Simone Ballack (50) is making a statement with revealing photos in the new "Playboy". The reality TV participant and ex-wife of former professional soccer player Michael Ballack (49) is not only posing for photos, but also speaks in an interview about why she decided to take this step.
Ballack is posing for the men's magazine for the first time. She wants to use the images to fight against the beauty pressure that particularly weighs on women. "I'm 50 now, I'm in 'Playboy,' the photos are beautiful - everything is okay", says Simone Ballack in the German edition of "Playboy" according to a press release. This pressure doesn't decrease with age, "ideally you should still look like a 30-year-old when you're 60", she explains. With these photos, the fourth-place finisher of this year's jungle camp season wants to show "that you can break free from it".
Simone Ballack Sees "Playboy" Photos as a Birthday Gift to Herself
According to the magazine, she had declined an earlier request, but now the timing is right. She turned 50 in February and the magazine cover is now "a belated birthday gift to myself. I think this is a good age for these photos, especially because you have a completely different self-confidence than before." She also perceives her body differently today. She's not particularly tall and had long thought that she had "too short a torso", but now she sees "that I actually have very long legs". This way, a more negative perception becomes a more positive one.
The reactions to the photos don't matter to her, says Ballack. She apparently doesn't need to worry much that the photos might not be well received. While there are currently some isolated negative comments, many Instagram users as well as famous colleagues are celebrating the photos. A clip published by "Playboy" and Ballack as well as a social media cover received numerous positive responses in the first hours after publication. "Beautiful woman", commented actress Mirja du Mont (50). TV star Danni Büchner (48) left a fire and a heart emoji, Jenny Elvers (54) thought it was "mega" and Lilly Becker (50) said: "Wow, just wow. Love it, babe."
The August issue of "Playboy" featuring Simone Ballack will be available in stores starting July 9. More exclusive photos at: www.playboy.de/coverstars/simone-ballack-august-2026
