In the accompanying interview, Mader spoke with her characteristic candor. She discussed her career, her marriage to director Ricardo Waddington, and her views on sexuality. She famously quipped that she didn't see the point in posing nude until she felt truly mature and comfortable in her own skin. At 31 years old, she felt she had finally arrived at that place. The public reaction was explosive. The issue flew off shelves, cementing Mader’s status as a sex symbol—but a different kind of sex symbol. She proved that a woman could be a serious intellectual and an actress of merit while simultaneously celebrating her body.
Rumors of her shoot began to swirl in early 1999, creating a level of anticipation rarely seen in the pre-internet age. Unlike many cover models who used the magazine to revive fading careers, Mader was at the peak of her powers. She didn't need the exposure; she chose it. That autonomy changed the narrative entirely. The pictorial, photographed by the legendary André Schiliró, was a masterclass in aesthetic. Eschewing the overtly provocative or raunchy style that sometimes characterized men's magazines, the spread focused on "The Nude" as an art form.
The images were bathed in natural light, featuring minimal makeup and an earthy, bohemian vibe. Mader appeared comfortable, relaxed, and deeply connected to nature. The photos were undeniably sexy, yet they possessed a tranquility that was disarming. Whether she was posing on a rustic wooden bed or standing amidst greenery, the vibe was one of liberation rather than objectification.