Jolanta Von Zmuda
Jolanta Von Zmuda was Penthouse’s Pet of the Month for March 1977. A rarity in those days, she was also the cover model for that issue. Despite the wonderful photos, outside of this one tantalizing shoot we don’t see anything from her again.
She was born in 1956 in Gdansk, Poland as Jolanta (or Yolanta) Duchi. We know that her photos were taken in 1975 by Penthouse owner Bob Guccione, but were not published until later due to her exposed labia. The wait was worth it though, because as you can see the pictures are outstanding. This did mean that Jolanta didn’t see any money for posing until the photos actually appeared in the magazine. It is possible that this was a first step in the souring of Jolanta and Bob’s professional relationship and a reason she didn’t pose again.
It is speculated that Jolanta was one of the up to 20 Penthouse models used on the set of the Caligula in 1977. Another actor on the film mentioned a Polish Penthouse Pet, but if she was in the film she is uncredited and as far as anyone can tell, footage of her didn’t make it into the final cut. The next thing we hear from her is a news article on June 20th, 1978 is the fact that she is suing Bob Guccione for $4 Million dollars.
Titled with the rather sexist headline “Boys will be boys” it says; ‘Penthouse’ magazine publisher Bob Guccione is being sued for $4 million by a Polish model who says he forced her into sex and a lurid photo session after drugging her. Jolanta Duchi, who uses the name Jolanta Von Zmuda, was quoted in the magazine as saying: “There is royal blood in my veins, and were it not for the Polish Communists, I’d be a countess.” She claims she never said it, and the “quote” got her in trouble with the Polish government, which subsequently denied her mother a visa to visit the U.S.”
There is no news of the outcome of the lawsuit. It was likely settled out of court, but Jolanta’s pictorial was republished once more, this time in the Italian version of Penthouse on May 1981. I am not able to find a copy of this magazine to confirm what the blurb about her said either. If you have a copy, please comment below!
Magazine Credits
1977 – Penthouse, March (Cover Model)
1977 – Viva, April (Cover Model)
1981 – Penthouse, May, Italian Edition (Cover Model – reprint of March 1977)
Penthouse Pet March 77 – Jolanta Von Zmuda
