Meet Playboy's 2012 Playmate of the Year!

Playboy founder and editor-in-chief Hugh Hefner named Jaclyn Swedberg as the magazine's hottest pin-up of 2012.

Hugh Hefner has named Jaclyn Swedberg as Playboy's 2012 Playmate of the Year at private event held at the Playboy Mansion on Thursday afternoon.

The 86-year-old Playboy founder and editor-in-chief, and his son, Cooper, 20, presented Swedberg with the honour in the Holmby Hills area of LA.

"Jaclyn was overcome with emotion and gratitude when giving her speech in front of Hef and her family," Us Magazine quoted a Playboy representative as saying.

"All in all, it was fantastic afternoon with family, friends, Playmates and past Playmates of the Year all in attendance," the representative added.

The 21-year-old native of California, who graduated from Chino Hills High School in 2008, was named the magazine's Miss April in 2011.

"I think Jaclyn encompasses the true 'girl next door' persona and she'll do great representing the brand," Cooper said.

"She exemplifies what we'll be looking for, for the next 60 years," he said.

After years of announcing the Playmate of the Year in Las Vegas, "Hef was happy to have it brought back to the Mansion," the representative said.

"Cooper welcomed guests and kicked off the ceremony by introducing his dad with a brief tribute and the fact that Playboy is approaching its 60th anniversary," the representative added.