Registering at 5-foot-5 with green eyes and blond hair, Tasha Reign is the, pardon the pun, reigning centerfold in the August issue of Penthouse.

She was also the May 2011 Pet of the Month, for those of you keeping score at home.

“I have been told that this is truly a rare occurrence to be a Pet one month and the centerfold spread two months later,” said Tasha, reaching to her latest appearance in Penthouse. “It’s actually a bit overwhelming and also way cool.”

The bombshell is not even primarily a magazine layout girl. The 22-year-old Californian is new to the adult industry, debuting in 2010 in a lesbian porn film. She is seen as one of the rising stars in the industry.

“It is our great pleasure at Penthouse to have Penthouse Pet Tasha Reign once again grace the pages of our magazine,” says Penthouse Publicist Lainie Speiser. “She is beautiful, dynamic and very exciting to look at, so much so we just had to have her back again so soon after her initial appearance in Penthouse’s May 2011 issue. We give our readers what they want, and they made it plain they couldn’t get enough of Tasha Reign.”

At 5-foot-3, Breanne Benson mixes exotic looks with some curves rarely seen in the adult industry.

She must have done something right, because Benson is the January 2011 Penthouse Pet of the Month.

Benson took a few minutes to have a chat with Blast recently.

BLAST: So tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up?

BREANNE BENSON: I was born in Albania and came to the U.S. when I was just 7 years old. I grew up in Southern California.

BLAST: How did you get into modeling?

BB: Through a friend of mine.

BLAST: For you, is it more about modeling or more about exhibitionism?

BB: Actually, It’s a little bit of both. I’m a young girl with a free spirit who loves sex.

BLAST: What feeling does it give you knowing that thousands or millions of people have seen you naked, or more?

BB: It is very exciting. I have fans from all over the world, and I think it’s amazing that there’s people watching me have sex on camera. It is a definitely turn-on.

BLAST: How did the Penthouse Pet of the Month come to be? What was it like working with Penthouse?

BB: It came as a total surprise to me, to be honest. I was extremely excited when I received the news. I feel honored to be a Penthouse Pet! Penthouse is one of my favorite companies to work for. Working for their film division is always such a pleasure. The production crew is so funny, and they always make us, the models, look good. I just worked for them the other day, and I spent the whole day laughing. I had so much fun!

BLAST: How did you get your start in hardcore? Do you prefer modeling for the camera or acting out for the video camera?

BB: It was simple, really. I felt like it was the next best step for my career, and I’m very happy with my decision to switch over to hardcore. I like all of it, the modeling, the sex, everything! I get to explore all my sexual fantasy’s with the world.

BLAST: What do you want to do next year?

BB: I hope to continue to progress as an adult performer. This isn’t just a job for me, it’s my career and I take it very seriously.

Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione died Wednesday of cancer at a Plano, Texas, hospital, his family said Wednesday night.

He was 79.

Guccione died at Plano Specialty Hospital, with his wife, April Dawn Warren Guccione and two of his children, Bob Jr. and Tonina, at his side.

April’s mother, Georgann Flinchbaugh, told CNN that her daughter, who had been married to the publishing and entertainment magnate since 2006, was too distraught to talk. She said, “He was a wonderful man. She’s heartbroken. He was the love of her life.”

Guccione took published nudity to a new level with the hardcore Penthouse magazine, one of several magazine ventures he would launch, in 1965. He and Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner competed for the attention of men for several decades.

Guccione, who was married four times, also produced/invested in several movies, including “Caligula” and “Chinatown.”

Services will be private, the family said.

Penthouse Magazine has decided that you should want to mess with Texas in naming lone star beauty Taylor Vixen as the 2010 Penthouse Pet of the Year.

Vixen will get a year-long contract with Penthouse and a diamond Penthouse Pet of the Year Key necklace. Her Pet of the Year pictorial is featured in the January 2010 issue of Penthouse Magazine, available on newsstands everywhere December 15.

“Debuting in Penthouse Magazine’s special 40th Anniversary issue, Taylor Vixen immediately became a favorite among Penthouse readers,” the magazine said in a statement. “With her gorgeous natural figure, dark mischievous eyes, and friendly down-home nature, she cannot help but draw people to her.”

“I have always loved Penthouse. It’s sexy and tasteful, and a place for young women, like me, to express ourselves,” said the 26-year-old. “I had the best time at my photo shoot, where I was able to bring out both my personality and sexuality at the same time. I loved my photographer, Emma Nixon. My favorite part of the shoot was doing the robot dance at one point. I love to goof around!”

The 2009 Penthouse Pet of the Year is Taya Parker.

It was going to take a lot to best Mississippi-native Erica Ellyson, who we showed you last year.

You can be the judge. Parker was actually on the cover of Penthouse in January 2008 when we showed you Ellyson. It looks like she beat out 11 other ladies throughout the rest of the year.

Parker is 28 years young, 5’0″, 32D-23-33. She’s from Ohio and likes to live the quiet life when she’s at home. But she says that she never turns down a martini and loves her stiletto heals.

“I’m a perky, small-town daddy’s girl with a little attitude. I love to laugh. I always give people second chances (and sometimes third). And I’m always the life of the party,” she says on her website. “For me, there is no such thing as the ideal man. I like a guy who goes after what he wants, who has a goal and ambition. If I’m the goal … make it happen!”

Penthouse Magazine announced last week that their Pet of the Year is Mississippi-native Erica Ellyson.

Ellyson, January 2007′s Pet of the Month, was picked by the magazine’s readers out of 12 finalists.

“It took me a while to believe I was the Pet of the Year,” Ellyson said. “When I found out I said, ‘Really? Are you sure?’ about five times. It was the best feeling ever, once I finally got it through my head!”

The sexy brunette is 5’7″, 23-years-old with hazel eyes. She is an architecture student at the Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego.

“Erica is smart, sexy, and a true Southern belle. As soon as she appeared in Penthouse as our Pet of the Month, she captured the hearts of our readers, as well as our staff, and she’s been extremely popular with Penthouse fans ever since,” said Penthouse managing editor Barbara Rice Thompson. “We’re delighted to have her as our Pet of the Year, and we’re sure she’ll continue to charm everyone she meets with her enticing looks and captivating personality, not to mention her irresistible sex appeal.”

“I’m so grateful to my fans and friends for their support, and I can’t wait to make new ones,” Ellyson said. “I’m excited to get out there as the 2008 Pet of the Year and be a representative of the Penthouse brand and family.”

Erica’s Pet of the Year pictorial is featured in the March issue of Penthouse. The magazine went for sale Feb. 19.