Michelle Manhart Joins PETA

"I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" Campaign

Michelle Manhart, a former a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, was kicked out of her job, despite the fact she had served 13 spotless years, received perfect scores on performance reports and been recommended for immediate promotion. Her infraction? Posing nude in Playboy. After receiving an honorable discharge. Now she's free to pursue her acting and modeling dreams. One of her first big gigs is as PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" international spokes model.

I was in the military, I did my time, I served my country, I received my honorable discharge like anyone else, and now I'm moving on with my life. I'm the new PETA "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" international spokes model. The PETA press release announcement is today. I've also got a couple film deals - I'll be filming a horror movie called The Taxidermist. There are also two other movies on the table right now, as well as a reality TV series, which is still in the works. I'm doing a couple calendars, one of which is for military members, and the proceeds will go back to military families. I'll be continuing to look for acting roles. I'm trying to stay busy, but I'm not busy enough.

Feelings Towards the Military

I don't harbor any resentment toward the military in general. I still love the military immensely; my heart is still there. I owe it everything I’ve gained in my life up to this point. Education, travel, et cetera. I hold no animosity or beef with the Air Force. Yet, the way my case was handled was inappropriate and still has not been adjudicated. Like I've said before, military men have posed in Playgirl Magazine, and nothing ever happened to them. Recently there was an officer charged with having an illegal affair with a female, and he was only asked to retire. (In which case, he receives a retirement cheque and benefits). People who have been tried and convicted in court are getting benefits, and I am not, when what I did isn't even illegal. There are a lot more things that happen in the military and people look the other way.

I wish things had been different. I wish I wasn't demoted. I feel I should have received the higher tenure pay and the compensation that should have come with the demotion, but I didn't receive any of that. I devoted my life to the military, but I ended up losing out in the end. I still think something needs to be done and said to my chain of command. They can't just make up the rules as they go along.

Supporting PETA and the Military

It has been hard to hear some of the criticisms people have made of me during this whole thing. They don't know me; they just take me for a certain kind of person that I'm not. I just want people to know that I'm not stuck up and I'm not an idiot. My ultimate goal is to be able to give back to the community and to the people that have supported me. I want to support the military, PETA, certain programs, like ones that deal with learning disabilities - There's just so much I want to give, so I hope it all works out.