Jennifer 'Jenny' McCarthy (born November 1, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American model and actress.

She is the second oldest of four daughters. A Catholic, Jenny graduated from Mother McAuley Liberal High School and was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) of her softball and field hockey teams.

In 1992, McCarthy was studying nursing at Southern Illinois University. In an attempt to make money for college, she submitted her picture to Playboy magazine. She was chosen to be the centerfold in the October 1993 issue and was subsequently named Playmate of the Year in 1994. Ironically, her success as a model led to her quitting college and moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business.

In 1995, McCarthy was hired by MTV to co-host a new series Singled Out . She became a popular success on the series due to her good looks and sense of humor. McCarthy had two short-lived television series; The Jenny McCarthy Show , a variety show, and Jenny, a sitcom. She has also appeared in the movies Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), The Stupids (1996), BASEketball (1998), and Scream 3 (2000). McCarthy is the author of Jen-X (1997), an autobiography, and (2004).

McCarthy had a relationship with Ray Manzella who was also her manager. The couple separated and McCarthy married John Mallory Asher on September , 1999. The couple have a son, Evan, who was born May 18, 2002.

McCarthy wrote and starred in the feature film "Dirty Love" which will premiere at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Ten years after she was featured as a Playmate, she posed again for Playboy and appeared in the January 2005 issue.

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