Heather Kozar

Heather Marie Kozar (born May 4, 1976 in Akron, Ohio) is a former American model. She is perhaps best known for posing nude in Playboy Magazine & being the Playmate of the Year for 1999. She is also formerly known as one of Barker's Beauties on The Price is Right from 2001-2002.

Early Life[]

Native of Akron, Ohio. As a child, Heather was raised in a strict Christian household. She was not allowed to watch any television programs that contained sex or cursing, especially soap operas as her parents felt that those types of programs were too provocative. Because of having grown up in a sheltered environment, Heather suffered from low self-esteem and had a hard time fitting in.

In 1994, she graduated from Green High School (located in Green, Ohio) and soon afterwards, she began chasing after her dreams of being discovered and was bound and determined to break free of her sheltered strict home life.

Playboy Career & Newfound Fame[]

Heather would soon discover the highly huge impact she would have on men, mainly due to posing nude in Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine. She first posed in the January 1998 issue, followed by a second appearance as she graced the cover of the June 1999 issue of the popular men's magazine and soon after that, she received her highest honor as she was named Playmate of the Year for 1999. Her original centerfold was photographed by Richard Fegley.

Thanks to her exposure in Playboy magazine, Kozar also became a bit of a celebrity. In addition to her nude pictorials, she's also appeared in a few Playboy videos, made Playboy appearances in public venues and charity events and was also a regular housemate at the Playboy mansion. In an interview, Heather stated that she felt by posing for Playboy, she discovered her own sexuality and beauty, and felt more confident about herself than ever before.

Aside from all her Playboy credentials , the blonde beauty has also modeled for companies such as Brut Colonge, BMW, Wendy's, and Cutty Sark Scots Wiskey.

The Price is Right[]

After her successful career in Playboy, Heather began to look and search for something new. She found out that the television game show The Price is Right, during it's 29th season, was on the hunt of looking for two new Barker's Beauties following the abrupt departures of longtime veteran models, Kathleen Bradley (since December 1990 officially) and Janice Pennington (since it's September 4, 1972 premiere show), both of whom (along with several other staff members) were dismissed from the series as their final appearances aired on December 13, 2000. Feeling confident, Heather decided to audition for the show....

One of the positions would become permanently filled come February 2001 as Claudia Jordan, who made her tryout debut on (airdate) December 21st, 2000, (officially replacing Kathleen) was signed to a regular basis as she was the only African-American tryout model (after other potential candidates Rosie Tension & Enya Flack failed to impress) whom the show's producers were impressed by as well as becoming a favorite among the fans. With Claudia onboard on a permanent basis, the search continued to fill the other vacant spot. After meeting with the staff of Price and impressing the producers, the former Playboy centerfold was granted an on-camera audition as she made her tryout debut on (airdate) March 26, 2001 and continuing on until the 30th, followed by additional appearances beginning on (airdate) April 16th to the 27th and yet again beginning on (airdate) May 7th until the end of the season (airdate: June 13th, 2001).

As The Price is Right geared up for their 30th Season Premiere Opener (airdate: September 24, 2001, was originally scheduled to air on the 17th), host Bob Barker made the announcement as he introduced Heather and Claudia (officially replacing Janice & Kathleen) as the newest permanent Barker's Beauties. But unfortunately, Heather would exit the series come June 2002 as her final appearance aired on the 14th, just mere days before Season 30 drew to a close but her departure from the show is rather confusing to some, it has been speculated by some that she left on her own accord while others have speculated that she was fired. The show's producers later claimed that the former Playboy centerfold's appearances on the program lead to "appearances in an increasing number of high paying television commercials and other assignments with some of which caused great conflict with the show’s production schedule", which resulted in Heather being absent from several tapings that aired in the month of April 2002.

With Heather gone, the producers invited back Jennifer Wood, who was also part of the 2001 model tryouts, to fill her spot for the remaining days left of the 30th season as well as the 31st Season Premiere opener which would be her very last appearance (airdate: September 23, 2002). Brandi Sherwood-Cochran, whom also appeared during the 2001 model tryouts, was also invited back by the show's producers as she made her return to TPiR beginning on (airdate) the 24th (day after the Season Premiere show) and went on to appear more frequently throughout the season (with 95 total appearances) and continued on with the series as it soon transitioned from the departure of 35-year veteran host Bob Barker, in June 2007 to the arrival of Comedian & Actor Drew Carey, later that October, appearing until March 2009.

Later Career and Personal Life[]

After parting ways with The Price is Right, Heather continued on work on other gigs. She later became the 2002 official St. Pauli Girl beer spokesmodel.

As of today, she is now a wife and a mom and she lives a perfectly happy, quiet private life away from the public eye and all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. She is the wife of ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback player Tim Couch (they married on February 26, 2005) and together they have two sons, Chase Scott Couch (born August 2005) and Brady Couch (born March 2009).

The family makes their residence in Lexington, Kentucky.