By now you may have heard the news — Playboy is shaking things up and featuring Marge Simpson on the magazine’s cover, to commemorate 20 years of The Simpsons. But did you know that the provocative cover was meant to be an homage?

Yes indeed — Marge Simpson’s pose pays tribute to the October 1971 issue featuring Darine Stern, the first black woman to pose on a Playboy cover.

From CNN: “We decided to re-create [it] because it’s one of our most iconic covers,” [Playboy editorial director Jimmy] Jellinek said, “and because Marge’s sexy blue beehive immediately made us think of Darine Stern, whose beautiful, voluminous hairdo was front and center on the October 1971 cover.”

Well, I’ve always been a Simpsons fan — but it’s interesting to know that this cover is meant to be another historic first. The first black Playmate, paid tribute to with the first animated Playmate. What will they think of next?

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