THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 22, 1995 TAG: 9507220241
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KERRY DOUGHERTY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
A middle-aged man with a thatch of rust-colored hair sidled up to the Suburban News counter Friday morning and asked Cathy Duncan for her autograph.
``Red. God Bless You. Cathy,'' she scrawled.
That's how Gallery's September Girl Next Door signs almost every copy of the magazine. She got the idea when she saw a wall full of pictures in a country and western bar that were signed that way.
Duncan, 21, who has called Norfolk home since her Navy dad was stationed here last year, acknowledges that country singers are far more likely to invoke the Almighty than nude models.
``In my heart, I'm religious,'' explains Duncan, dressed in a black halter dress, with fishnet stockings and ankle-breaking pumps. ``I just come from a family where we're all pretty liberal about our bodies.''
You can say that again. Just turn to page 48.
When Duncan was selected for the September 10-page photo spread, one of the first people she called was her grandmother.
Her family, she says, rejoiced with her. They bought copies and have a stack for her to sign when she visits them in Florida where her parents have retired. ``They're really, really proud,'' she says.
For those unfamiliar with Gallery - one of Suburban News' best selling men's magazines behind Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler - this periodical is full of eye-popping photos.
One of the most popular features is the monthly ``Girl Next Door'' - amateur models who have sent the magazine raunchy snapshots of themselves. The winner gets a professional photographic session, the thrill of seeing herself nude in Gallery and $2,500.
Duncan, who has her GED and is a certified nurses' aide (hence the ``Florence Nightingale'' reference in the short Gallery story) is attending real estate school. She spent her prize money on her credit card bills.
She's a wispy woman with a warm smile and gray eyes who wears little make-up. She also is deaf in one ear and blind in one eye, the result of her mother contracting German measles during pregnancy.
It's hard to reconcile this fragile person with the naked vamp in the magazine.
One of Suburban's customers, a preppy-looking man of Nigerian descent named Chukuma, who is flipping through a copy of Africa magazine, is shocked by it all.
``You're naked in there?'' he asks, pointing at, but not touching the magazine. ``That's your claim to fame?''
Duncan politely says it is.
``Do you now what you're doing?'' he asks. ``This is going to follow you all your life.''
He persists. ``Does your father know about this?'' he asks.
``He's proud he has a beautiful daughter,'' Duncan replies coolly.
``Well, I have a daughter and I can tell you my worst nightmare would be her doing something like this and having men looking at her and making rude remarks,'' he says.
The exchange is good natured. When he leaves, Duncan smiles and shrugs.
Most of her other encounters are less confrontational. Several women ask for Duncan's autograph. She asks if they want a God bless you.
``Write something goofy,'' urges a laughing Susan Rainey. ``It's for my husband. He's always looking at these dirty magazines.''
``Ray. Your wife says `Wishful thinking.' Cathy.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by BILL TIERNAN, Staff
Cathy Duncan, the ``Girl Next Door'' in Gallery magazine's September
issue, signs autographs for customers in Suburban News on Friday.
Michael Shutty, left, is the owner of Suburban News.
by CNB