# Meet the Model Trading Nudes for Donations

- Link: https://chatterblast.com/blog/meet-the-model-trading-nudes-for-donations/
- Published: 2020-01-17T19:14:19-05:00
- Author: Katie Hagar

I am going to assume that everyone has heard by now that [**Australia** is on fire](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043).
Or at the very least, you’ve probably heard everyone talking about saving the Koala
bears. But you might not have heard about Instagram model **Kaylen Ward** offering
nude photos in exchange for donations to bushfire relief efforts. (And yes, she 
went through with it.) 

Just in case you have missed the news for the past three and a half months, the 
most severe Australian bushfires seen in decades have devastated [almost 18 million acres](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/01/australia/australia-fires-explainer-intl-hnk-scli/index.html)
of forests since September 2019. At least [25 people have been killed](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50980386)
and about [half a billion animals](https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/01/03/a-statement-about-the-480-million-animals-killed-in-nsw-bushfire.html)
affected by the fires. Various authorities and relief organizations have been requesting
donations to fund fire fighting and animal rescue efforts. 

Enter Kaylen Ward. While this is clearly a very concerning issue, Ward still felt
that these fires were not getting the media coverage they deserved in the United
States. Driven purely by the desire to draw more attention to the fires (as opposed
to her usual motivation of self-profit), Ward posted a tweet offering up a nude 
photo of herself to anyone who donated at least $10 to the cause and sent her proof.

Since then, this exchange has generated an [estimated $1 million](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/kaylen-ward-australia-fires-sex-workers-donations)
and earned Ward the title of the “Naked Philanthropist”. Some people have even donated
[up to $5,000](https://twitter.com/lilearthangelk/status/1213509119669346304) on
her behalf. That is some motivated fundraising, and I would say she definitely succeeded
in drawing attention! Whether more of that attention went to Australia or her body
parts, I don’t know. But at the very least she put her social following to work 
in the name of a good cause. But as always, the internet loves controversy, and 
there have been some mixed reactions. 

Ward says she was surprised by how much positive support she got on Twitter. Lots
of followers, old and new, praised her for saving the world and representing sex
workers everywhere. 

> Sex workers will save us [https://t.co/ZnCHlvgdbc](https://t.co/ZnCHlvgdbc)
> — fangtasia 🖤 (@KhaleesiYG) [January 4, 2020](https://twitter.com/KhaleesiYG/status/1213315260570046464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/IVyy_League/status/1213320963686883328

 

A popular tagline was also attached to the Naked Philanthropist, one I give 10/10
on the clever scale:

> Not all heroes wear clothes. [https://t.co/ua8fo6mLQM](https://t.co/ua8fo6mLQM)
> — Lore Star (@lorestaryt) [January 6, 2020](https://twitter.com/lorestaryt/status/1214030403675148290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Other people have even started to follow in her footsteps. 

https://twitter.com/rileyreidx3/status/1214014278748893185

But of course, not all of the feedback was positive. For one thing, Instagram deactivated
Ward’s account for violating the rules with regard to sexually explicit or suggestive
content. 

https://twitter.com/lilearthangelk/status/1213701836517126144

 

And apparently, some people were just asking for trouble (and ruining the good deed
for everyone).  

> Anyone who leaks photos or videos of me will have legal action taken against them.
> I have already done it and will continue to do it. It is a federal crime.
> — THE NAKED PHILANTHROPIST (@lilearthangelk) [January 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/lilearthangelk/status/1215052101593767938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

It can’t be denied that this fundraising method is effective, especially when you
consider what the grand total of donations must be from Ward and all of the other
people joining her cause. Maybe sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to make
people pay attention—or maybe Instagram is right and certain content does not belong
everywhere.

What do you think?