Stephanie Adams

Adams was born in Orange, New Jersey, and was raised by her aunts Joyce and Pearl, former models who encouraged her to begin modeling at the age of 16.{{cite web |url=http://www.stephanieadams.com/StephanieAdams.htm |title=Stephanie Adams homepage |work=Stephanie Adams Website |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321164916/http://www.stephanieadams.com/StephanieAdams.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2012}} She was of African American, Euro-American, and Cherokee ancestry,{{cite web |title=Honing her craft |last=Voo |first=Jocelyn |date=April 2005 |work=Curve |publisher=Outspoken Enterprises |page=57 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=http://www.curvemag.com/Detailed/652.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202020706/http://www.curvemag.com/Detailed/652.html |archive-date=December 2, 2005}}{{cite book |title=Goddessy 2009 Monthly Horoscopes & Photo Calendar |last=Adams |first=Stephanie |year=2007 |publisher=Goddessy |isbn=978-0-9793694-1-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re2QHfn2UocC&pg=PA5 |access-date=July 6, 2014}} and claimed to be a direct descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.{{cite news |last1=Mongelli |first1=Lorena |last2=Golding |first2=Bruce |url=https://nypost.com/2013/11/20/fired-for-being-too-cute-by-ex-playmate-boss/ |title='Fired for being too cute' by ex-Playmate boss |work=New York Post |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518215742/https://nypost.com/2013/11/20/fired-for-being-too-cute-by-ex-playmate-boss/ |archive-date=May 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}

Adams graduated from Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and began a career as a model, appearing in photo shoots for Seventeen magazine, Venus Swimwear, and commercial advertisements for Clairol. She appeared as "Miss November 1992" in Playboy magazine while modeling for Wilhelmina Models. She later moved to Elite Model Management after becoming engaged to its CEO, John Casablancas.{{cite web |url=http://www.observer.com/2004/live-and-uncensored-its-dave |title=Live and Uncensored: It's Dave |author=Marcus Baram |work=Observer |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109195125/http://www.observer.com/2004/live-and-uncensored-its-dave |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Adams earned a bachelor's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1992.{{cite web |url=http://www.goddessy.com/images/PhotoAlbum/More/StephanieAdamsFDUGraduateCertificate.jpg |title=Fairleigh Dickinson University graduation certificate |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017164436/http://www.goddessy.com/images/PhotoAlbum/More/StephanieAdamsFDUGraduateCertificate.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2014 |url-status=dead}}Playboy – November 1992 – Vol. 39 No. 11, p. 115{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/people/stephanie-adams/biography/ |title=Stephanie Adams |work=TV.com |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004033412/http://www.tv.com/people/stephanie-adams/biography/ |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |url-status=live}} She made a cameo appearance for the "Top 10" list on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 20, 2003, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Playboy magazine.[http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/wahoo/index/php/20031120.phtm Show #2080], Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, November 20, 2003 She appeared on the cover of The Village Voice in 2005.Village Voice – June 22–28, 2005 – Vol. L No. 25

In 1999, Adams founded Goddessy, according to her a portmanteau of "goddess" and "odyssey". She published her first book in 2003 and started her own publishing company in 2007. Following the death of her aunt from breast cancer in 2003, she dedicated more of her time to writing. That same year, she published a book dedicated to her deceased aunt titled He Only Takes the Best, followed by another book written in honor of her elderly Aunt Pearl titled Guardian. Adams produced about two dozen metaphysical books, astrology calendars and a tarot card set marketed under the Goddessy brand.Diane Wilde, "Cover to Cover", She Magazine, September 2003, p. 16. She also published a novel titled Empress in 2004, featuring women in ancient Rome.{{cite book |last1=Lester |first1=Neal A. |last2=Goggin |first2=Maureen Daly |title=Racialized Politics of Desire in Personal Ads |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEeEexb_GVYC&pg=PA151 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |date=December 28, 2007 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-2208-2 |pages=151–}}

Adams was founder and CEO of the skin care product company Goddessy Organics."[http://goddessyorganics.com/who-we-are.html Who we are] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153703/http://goddessyorganics.com/who-we-are.html |date=July 14, 2014 }}", Goddessy Organics. Retrieved July 5, 2014Janene Mascarella, "[http://parade.condenast.com/290212/janenemascarella/cheap-tricks-17-ways-to-look-beautiful-for-less/ Cheap tricks 17 ways to look beautiful for less] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215547/http://parade.condenast.com/290212/janenemascarella/cheap-tricks-17-ways-to-look-beautiful-for-less/ |date=July 14, 2014 }}", Parade, Condé Nast, May 8, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014. With her husband, she was co-owner of Wall Street Chiropractic and Wellness.Abigail Rubenstein, "[http://www.law360.com/m/articles/508474/too-cute-yoga-teacher-can-t-show-bias-ex-bosses-say 'Too Cute' Yoga Teacher Can't Show Bias, Ex-Bosses Say]", Law360, February 10, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014

