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“I Didn’t Want That…”: Derek Jeter’s Ex-girlfriend Minka Kelly Once Recounted Her Story of Turning Down a Chance at Playboy

Published 04/11/2023, 10:01 AM EDT

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Minka Kelly is most well known for having been in a long-term relationship with New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter. They started dating in 2008, and were together for 3 years, with rumors of an engagement floating around. But their relationship did not work out, with Jeter and Kelly breaking up in 2011. 

Kelly has built a successful acting and modeling career in her own right, building a net worth of $5 million. But the journey has not been easy for the former Friday Night Lights actress. She once recounted the story of turning down a chance to be a Playboy Playmate. 

Minka Kelly once turned down the chance to be a Playboy Playmate

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At 19 years old, Minka Kelly was approached by a former Playboy model who offered to mentor Kelly. Although Kelly initially accepted the offer, she eventually left after about a month into it. She didn’t want to get the plastic surgery that her ‘mentor’ felt that she needed to make it at Playboy. In 2011, Kelly appeared on ‘The Late Show With David Letterman’ and recounted this story. It was shortly after her highly publicized breakup with Yankees icon Derek Jeter. 

According to US Magazine, Kelly said, “I was 19. She was very seductive and said that she wanted to manage me and that I had a lot of potential. She said that she could get me a job at this doctor’s office in return for plastic surgery which I would need to be a Playboy Playmate.”

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 Kelly then said, “All I needed was lipo, fake breasts, a few veneers and all kinds of stuff”. The Friday Night Lights actress concluded the story by saying, “When I told her that I didn’t want that, she said I would never be Playmate of the Year and I said, ‘I think that’s okay. I’m okay with that.” 

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This was a shocking and honest retelling of a story that was very personal to Kelly. She was going through a tough time due to her breakup with Jeter. But despite that, she did not have any ill will towards the Yankees legend. 

Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly remained friends after their breakup

Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly split up in a highly publicized manner in 2011. Although most would have expected some bad feelings between them, the former couple were able to remain friends. Furthermore, the two have moved on since then. Derek is married to Hannah Jeter now and has three daughters with her. Kelly, on the other hand, is currently in a relationship with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds. 

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Watch This Story: New York Yankees Legend Derek Jeter Scripted The Perfect End To His Career With This Iconic Walk-Off Single 

What do you think of Minka Kelly turning down a chance to be a Playboy Playmate? Kindly share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Pranay Mukherjee

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Pranay Mukherjee is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports, with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His expertise lies in cheat sheets, post-game analysis, and trade rumors, providing readers with comprehensive coverage of the sport. Pranay is an avid follower of baseball and is a staunch supporter of the Yankees, firmly believing that it is time for the New York team to break their World Series jinx.
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Edited by:

Deepika Bhaduri