The former Mineral Ridge High School track standout broke records and hearts on her way to finishing second in the state back in 1994. She held records in both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and was even named the Trumbull County girls track MVP.
Neeld, 30, is now married and the proud mother of two. She has enjoyed the past few years as a mother and homemaker, but a simple Valentine’s Day present last year has changed her life.
‘‘Last year for Valentine’s, I did a photo shoot for my husband, and the photographer told me that I should send them to Playboy,’’ Neeld said.
That photo shoot led her to Indianapolis in August 2007, when she attended a casting call for Playboy magazine. Along with 200 other hopefuls, Neeld posed for a number of test shots for photographers and editors.
‘‘I was leery, because most of the girls were 22, 23 years old,” she said. “They were beautiful, and I was sitting there with my head down.’’
Although she wasn’t certain about her chances, the editors at Playboy loved her pictures and selected her to appear with nine other girls in a cyber club pictorial on Playboy.com. It didn’t take long for the magazine to contact her.
‘‘Normally it takes forever, but this happened real quick,’’ Neeld said. Not long after the photos hit the Internet, Playboy contacted Neeld and flew her to Chicago to take numerous shots for upcoming special editions.
‘‘Hot Housewives’’ will feature Neeld and is set to hit newsstands Jan. 29.
“I’m counting down the days until the 29th. Unfortunately, they don’t let us see them beforehand.” Neeld said.
Neeld previously did some modeling.
‘‘When I was 18, 19, I did a lot of local modeling. I did runway shows at bridal shows or sports shows,” she said.
With her upcoming debut, Neeld is looking to the future.
‘‘With Playboy, what they do is take a bunch of pictures and when they’ve used up all of their shots, they’ll bring you back if you’re liked. I’m hoping that they’ll shoot me again, but if they don’t, I hope to get some promotional things out of this, some bar signings, things like that.’’
With her debut just a couple weeks away, the former high hurdler from Mineral Ridge is preparing herself for whatever lies ahead. With her family behind her, Lisa’s future seems very bright.
It has been the constant support of her husband that has pushed Neeld to succeed, she said.
‘‘He’s been really supportive, you know, he’s never been negative about it,’’she said.
jflesher@tribune-chronicle.com
