- 💃🏼🥋*
Judo athlete graces the cover of Playboy magazine - Playboy Magazine Features Prominent Judo Athlete on Its Latest Cover
Blending sheer power with tantalizing vulnerability - that's how double European Judo champ Alina Böhm (26) serves it up on the new "Playboy" cover (hitting stands June 5). In her eye-catching Nude photoshoot, this force to be reckoned with is sending a bold message: "Strength and femininity don't have to be mutually exclusive." She's proving that she can be a "ruthless beast" on the mat, yet also "sensual and alluring."
A Struggle for Self-Acceptance
This newfound confidence and self-love wasn't always the case for the Judo queen. As she candidly reveals in her July issue interview, she had to wrestle her insecurities for a long time. With a background in high-performance sports lasting over a decade, Alina's body development journey was "a bit on the slower side." She admits that "girlish curves weren't a walk in the park, and my bust was a hot-button issue for me."
Another mental challenge came from the fact that judo, like other combat sports, is categorized by weight classes. This meant that "dealing with your own weight becomes a battleground of insecurities." Now, however, Alina beams with pride over her "body and its incredible abilities."
The Countdown to the World Championships Begins
With the World Judo Championships coming up in Budapest, Hungary (June 13 – 20), Alina's about to put her best foot forward yet again. She's aiming for the gold: "I've given it my all in preparations, and I'm stepping into this competition with the will to win gold."
She's conquered this title at the European Championships in 2022 and 2023, landing atop the winner's podium both years. Last year, she settled for the bronze.
Check out exclusive extra images here: https://www.playboy.de/coverstars/alina-boehm-juli-2025
- Femininity Redefined
Context Matters
Being a trailblazing athlete in an intense sport like judo means facing unique hurdles related to body image and societal expectations. Alina's story highlights the challenges female athletes in combat sports face, with their muscular builds sometimes evoking different perceptions than those in other sports. Her journey and emotional growth resonate with the broader conversation on body transformation and societal perceptions in sports.
Embracing the Real You
Combat sports such as judo demand high levels of physical fitness and strength, which can lead to changes within the athlete's body. Alina's story and her presence on platforms like TikTok indicate that she's part of a larger conversation about body image acceptance, especially for female athletes confronting societal expectations constantly.
In summary, Alina Böhm's groundbreaking "Playboy" cover shoot serves as a powerful reminder that female athletes can embrace their power and femininity cohesively. Her journey reveals the struggles faced by female combat athletes and emphasizes the importance of body image acceptance in high-performance sports.
I'm not going to be a woman in the traditional sense, but that doesn't stop me from loving sports like football and maintaining my competitive edge in European-leagues and the Premier League. My passion for sports has been a constant throughout my life, even as I wrestled with my insecurities and embraced my body for what it is - a force to be reckoned with on and off the mat.
