The teenage father of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's grandson is featured on the cover of the upcoming print version of Playgirl magazine - sporting nothing but a sultry gaze.

The photos of Levi Johnston - the 19-year-old former fiance of Palin's daughter - were a huge hit last autumn on the magazine's website.

The publisher expects the same results with other photos from the same shoot running in the newly resurrected print version available on news stands from February 22.

Johnston fathered a son with ex-fiancee Bristol, the 19-year-old daughter of Palin, who resigned as Alaska's governor last summer. The young couple broke up after the birth of their son, Tripp, in late 2008.

The upcoming Playgirl print spread includes an interview with Johnston, who discussed his strained relationship with the Palins, said Daniel Nardicio, a spokesman for the magazine.

The magazine officially returned to news stands in December with a special that was already planned. Johnston, however, is the first cover in the regular editions to be published quarterly.

Bristol Palin, who is in a child custody battle with Johnston, has called the Playboy shoot "risque" in her legal petition.

Claiming he made more than 105,000 US dollars last year from media interviews and modelling assignments, she is seeking 1,750 dollars a month in child support and 18,350 dollars in back child support.

Mrs Palin's spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr Johnston initially agreed to do frontal nudity when negotiations began for the fall shoot, according to Mr Nardicio.

Mr Johnston backed away from baring all after he was criticised for taking the job and some called Playgirl a magazine for gay men.

Mr Nardicio said he considers the magazine appealing to both men and women, although the audience is predominantly male.

Ultimately, Johnston was strategically posed, revealing only his backside.