Michelle Manhart: Operation Calendar

I found out I was going to be on the cover of Operation Calendar in the spring this year. I get contacted by different organizations doing different things all the time - you never really know which projects are worthwhile, so when the calendar came along, I did some research. I felt really good about it. This is the third annual Operation Calendar, and the proceeds go to the wounded men and women returning from the war in Iraq.

I had a lot of appreciation for this project for a couple of reasons: one is that the producer, Manuela Mezzadri, is not American herself; she's Italian. I found it very intriguing that someone who is not even from America appreciates what we have and what we're doing.

The fact that she has put so much of her own money into this project shows her commitment. Her purpose is to say, "Look, anybody can do a calendar; this is more than just a bathing suit calendar." She wanted it to be special, which is why it showcases incredible body painting on beautiful models.

The project was really lucky to have world renowned body artist Filippo Ioco doing the body painting. Usually when you hear about body painting, you think of airbrush, because that's usually how people do it. Filippo does it 100 per cent free hand with a paintbrush and has done so for over 20 years. He's been on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and he truly is unbelievable. His website is incredible.

It's funny because apparently in Italy, I'm really big.