Ida Ljungqvist

{{Infobox Playboy Playmate

| name = Ida Ljungqvist

| image = Ida Ljungqvist 2 2010.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Ljungqvist in 2010

| issue = March 2008

| birth_name =

| birth_place = Tanzania

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|9|27|df=yes}}

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}

| preceded = Michelle McLaughlin

| succeeded = Regina Deutinger

| pmoy-year = 2009

| pmoy-preceded = Jayde Nicole

| pmoy-succeeded = Hope Dworaczyk{{cite web|url=http://cbs5.com/entertainment/playboy.3d.centerfold.2.1686879.html |title=Playboy Goes 3-D |access-date=May 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515150253/http://cbs5.com/entertainment/playboy.3d.centerfold.2.1686879.html |archive-date=May 15, 2010 }}

}}

Ida Ljungqvist (born September 27, 1981) is a Tanzanian-Swedish model and the first African-born person to be selected as a Playboy Playmate of the Month and the 50th Playmate of the Year.

Career

File:Ida at Playboy Event with Kara Monaco.jpg]]

She was discovered by 2007 Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood at a bebe store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.{{cite journal

| editor-first = Hugh M.

| editor-last = Hefner

| editor-link = Hugh Hefner

| date = March 2008

| title = Playboy

| journal = Playboy

| page = 74

| volume = 55

| issue = 3

| location = Chicago Illinois, USA

| issn = 0032-1478

| publisher = Playboy Enterprises

| quote = Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood wasn't shopping for talent when she walked into Bebe in Beverly Hills, but in 26-year-old sales specialist Ida (pronounced "EE-duh") Ljungqvist she spotted a must-have item.

}}

She was named Playboy's Playmate of the Month for March 2008 and the 2009 Playmate of the Year. She is the first African-born and second Swedish model to be named a Playmate of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life/2009/may/02/ida-ljungqvist-chosen-emplayboyems-playmate-year/ |title=Ida Ljungqyist is chosen Playmate of the Year |access-date=2009-05-03 |publisher=Vegas Deluxe |date=2009-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220002548/http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life/2009/may/02/ida-ljungqvist-chosen-emplayboyems-playmate-year/ |archive-date=2012-02-20 |url-status=dead }} She is also the first Playmate of the Year to publicly dedicate her title to philanthropic work through non-profit charities and organizations. Ljungqvist co-hosted the Playboy New Year's Eve Party 2009 in Miami, Florida alongside several other playmates.{{cite web|url=http://www.nightcure.com/Miami-New-Years-Parties-2009.php|title=Ultimate New Years Eve Party Guide|access-date=2009-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223221532/http://www.nightcure.com/Miami-New-Years-Parties-2009.php|archive-date=2012-02-23|url-status=dead}}

Since being named Playmate of the Year, Ljungqvist has worked with Empowerment Works, a non-profit, global sustainability think-tank. Her work includes raising awareness about the organization and fundraising.{{cite web|url=http://www.empowermentworks.org/Ida.html|title=Empowerment Works|access-date=June 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213040221/http://www.empowermentworks.org/Ida.html|archive-date=December 13, 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/03/miss-march-named-2009-playmate-year-las-vegas/|title=Hugh Hefner announces Playmate of the Year in Las Vegas|date=3 May 2009|access-date=June 16, 2009}}

Personal life

Ljungqvist was born in Tanzania to a Tanzanian mother and a Swedish father.{{cite web|url=http://wekinglypigs.com/cgi-bin/nand/search/pmstat?browse=%3A%3ACONFIG%3A%3Adatebrowse&key=2008&limit=0|title=Playmate listing|access-date=March 31, 2009}} Due to her father's work for UNICEF, Ljungqvist traveled a great deal. She speaks English, Swedish, and Swahili. Ljungqvist has a degree in fashion design and marketing, and plans to study economics.

In December 2007, Ljungqvist married Joshua R. Lang. Lang filed for divorce in September 2008. In November 2008, MSNBC reported a custody struggle between them over their pet Chihuahua.{{cite web|url= https://www.today.com/news/playboy-bunny-fights-her-chihuahua-wbna27720502|title= Playboy bunny fights for her Chihuahua|access-date= 2008-11-14|date= 2008-11-14|publisher= Today.com}}