Playboy model gets community service for 'body shaming' incident

LOS ANGELES (AP)

A Playboy centrefold pleaded no contest yesterday to misdemeanour invasion of privacy for secretly snapping a photo of a naked 71-year-old woman in a locker room and posting it online with a mocking comment.

Dani Mathers entered the plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court and was sentenced to either 45 days in jail or 30 days of community service removing graffiti.

Her lawyer said she would do the latter.

Under terms of the plea, Mathers will be on probation for three years and must not take photos of people or post them online without their permission.

Mathers, 30, had previously apologised for taking the photo at an LA Fitness club in July and posting it on Snapchat with the caption: "If I can't unsee this then you can't either."

The posting was accompanied by a selfie of Mathers in a tank top with her hand over her mouth as if she's gasping in horror.

The 2015 Playmate of the Year was roundly criticised for the so-called body shaming incident. Mathers contended she intended to send the photo privately to a friend and accidentally posted it publicly.