Fighting Irish
with Playboy Africa March 2026 cover star Elizabeth Leigh / @ElizabethLeighSullivan
Photography: Arthur St. John @arthurstjohn
Such an absolute honor to have you on the cover of Playboy. Can you give us a bit of a background on your career as a model and where it all started? From an early age I dreamed of being a model. I would hear about runway casting calls on the radio and talk my dad into driving me an hour away to the closest mall, where I was always told I was too short. (For reference, I’m only 5ft now! Fast forward to college, I was scouted by Playboy. I did a test shoot when I was 20 but ultimately changed my mind because I was afraid of being judged in my small Southern hometown. Those connections eventually led to a job with Playboy Golf, where I worked as an event coordinator for several years. Playboy will always hold a special place in my heart. It opened so many doors and introduced me to lifelong friends.
How does it feel to see yourself featured in this issue, and what does this cover mean to you personally? It is always so surreal to see myself on a cover. My makeup artist and photographer are so talented. I wish they could make me look this glamorous every day! Although this is not my first Playboy feature (Elizabeth has also been featured in Playboy US and Australia and was a Playboy Sweden cover model), this one feels extra special. I have always wanted a March cover. I am Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is in March, and my birthday is March 31, so it feels perfectly aligned.
What goals are at the top of your list for 2026, both personally and professionally? In January, I was sitting poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with my planner, setting goals for 2026. Work goals, personal goals, and trips I wanted to take this year. Just a few hours later, as I was boarding my flight home to Tennessee, I got the call from my doctor that my test results were back and I have cancer. Needless to say, in the blink of an eye, my priorities shifted. Self-care, my faith, and quality time with the people I love are my main focus right now.
When people look back at this moment in your career, what do you hope it represents about who you are? My fight, my strength, and most importantly, my resilience. This is just another reminder of what I am capable of and how strong I am. If you have followed me for a while, you know this is not my first health battle. I am actually in the process of writing a book about everything I have overcome in my life. This is not the end of my story. It is just another chapter I’ll have to write. No matter what life throws at me, it motivates me to achieve more. I truly believe this chapter is helping build the foundation for my greater purpose.
What’s a passion outside of modeling that you hope to pursue more deeply? Philanthropy. I have a large platform, and I want to use my talents to give back. I have coordinated events all over the world, from celebrity birthday parties and star studded galas to festivals, golf tournaments with Playboy and the NFL, Red Bull culture events, and red carpet Super Bowl parties. I care deeply about the consumer experience and love looking around a room and seeing people having a great time at something I curated. But nothing fulfills me more than giving back. The volunteer work I have done at St. Jude for a child’s last birthday, or dressing models as Disney princesses to visit sick children, has been the most rewarding work of my life. I want to combine both worlds and produce large-scale fundraisers that create incredible experiences for even better causes.
What do you do outside of work? What are your favorite hobbies? All I do is work, but I have created a life that allows me to do what I love every day. In my spare time, I try to make everything around me a little better, starting with myself. I am working with an amazing team to help me look and feel my best. My good friend Lisa, who owns Glo Medical Aesthetics, is teaching me about functional medicine, which has been life-changing. I am also working with IFBB Pro Daavon Grayson at Gym 11 to get my body as strong as possible. I am very focused on my community. I serve on the board of the Downtown Association of Memphis, which works to protect and enhance the quality of life downtown. Memphis is a wonderful city, and the positive things often get drowned out by negativity, so I try to make sure everyone who visits my city experiences what made me fall in love with it. When I am not working on my career, myself, or my community, you can bet I am catching a flight somewhere tropical. Palm trees and the ocean are my happy place!
If you could travel anywhere in the world this year, where would you go and why? Ireland is at the top of my bucket list. I want to visit Dunboy Castle in County Cork, where my ancestors are from.
Who are the special people in your life? Are you single? My family is my rock. I do not know what I would do without them. I am also blessed with the best group of friends and work family. The main man in my life is my spoiled MaltiPoo, Rudy. Yes, he was named after the Notre Dame football player.
What are some of the things that attract you to a man? I am definitely attracted to power. I love a man in a good suit. I have always been a sucker for tall, dark, and handsome, but the older I get the more I look for stability, empathy, and a sense of humor. At the end of the day, I want someone who can make me laugh, feel appreciated, and fully supported.
What are three deal breakers when it comes to dating? Lying, smoking, and cats! I am the most understanding person in the world. You can literally tell me anything. I might not like it, but I will respect your honesty. If you lie to me, you are insulting my intelligence, and you lose my respect. Cigarettes are self-explanatory. Nobody wants to kiss an ashtray, and I am highly allergic to cats.
What advice would you give to all the women out there when it comes to love and relationships? Prioritize yourself first. I have lost myself pouring into relationships that drained me, and you cannot pour from an empty cup. It sounds cliché, but it is true. If you are not happy with yourself, a relationship will not make you happy. Focus on becoming your best self, and that is when you will attract the right partner.
Where can our readers keep up with you? My Instagram is @elizabethleighsullivan. Also, be on the lookout for my book coming in late 2026. Thank you so much for following my journey.
