CGG: So tell us how you got involved with the PETA project.

AB: Well PETA is something that is very close to me, and I’m an animal nut—an animal freak and so I’m very anti-fur. And so it was very easy for me to get involved with the “I’d rather go naked campaign” and kind of shed some clothing and try to make a statement and put it out there. And I think it’s good for people to see people take risks and try to knock down some barriers and things like that, because maybe it will give someone the balls to do it themselves.

CGG: So when did your passion for animals start?

AB: Since I was a baby. I’ve loved animals since I can remember. I’ve always had tons of animals, I was always doing stuff with them. And I’m trying to be a voice for the animals that don’t have a voice, and I’m trying to get that out there especially to our younger generation, and saying that fur is not cool at all and please don’t wear it. And go faux fur if you want to.

CGG: So the shoot itself and the ad were very progressive. Did you have any self-confidence issues with that? How did you overcome all that?

AB: Yah, I mean as a female you’re always worried about certain things. Especially when you’re going to be naked and a photographer’s going to be shooting you, you’re always like, “Oh crap, how am I going to look good?!” And fortunately for me there’s PhotoShop and airbrushing so thank goodness! So you know that always helps things out. But it’s for a good cause, and for me to strip away some pieces of clothing—I mean, you can’t see anything in the photo; I’m covered. I mean, I’ve done Playboy and I’ve showed my goods, so I didn’t really think it was that crazy. So for me to put that out there and for me to be like, “I’m fine with taking my clothes off for the animals and taking whatever kind of things people want to spit out at me,” then that’s fine. It’s getting publicity, it’s getting the word out there, and that’s what’s more important,

CGG: So did you do anything special to prepare for the shoot? Any healthy living techniques?

AB: No! Well I work out a lot because I just have a very active lifestyle but you won’t find me necessarily like in a gym or on a treadmill or anything like that. You know I’m out running around with my dogs and the beach, or I’m surfing, or snowboarding, or riding a dirt bike. So I just try to have a fun, active lifestyle.

CGG: What words of advice could you give young people to inspire them to go out there and be active and follow their dreams with sports, and also in terms of being fashion-conscious when it comes to fur as well?

AB: Well my advice for the whole fur issue is—you can wear faux fur. You know if you’re thinking that that’s real cool style and this and that, wear faux fur. Be conscious. You know, grab a video of how they make these furs and see how they rip the fur off of these animals while they’re still alive! And I think it will really touch you in a different way and make you think twice about anything like that. And no matter what you do in your life, people are either going to agree or disagree. And people are going to say things no matter how good you try to lead you life; so just lead it in the way that you want to do it and take the criticism because there’s always going to be good and bad no matter what you do.