Today in Paris, Dan Mathews, PETA’s funloving, globe-trotting VP, hung out with French Olympic figure skater Surya Bonaly. They got together at an ice rink to shoot a new ad for PETA against the Canadian seal hunt.

Well, it turned out to be kids' day at the ice rink, which kind of freaked me out when I heard about the shoot, since it's for our Rather Go Naked ad series. But Surya wore a black bathing suit w/straps pulled down for the shoot, which took place in front of dozens of media reps. She gave an amazing interview, and when a twelve year old asked, "but isn't fur so pretty?" Surya said, "Yes, my dear, you have pretty hair too—but does that mean we should cut your head off and wear it?" Oh, zing! After the shoot Surya rushed off to do a huge national evening show about the campaign.

We'll have lots more pics of the hoopla later, but for now here are some cool shots. The day was a smashing success and even the owners of the rink and the attaché from the mayor's office, who was there to make sure she wasn't completely nude (seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up) loved it and the slogan: “I’d Rather Skate Naked Than Wear Fur.” 

You may remember Surya from the Nagano Olympics, where she bucked the rules and threw in her signature move, a back flip landing on only one blade. Everybody except the judges thought it was just about the coolest thing ever. Surya has since turned pro and makes her home in the land of Freedom Fries, though she still tours internationally to perform and compete. And if she comes through Norfolk the next time Champions on Ice comes to town, I'm totally there.