Denise Richards appeared on the cover of Playboy in December 2004, which, as Complex noted, was less than a year after she gave birth to daughter Sam Sheen. Richards and Charlie Sheen were married at the time of her Christmas shoot. In 2005, the couple went on to welcome daughter Lola Sheen. As her kids grew older, Richards felt it was important to explain her Playboy shoot to them. On a 2019 episode of the “Daddy Issues” podcast with Dean McDermott, Adam Hunter, and Nicky Paris, Richards said, “I’m honest with them” (via Us Weekly).
The “Starship Troopers” actor continued, “They had heard that I was in Playboy. I didn’t even think that they would know what that is because now kids can go on the internet and see all kinds of things, so [I had] to explain that.” But her daughters also avoid snooping and curiosity when it comes to Richards. “They don’t Google [me],” she added. “I don’t think they want to know certain things either. I wouldn’t want to read certain things about my parents.” It makes sense.
Richards has some nostalgia about her Playboy era. In July 2019, she shared a bikini-tastic throwback photo on Instagram to celebrate National Bikini Day. In the shot, she’s wearing what looks like a swimsuit top fashioned out of palm fronds. “why not have one made out of leaves? #playboy,” she wrote. Honestly, it’s a great look.
