ART AFICIONADO: Cathy Rowland

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Cathy Rowland

Model Appreciation

Cathleen Lynn Rowland, better known as Cathy Rowland, captivated audiences in the early 1970s with her charm, beauty, and a set of striking brown eyes that immediately caught my attention.

Born on March 11, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, she had a free-spirited approach to life that set her apart from the crowd. While she briefly considered a career as a dental assistant, her passion for music and adventure led her elsewhere. At 5'5", her natural beauty and effortless confidence landed her in the pages of Playboy, where she was named Playmate of the Month in August 1971.

Photographed by the renowned Mario Casilli, her centerfold spread reflected not just her physical appeal but also her independent nature and love for travel.

Before gracing the pages of Playboy, Cathy kept herself busy with an unconventional work style, bouncing between secretarial gigs through a temp agency while picking up occasional modeling assignments. She valued her freedom above all, choosing experiences over stability. This love for adventure took her on spontaneous trips across Mexico and beyond. She also spent time as a Bunny at the Playboy Resort in Jamaica.

But her true passion was music—she dreamt of making a name for herself in the recording industry and worked tirelessly to pursue that goal. Alongside her husband, she later ran a recording studio in Los Angeles, where they contributed foley work for film and television.

Interestingly, Cathy's legacy in Playboy extended beyond her own time in the spotlight. Her daughter, Kimberly Rowland, followed in her footsteps and appeared in the 2008 Playmate Daughters layout, proving that confidence and beauty run in the family. Though Cathy may have stepped away from the public eye, her adventurous spirit and love for music left an impression far beyond her time in front of the camera. Whether through her work in modeling, music, or film production, she lived life on her own terms—a true free spirit with a touch of Hollywood glamour.