Dr. Sabrina Segal

Getting naked these days in front of millions of viewers seems commonplace, but when you are a smokin’ hot Olympic athlete, people take a second look.

Swimmer, Amanda Beard caused a media frenzy in Beijing when she unveiled her PETA Ad "Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin. Don't Wear Fur.” The timing may be great for activists – but not for Olympic host, China, which is notorious for cruelty to animals. She follows in the bare footsteps of celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Eva Mendez who previously shed all to spotlight the cruelty of fur.

Even TV villains come to the rescue of cuddly animals. Just is the case of Simon Cowell, who leant his voice and likeness to an anti-fur ad saying “If you wouldn’t wear your dog, please don’t wear any fur.”

Celebrities have also been known to use star power to elevate the cause. Oxygen’s The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, one episode was dedicated to getting the message across that “Fur is Dead.” In celebration of its fur-free status, the agency models head out to the streets scantily clad in support of PETA's "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign. Fill a street with nearly naked young models and see how throngs of media latch on.

How has PETA’s anti-fur campaign done since it was started in the late 1980’s?

Early victories in the 1990s included game show Wheel of Fortune banning fur prizes while Eddie Bauer stopped using fur trim on apparel. The most recent victory, in July 2008, was Overstock.com’s decision to stop selling fur products on its website. It’s the first major online retailer to make a stand. Time with tell whether or not it’s a good long-term decision for the bottom line.

Do viewing ads featuring celebrities and athletes help you form opinions about wearing fur?

Photo Credit: Dr. Sabrina Segal