9:14a.m. 15th August 2008

Us Olympic Athlete Amanda Beard, baring all for PETA. Photo: peta.org

US Swimmer Amanda Beard might be the sexiest and most compassionate U.S. Olympic athlete of all time, as far as animal rights organisation PETA is concerned.

Despite her busy and demanding training schedule, Amanda took the time to bare her skin to help save animals' skins.

With the tagline "Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin. Don't Wear Fur," Amanda joined the ever growing list of celebrities, including Aussies Sophie Monk and Imogen Bailey to pose nude in order to help raise awareness of cruelty in the fur industry.

With Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, Amanda's ad couldn't have come at a better time.

Photo Gallery: Stars strip for Peta

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An investigation into the fur industry in China revealed that minks, foxes, dogs, cats, and other animals are kept in tiny wire cages in all weather extremes, according to PETA.

In video footage, animals were strangled or bludgeoned, and they were often still alive and struggling when workers flipped them onto their backs or hung them by their legs or tails to skin them.

The organisation however points out that cruelty of the fur industry does not end at the borders of China.

Every dog, fox, rabbit, mink, and baby seal suffers immensely, whether they are killed in China, Europe, or North America.

"I have seen a lot of the videos, and [it] brings me to tears," Amanda says. "What [some people] think is pretty is actually something that's very gruesome and gross."

> See Amanda Beard on LA Ink