When asked how her acting debut went, Veronica says, “It was a lot of fun, and I hope to get more work as I go along. I originally took acting classes to get over some of my shyness, and I think it’s working.” The horror film also stars veteran porn star Ron Jeremy.

Pet of the Year Taylor Vixen and Runner-Up Veronica Ricci flew to Indiana for a pre–Sturgis Motorcycle Rally photo shoot with Easyriders photog rapher Michael “Balls” Farabaugh. The Pets were revved up to have the powerful machines between their legs, and about the rally. Taylor tells us, “I knew a lot of bikers when I lived in Dallas, and I’ve heard about the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally forever. I’m so excited about being a part of it.” As for Veronica, she was getting ready for all the manly biker dudes. “People think bikers are men you should watch out for,” she says, “but I know they’re the sweetest, most respectful, and sexiest. I’m ready to party in my motorcycle boots!”

Farabaugh, whose relationship with Penthouse dates back several years, was equally excited about the upcoming event. “Say you have 1,000 places and things to see and do before you die—put this at No. 1. At the Monkey Rock Party, people will experience a magical kingdom of the most prestigious custom and antique motorcycles on the planet, incredible hospitality, ice-cold beer, the best shopping and vendor row this side of motorcycle heaven, and the largest gathering of relaxed motorcycle fans, including the staff of Easyriders magazine. This will be served up with the most delicious women on the planet when Penthouse delivers Taylor and Veronica—talk about eye candy.”

Posters from the Pets’ shoot will be available exclusively at the Monkey Rock USA Bike Builders Expo, presented by Lucas Oil; the ladies will also be making a Sturgis appearance, as well as signing autographs at Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort, in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Our 2010 Pet of the Year, Taylor Vixen, and her partner in crime, Runner-Up Veronica Ricci, were the de facto leaders of the pack of Pets, which included familiar faces—Aria Giovanni (September 2000), Ashley Roberts (December 2004), and Prinzzess (October 2004)—as well as brand-new Pets Jessica Wilson (January 2010), Heidi Baron (February 2010), and Jelena Jensen (March 2010). Jelena’s issue had not even hit newsstands at the time, but she was thrilled to represent, saying, “It’s great to kick off my Penthouse Pet status with these ladies. I’ve been wishing to be a part of this family for such a long time, and everyone has been very warm and welcoming.”

Meanwhile, Taylor couldn’t keep her hands off Jelena’s impressive curves. “I don’t think I can even wait to shoot together with Jelena,” Taylor said. “I want to have her now.” And the secret is out: We’re sure all their fans will be anxious for these two naturally busty brunettes to come together for a Penthouse video, not to mention a magazine layout.

The Pets were shuttled to all the weekend’s activities and events on the Penthouse Party Bus, and Wisconsin cutie Charlie Laine (February 2006) took over the driver’s microphone to emcee a rousing game of Show Your Tits. After Charlie introduced each Pet, she would begin a “show your tits” chant until the Pet in question complied—and of course she always did. Happily, despite the tantalizing sights tempting the bus driver to turn his attention away from the road, the girls got to their destinations safe and sound. “The Penthouse Super Bowl celebration has always meant fun and crazy games for me,” explained Charlie. “But it’s also our annual reunion. It’s the only time I can see this many of the girls at once. It’s great!”

The party itself surpassed the Pets’ expectations … once they finally got inside. The ladies spent more than half an hour on the red carpet getting their photos taken. “I’m pretty sure that takes a long time because we always do dirty things to each other when we’re on the ‘Step and Repeat,’ ” said Jennifer Emerson (March 2006). Jennifer spent the better part of the evening playfully accosting every Pet she could get her hands on: “I just enjoy sticking my fingers where they don’t belong.”

The Pets also spent a lot of time on the dance floor, and when the band LMFAO performed, several Pets—including Aria and Shay Laren (June 2006)—danced onstage with the band. “Penthouse Pets and rock bands have always gone hand in hand,” said Aria, who had a great time shaking her moneymaker and smoking a cigar. The lucky band members partied after their set with Aria, Shay, and 2007 Pet of the Year Heather Vandeven.

There were different degrees of access at the multileveled Passions, but one common characteristic of Penthouse Pets is that they love meeting the magazine’s readers. There was no way these lovely ladies were going to hide out in a VIP area. The Pets covered all areas of the club throughout the night, meeting and partying with all the fans who came to meet them—along with porn star Savanna Samson and sultry 1995 Pet of the Year Gina LaMarca, who now works behind the camera as a makeup artist and stylist.

Each year, the Penthouse Superparty makes an even bigger splash, so you might want to start planning an early February 2011 trip to Dallas to party with the Pets.

When Howard Stern hosted the 2009 edition of the Penthouse Pet Beauty Pageant, three popular centerfolds—April 2009 Pet Veronica Ricci, September 2009 Pet Taylor Vixen, and October 2009 Pet Ryan Keely—were put through their paces, so to speak, in a stiff competition. For the talent segment, Taylor performed “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” in her favorite cowboy boots and little else, Veronica rocked out to “The Imperial March” from Star Wars in her own version of a Princess Leia bikini, and Ryan belted out Peggy Lee’s “Fever” nude. “I pretty much faced my worst fear,” Ryan says. “Singing naked in front of a roomful of strangers who were all judging me was pretty terrifying!”

Of course, there were also many embarrassing questions. Taylor says, “They had this question: Would you do blank to save a dying child, and it was, ‘Would you eat out your mother?’ I said absolutely not, no way. Howard said, ‘You would let that child die?’ and I said yes. I know it’s part of some crazy girl-girl fantasy, but that’s just sick!”

Veronica—who wowed the crowd from the start, with Howard declaring, “Holy shit. You are gorgeous!”—tells us, “They asked if I’d ever fuck a man for a million dollars. When I said it would depend on the man, they asked if I would care who it was as long as he had no STDs. Then they offered up Artie. I said, ‘I thought you said no STDs.’ But for a million, sure, I’d do Artie.”

For her part, Ryan—a former adult DVD reviewer and radio host who considers Howard a role model—upped the ante and made out with Veronica, proving the Pets are all about good-natured competition. “I had a lot of fun,” she says. “Veronica got a little friendly, and I can never say no to a redhead, so it was a great day.”

“My favorite fantasies are about power plays. I imagine myself as a Russian mail-order bride fulfilling my wifely duties, or as a secretary giving it up to my boss.”

Veronica Ricci, Penthouse Pet of the Month April 2009
Vital stats:
21 years old
32D-24-35; 5′8″

Hometown:
Sacramento, California.

Hottest movie sex scene:
Wild Things. I love girl-girl scenes.

Favorite workout:
Sexercise or pole-dancing.

Worst job:
Posing in a bikini in the dead of winter at lowrider car shows.

Your ideal date:
Something thrilling, like going skydiving or taking flying lessons.