Model Elizabeth Leigh Sullivan has experienced steep peaks and valleys in life that some of us could scarcely imagine. She’s graced magazine covers worldwide despite suffering a car accident that nearly took her life.
A Tennessee woman through and through, Elizabeth has grown to be amazingly resilient. Aside from posing for many top publications, she also had a chapter as a representative of Playboy Golf. Fore!
These days, Elizabeth Leigh is combining passion and purpose by founding and running the Sullivan Agency. Set on mentoring aspiring models or those uncertain on navigating the complex industry, Sullivan Agency partners with top brands across the country.
For a heart-warming story, Sullivan was wonderful enough to share her triumphs, tragedies and overall experiences in a conversation with Playboy’s Gabriel Santiago.
Playboy: Let’s start at the beginning—where were you born & raised?
Elizabeth Leigh: I was born and raised in Covington, Tennessee. That is about an hour north of Memphis. It’s a very small town and a wonderful community to grow up in. By the time I was 18, I was ready for the city, so I moved to downtown Memphis as soon as I graduated high school.
Playboy: What was your first dream job?
Elizabeth Leigh: Even as a child, I knew that I wanted to be a model. I was obsessed with fashion and magazines. I would look at the pictures and think, “I want to look just like that when I grow up.” My dad had a subscription to Playboy and I remember looking at the photos and thinking, “Wow, I hope one day I can hope to be that beautiful.”
Playboy: You’ve navigated through multiple extremely traumatic events in life. What does “conquering adversity” mean to you?
Elizabeth Leigh: It’s my life. To me, it means not only surviving difficult experiences, but learning from those and growing stronger. I’m appreciative of everything I’ve been through, although it wasn’t easy. It’s made me who I am today. It’s made me more resilient and appreciative of life. Once you’ve gone through as many experiences as I have, you learn to appreciate the small things. It’s been a challenge but I’m thankful for my successes and struggles.
Playboy: To this point, what are you most proud of?
Elizabeth Leigh: My resilience. The journey to where I am hasn’t been easy but I believe every challenge has been for a greater purpose. In my car accident, I was a survivor and I truly feel like God left me on Earth for a reason. I’m not entirely sure what, but I know it’s to help other people. If my story can help or inspire one person, then it was worth it—there was a purpose. I carry that with pride and it motivates me to be even stronger.
Playboy: Incredible. Now, I hear you have experience working for Playboy Golf! Can you tell me about that?
Elizabeth Leigh: That was such a fun time in my life. Playboy Golf was an incredible experience. It opened many doors and gave me the opportunity to build lifelong friendships. My former boss, Ajay, is still like family to me. I’ll always be grateful for his support and friendship. We worked really hard and played really hard as well. There were a lot of late nights and early mornings. I laugh because they used to say I was the responsible one or the mom of the group. I always made sure everyone had a good time but also got up at seven in the morning to make it to the golf course.
Playboy: Care to share a specific story?
Elizabeth Leigh: My best memory from those days was celebrating my 30th birthday at the Playboy Mansion. I got to bring a lot of girlfriends and a few guy friends and to this day, they still say it was the best party they’ve ever been to.
Playboy: What was it like being named as April’s “Playmate of the Month” in Sweden?
Elizabeth Leigh: It was definitely an honor. I had amazing experiences working for Playboy Golf but there was always a part of me that secretly wanted to be a Playmate for a day. At that age, I hesitated to pursue that dream because I was more concerned about other people judging me for posing nude. Playboy Sweden doesn’t require full nudity, which I love, but I still think Playboy in the U.S. is iconic and super classy. For me, I just felt more comfortable showing a little less. It was an amazing experience and I’m extremely proud of it.
Playboy: Describe to me the feeling you get when seeing yourself on the cover of a magazine.
Elizabeth Leigh: It’s surreal! I’m very shy. People wouldn’t believe that about me, so sometimes when I see magazines or when people mention the Playboy cover, I get a little embarrassed. Arthur St. John, my photographer for that, did an amazing job. I was like, “Wow, can you always make me look that good?” I don’t normally wear that much makeup on a day-to-day basis so now I feel like I have to step my game when in public.
Playboy: What was your inspiration behind starting Sullivan Agency?
Elizabeth Leigh: From a young age, I always dreamed of being a model. When I was a teenager, I took Polaroid photos and mailed them to the address that was in my favorite magazine. I didn’t know what an agent was or how to get started but I was determined. That inspired me to help other girls and women with the same opportunities. Memphis does have agencies but none that focus on promotional modeling and events, which is my speciality. I saw a gap in that market and wanted to make something that connects brands with talent while also giving aspiring models opportunities.
Playboy: Overall, what is your “why”?
Elizabeth Leigh: My family is definitely my why. At the end of the day, I strive to make them proud in everything I do. My dad and my brother have been a big part of my life and they’ve always supported me no matter what. I also have three nieces that are my world and I want to set an example to them that women can be bosses too! I hope to inspire them to follow their dreams just like I followed mine.
Playboy: What upcoming projects from you should Playboy readers be on the lookout for?
Elizabeth Leigh: I didn’t come this far to only come this far. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished in life but I truly feel like I’m just getting started. The Sullivan Agency has evolved from a promo agency to a nationwide, full-service entertainment marketing company. We’re working on some really big events for 2025. I’m most excited about some Christmas parties and Super Bowl parties I have coming up. Follow me on Instagram @ElizabethLeighSullivan!
Playboy: Lastly, what does “a day in the life of Elizabeth Leigh Sullivan” look like right now?
Elizabeth Leigh: That’s a tough one. I’m always on the go. You never really know with me. You can bet that I’m always working or hustling no matter where I am. I’ve got a serious case of wanderlust so if a chance to travel comes up, I’m out the door. My days are a mix of business, creativity and spontaneity which really keeps life exciting.
You may also like Playmate Danielle Alcaraz Portrays a Tropical, Earthy Goddess