Brenda Stone was a high school cheerleader and homecoming queen. She even had a few dates with Elvis Presley. She longed to be a model but didn’t want to embarrass her father, a well-known and respected deacon at a Memphis Baptist church. So, she used the name “Gail Stanton” when she posed nude for a Playboy pictorial in April 1977 entitled “Girls of the New South.” Gail’s photo caught the eye of the Playboy staff and she was featured as “Playmate of the Month” in the June 1978 issue.
Her appearance in Playboy was a springboard for her career. She did promotional work for Anheuser-Busch in the early 80s, making public appearances as “Miss Michelob.” She did public relations work at the Knoxville World’s Fair in 1982. Gail even landed a role in the comedy film Making the Grade with Judd Nelson.
When the work in the spotlight dried up, Gail became active in charity work and as an animal rights advocate. She passed away in 1996 from an undetected colon blockage, just two days after her 42nd birthday.