Rachael Ray's Sexy Photo Shoot

Rachael. Ray. Those two words are more than just a television chef's name -- They're a worldwide brand, with an empire of millions of books in print, branded kitchen tools and cookware, multiple cooking shows, a daytime talk show and a monthly magazine.

Rachael Ray is the cheerleader of everyday cooking. She's the upstate waitress who rose to fame with her 30-minute meals. She's also apparently one of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women this year.

Rachael Ray sexy? While the cute-as-a-button-chef who calls extra virgin olive oil EVOO and sandwiches "sammies" might seem more girl-next-door than bombshell, think again. Ray Ray stripped down to little more than her knickers for an FHM photo shoot back in 2003.

Earlier this year, Rachael Ray defended her decision to do the FHM shoot in an interview on Nightline with co-anchor, Cynthia McFadden, saying, "I wouldn't change a thing. I'd do it again tomorrow." Apparently just the mention of these racy shots sent Rachael's fans running to their laptops to try and find the pics online. FHM claims her rabid fans, "melted our servers trying to find the evidence."

Aiming to please, FHM has posted the images of Rachael from the 2003 shoot on its website, which you can see in all their glory after the jump.


Six years later, these shots look downright innocent. A decidedly curvy Rachael roasts a turkey in a tiny apron and spike heels. Rachael licks chocolate off of a wooden spoon in a black push-up bra. (Ed note: The lingerie throughout is decidedly un-sexy. Did we all wear such heinous undergarments in 2003?)

After the multiple celebrity sex tapes and scandals involving prominent political figures in the intervening years, it's hard to imagine anyone damning Rachael for these hokey shots. That said, the shot of Rachael with suds cascading down her tan thighs is a little, ahem, suggestive.

There is one person who heartily disapproved of the shoot: Rachael's mom. In 2005, Rachael's mother told The New York Times that her dismay was a "feminist issue." In the same article, Severson notes, that Rachael did the story at the request of the Food Network and was unpaid for the shoot. At the time, Rachael thought it was "cool that college men bring copies of the magazine to book signings." Her mother, on the other hand, said, "I don't think your [Rachael's] base will understand." Oh, mom.

Rachael's mom shouldn't worry about the Food Network star re-inventing herself as a sex symbol, of all the women picked for the story -- poor Rachael is ranked #100.

Personally, I think Rachael Ray is pretty hot. Any woman who had the confidence to pose for those pictures with such a winning smile, not caring if her abs look perfect or if her thighs are going to be airbrushed out of existence is extremely sexy. In fact, a good sense of humor and confidence are two of the most attractive qualities I can think of.