Early in her career, Adams was married to an Italian investment banker, but later divorced. In a February 2003 She magazine cover story, Adams came out as a lesbian, the first Playmate to do so.Megan Cossey, "Pioneering Playmate: As the first Playboy centerfold to come out of the closet, Stephanie Adams is hopping down a brand new bunny trail", She Magazine, February 2003. Reproduced within [http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/MediaCoverage.htm this page of "brief versions of a few articles"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928181244/http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/MediaCoverage.htm |date=September 28, 2011 }} within Adams's Goddessy.com. See also: Shazia Khan, "[http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=40917&search_result=1&stid=8 Gay Pride Week: Same-Sex Marriage Debate Looms Over Annual Festivities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412215353/http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp |date=April 12, 2008 }}", NY1 News, June 21, 2004; "[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-22-playmate-lawsuit_x.htm Playmate Sues Taxi Driver, NYC Police]". USA Today. September 22, 2006. All three. Retrieved August 24, 2011. In their 2004 "Best of" feature, The Village Voice declared her the "Best lesbian sex symbol", saying it was "hard to turn a page in a queer rag without seeing the willowy model peeking out in a bikini, or nothing at all".{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/bestof/2004/detail.php?id=4041 |title=The Best of NYC |last=Kramer Bussel |first=Rachel |year=2004 |work=The Village Voice |access-date=April 12, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015201341/http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/bestof/2004/detail.php?id=4041 |archive-date=October 15, 2007}} However, in 2009, Adams announced that she was engaged to marry a man, and about the same time, described herself in an interview as straight. After her marriage in 2010 to Charles V. Nicholai, a Manhattan chiropractor, Adams said she was retiring from public life and would spend most of her time privately with her husband and son.[http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/PressRelease.htm Press release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426210758/http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/PressRelease.htm |date=April 26, 2010 }}, Goddessy.com (undated).

In May 2006, during a dispute over where to drop her off, a New York City taxi driver called the police and falsely reported that Adams was armed with a gun and had threatened to shoot him.{{cite web |url=http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1179803-Former-playmate-sues-NYPD-taxi-driver/ |title=Former playmate sues NYPD, taxi driver |last=Hays |first=Tom |date=September 25, 2006 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602201005/http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1179803-Former-playmate-sues-NYPD-taxi-driver/ |archive-date=June 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-08-25/news/18346361_1_bunny-judge-passengers |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707095949/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-08-25/news/18346361_1_bunny-judge-passengers |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |title=Cabbie Catches Hail From Bunn |last=Standora |first=Leo |date=August 25, 2006 |work=Daily News |location=New York |access-date=April 21, 2012}} The taxi driver's license was subsequently revoked and he was fined $2,700 for the incident.{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/05/former_playmate_stephanie_adam.html |title=Former Playmate, Stephanie Adams, fights in Hudson court for custody of aunt |last=Hayes |first=Melissa |date=May 2, 2010 |work=The Jersey Journal |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126031633/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/05/former_playmate_stephanie_adam.html |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=PLAYMATE A VAMPIRE, CABBY SAID |last=Olshan |first=Jeremy |date=August 2, 2006 |work=New York Post |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=https://nypost.com/2006/08/02/playmate-a-vampire-cabby-said/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531232021/http://nypost.com/2006/08/02/playmate-a-vampire-cabby-said/ |archive-date=May 31, 2014}} Adams alleged that during the incident police threw her to the ground, causing injuries to her neck and back.{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bunny_bruisin_4XzoKNLgUiWZ6iKeqG8PpM |title=Playboy gal sues cops over takedown |last=Gregorian |first=Dareh |work=New York Post |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418191750/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bunny_bruisin_4XzoKNLgUiWZ6iKeqG8PpM |archive-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=live}} Adams filed a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department in 2006. In February 2012, a jury awarded her $1.2 million, $400,000 more than had been sought by her lawyer,{{cite web |url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/model_who_said_her_skintight_outfit_showed_she_wasnt_armed_wins_1.2m_in_nyp/ |title=Model Who Said Her Skintight Outfit Showed She Wasn't Armed Wins $1.2M in NYPD Excessive-Force Suit |last=Neil |first=Martha |date=February 22, 2012 |work=ABA Journal |publisher=American Bar Association |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031649/http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/model_who_said_her_skintight_outfit_showed_she_wasnt_armed_wins_1.2m_in_nyp/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10011391.html |title=Ex-Playboy Playmate wins $1.2M for rough treatment by NYPD |last=Martinez |first=Edecio |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422165948/http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10011391.html |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/injured/2012/02/ex-playmate-strips-nyc-of-12m-in-jury-verdict.html |title=Ex-Playmate Strips NYC of $1.2M in Jury Verdict |last=Chow |first=Andrew |date=February 23, 2012 |work=FindLaw |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605053320/http://blogs.findlaw.com/injured/2012/02/ex-playmate-strips-nyc-of-12m-in-jury-verdict.html |archive-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live}} but the judge later reduced it to $373,000.{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2018/05/18/stephanie-adams |title=Former Playboy centerfold apparently jumps to death with son |date=May 18, 2018 |work=Boston Globe |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528225906/https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2018/05/18/stephanie-adams |archive-date=May 28, 2018 |url-status=live}} Adams stated that she had "no animosity toward the NYPD".{{cite web |url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=240392 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209174923/http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=240392 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |title=Roughed-up ex-Playmate Stephanie Adams has no animosity toward the NYPD |date=February 23, 2012 |publisher=10 news |access-date=April 21, 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9aFeje_WrU |title=Former playmate talks about $1.2 million lawsuit |work=Daily News |date=February 22, 2012 |location=New York |access-date=April 21, 2012 |via=YouTube |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424154527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9aFeje_WrU |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Murder of Vincent Adams

