Editor’s note: In our chat with Playboy Club creator McKenzie Satin, she talks about her love of cars and collecting sneakers, her turn ons and turn-offs, and more.
Playboy: Where were you born and what was your growing up experience like?
McKenzie: So, I was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. It’s about two hours from Milwaukee, but I was raised in a village just 10 minutes away and my parents were never married or together so I grew up going back and forth from little village-like city to country at my dad’s house in the middle of the woods. It’s really cool getting to experience both.
Playboy: You had to have become a curious kid with that kind of setting.
McKenzie: Yeah, I had so many hobbies growing up.
Playboy: Do you have any favorites that you’d like to share?
McKenzie: When I was up north with Dad, I loved four-wheeling and going hunting and fishing, and when I was with Mom, it was shopping and going to different cities not too far away.
Playboy: What was the school experience like for you, and why?
McKenzie: I actually graduated high school with a GED because I was really close to not graduating because I could never do math. But I ended up graduating, and I loved being there because it was something to do and I loved seeing all my friends, but it was really hard for me to pay attention a lot of the time [since] I had ADD, which made it really difficult.
Playboy: What do you feel really passionate about?
McKenzie: Probably just the small hobbies I have. I love sneaker collecting, all the Jordans and everything. And then cars, I always found a lot of comfort and stuff in cars. I’d have a really bad day and I would go hang out with all my car friends and we’d cruise around work on cars together.
Playboy: Favorite food when you’re feeling down?
McKenzie: Ice cream always. And it’s funny because I’m lactose intolerant. But ice cream has been my favorite food since I was itty bitty and I just tough it out.
Playboy: What was your experience with Playboy before you became a member of the Playboy Club?
McKenzie: I always had an extreme fascination with the brand itself. It’s actually crazy. I had a lot of Playboy things growing up and my mom’s childhood best friend was always super into Playboy. I actually referred her and she does it now with me. It just drew me in and before I was even old enough to be on Playboy, finding out you guys had the centerfold program.
Playboy: What was the first thing you dreamed of achieving?
McKenzie: To be honest, the first thing I remember dreaming of achieving was modeling and acting. I remember being 11 and going to casting calls with my mom. And they would always be super fun and I did Teen Miss Wisconsin, when I was in seventh grade. And I was always really good at it, but it would hit a point where it was super expensive to continue doing it. And that’s why, when I got old enough for Playboy, I felt, this is perfect.
Playboy: What turns you on or off?
McKenzie: Communication, 100%. I love when somebody can communicate without getting angry about different things. And that’s what draws me to people, how they handle stressful situations or any situation for that matter.
Turn-offs: Obviously, people who can’t communicate. But also, cleanliness. I can’t be around someone if it’s constantly dirty. I don’t expect everyone to be perfect. I’ve left the water cup out for a few days before. But if it’s like an ongoing all the time, really bad type of situation, I can’t do it.
Playboy: What people inspire you and why?
McKenzie: It would be Kim Kardashian. It’s kind of controversial, people have their own mixed opinions on her, but I feel like she’s done everything. She has beautiful children. She’s dipped her feet into everything. I want to be like that.
Playboy: What would the title of your autobiography be?
McKenzie: If I had an autobiography, it would be titled McKenzie’s Secret Peace, because there’s a lot of things I do for myself day to day that bring me a lot of peace and joy like walks, drawing, et cetera.
Playboy: What’s a movie or book that made you happy recently?
McKenzie: The Smurfs. I know it’s a kids movie but I watched it with my little siblings the other day and I liked that the learning point in it was that no matter where you come from or who you’re “supposed to be” you can be and do anything you set out to.
Playboy: What are your favorite places you’ve traveled to, or if you have somewhere you dream of traveling, where would that be?
McKenzie: I’ve only ever been to Florida, Tennessee, and then small places around Wisconsin. I’ve always wanted to go to somewhere overseas. I don’t know exactly where. I want to go to the Dominican Republic, which is a small dream. There’s pictures of my mom going right before I was born with all her friends and that’s what makes me want to go really bad.
Playboy: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten so far in your life?
McKenzie: I don’t know if it’s just one piece of advice, but my entire childhood growing up, my mom always enforced on me having a positive mindset, no matter the situation. So I’ll find it really hard for me to have bad day because if any negative little thing happens, I don’t process it as something bad. It’s like I’m already looking at everything positive about it and I’m so thankful that she instilled that in me when I was little.
McKenzie Satin is on The Playboy Club. Talk to her now.
