressed To Kill
Katie Lohmann
With Celebrity Guest Photographers
Shannon Tweed & Gene Simmons
Talk about a wild way to wrap up the second season of A&E's hit reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. The legendary Kiss rocker and his lovely mate Shannon Tweed squared off in the ultimate shoot-out to answer one question: Which one is a better Playboy photographer? And who better to be the judge than the couple's pal, Mr. Playboy himself, Hugh Hefner?
At stake: a trip to Vegas for Shannon's sister's wedding, which "happily unmarried" Gene has absolutely no interest in attending. If she wins, he goes. If he wins, she goes solo.
To settle matters, Gene and Shannon came to Playboy's Studio West to shoot Miss April 2001 Katie Lohmann.
Before the shoot, Katie prognosticated the contest. "Shannon has the Playboy background. She was Playmate of the Year. Gene has always had great sex appeal, because he's a big-time rock star. So it'll be interesting to see their ideas on how to make me look sexy and bring my sex appeal out."
But Katie admitted she has some loyalty to Shannon, as a fellow Playmate. "She's one of the most beautiful women who's ever been featured in Playboy. Playmates are like sisters; we're like family."
When they arrived at Playboy Studio West, Shannon and Gene were already in competitive mode. "I don't know if I want him to watch what I'm doing because I know a few Playboy secrets that I don't want him to know," Shannon said.
Gene was first up, and after a quick lesson with the professional camera, he was rarin' to fire away at Katie on the sexy set, which is designed as a man's dressing room.
Gene handled the task with the ease and skill of a celebrity who has seen a million photographers take his picture. During a break in shooting, Katie praised the solid job her photographer was doing. "You can tell he's got a good eye for what's beautiful. He's doing a good job."
Gene wrapped up his photo shoot, and Katie and Shannon sauntered away to pick out new wardrobe. Gene paused and stated slyly, "Now that's why it's good to be me."
Then it was Shannon's turn. She had Katie decked out in a man's dress shirt, top hat and cane. "You look great," she told Katie. And she wasn't lying.
"Can you shoot your hip out a little more; give me a little more curve in the waist?" Shannon directed. Shannon moved Katie around the set like a pro photographer. "Now, can you give me a little butt cheek?" she asked.
"A little butt cheek?" Gene asked. "How'd you learn how to do this?"
"That's really pretty, Katie," Shannon said. "Can we lose the shirt?"
Gene liked what he saw even more.
Considering how well she handled the camera and how comfortable her model was, Shannon was confident that Hef would pick her photos.
"I think it's clear who the winner is," Shannon said. "But Hef will decide."
With a mischievous smile, Gene concluded, "I'll tell him to pick mine."