| image =

| caption =

| location = Gotham Hotel, Manhattan, New York, U.S.

| coordinates =

| target = Vincent Adams

| date = {{circa}} May 18, 2018

| time =

| timezone = EDT

| type = Murder–suicide, filicide, child murder

| weapons =

| fatalities = 2 (including the perpetrator)

| perp = Stephanie Adams

| motive = Unknown (possibly related to custody battle)

}}

On the evening of May 17, 2018, Adams checked into a 25th-floor penthouse in the Gotham Hotel on 46th Street in Manhattan with her seven-year-old son Vincent. The next morning, both were found dead on a second-floor balcony in the hotel's rear courtyard. According to law enforcement officials, Adams and her husband were involved in a custody battle, and hours before checking into the hotel, Adams told the New York Post that her husband and his lawyer were preventing her from taking her son on vacation.{{Cite web |title=Former Playboy Model Jumps To Her Death With 7-Year-Old Son |author=Danielle, Britni |work=Essence |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |url=https://www.essence.com/news/former-playboy-model-jumps-death-son |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111854/https://www.essence.com/news/former-playboy-model-jumps-death-son |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }} The New York City Chief Medical Examiner ruled Adams's death a suicide and that of her son a homicide.{{Cite web |title=Death of Former Playboy Centerfold and Son Ruled Murder-Suicide After She Jumped From N.Y.C. Hotel |author=Adams, Char |work=People |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |quote="The mother and child both died of multiple blunt impact injuries, with the child suffering injuries to the head, neck, torso and limbs. Stephanie' manner of death was labeled suicide and Vincent's was ruled a homicide."|url=http://people.com/crime/death-playboy-centerfold-son-murder-suicide/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521230958/http://people.com/crime/death-playboy-centerfold-son-murder-suicide/ |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams pushed 7-year-old son before suicide plunge from hotel penthouse |last=Ray |first=Esha |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/playboy-model-pushed-son-jumped-death-police-article-1.4001944 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522034537/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/playboy-model-pushed-son-jumped-death-police-article-1.4001944 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/05/18/tragic-playmate-was-distraught-she-couldnt-take-son-to-europe/|title=Tragic Playmate was distraught she couldn't take son to Europe|author=Marsh, Julia; Johnson, Richard|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2020|newspaper=New York Post}}{{cite web |last1=Wiliams |first1=Janice |title=Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams killed her son before plunging to her death |url=http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |website=Newsweek |access-date=June 8, 2018 |date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523111627/http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}

• List of murdered American children
• Murder-suicide

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.stephanieadams.com/}}
• [https://twitter.com/stephanieadams Stephanie Adams] on Twitter
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161112205051/http://www.playboy.com/stephanie-adams Stephanie Adams] at Playboy Online
• {{IMDb name|id=0011372|name=Stephanie Adams}}

{{Playmates of 1992}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Stephanie}}

Category:1970 births

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Category:1990s Playboy Playmates

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Category:American people who self-identify as being of Cherokee descent

Category:Writers from Orange, New Jersey

Category:Suicides by jumping in New York City

Category:Writers from New York (state)

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