Biography of Rick Dinihanian

Rick Dinihanian has been thrust into the limelight in a most unique way. The stunning 55-year-old model, artist and graphic designer has landed himself in and on the June 2004 issue of Playgirl magazine. Rick is the oldest man to be both cover model and centerfold in Playgirl's 30-year history. Rick Dinihanian found himself in a place all too familiar to many men his age. The Stanford grad, once a member of his college crew team and an avid runner, had gotten out of the workout habit and found himself about 20 pounds overweight. Just a few months before his 50th birthday, Dinihanian had a revelation. "One day I looked down and I was like, 'I don't like this,'" he explains. "I think it was time to change." And change he did. Dinihanian not only got himself into the best shape of his life, the out San Francisco fine artist, who is also an art director and partner in a creative design and marketing agency, became Playgirl magazine's June issue centerfold, making him, at 55, the oldest model ever to be on the cover. "Really, what I wanted to do was feel better about myself and fit into the jeans that didn't fit me anymore," Dinihanian laughs. "I was wearing somebody else's, and they were huge." Getting into shape at 50 is much harder than it is at 25, but Dinihanian approached his challenge with a good mind-set and some creativity. "I looked in some fitness magazines and I found some hot guy who was my body type, and I put my head on his torso and stuck it on the bathroom mirror," he explains. "I'd say, 'Yes, I can,' and go ride my bike for an hour." Dinihanian was soon getting noticed by admirers, including a friend who was modeling for photographer Cliff Baker. A shoot for Baker led to one for well-known lensman Tom Bianchi, and soon Dinihanian's marketing skills kicked in. "I thought, Maybe there is something to do with this," he says. He promptly sent off some shots to a men's fitness magazine, which published the photos. â€¦