FOGO ISLAND -
Are you female, 20 to 30 years old, physically active, outgoing, fun-loving, charismatic, adventurous, a nature lover, a capable swimmer and like to travel to warm climates?
That's the advertisement that peeked the interest of Eve Kelly, a native of Fogo, Fogo Island, to contact Best Boy Productions, an independent production company based in St. John's. From there, 25-year-old Ms. Kelly became the host of Skinny Dip, where unsuspecting strangers are challenged to take a dip in the buff in some of the most stunning natural springs on Earth.
"I had just completed my English degree at Memorial University and was open for employment when the opportunity first presented itself," said Ms. Kelly. "I absolutely love to travel, meet new people and I'm always up for an adventure. I had previous experience in front of the camera from working with OZ FM's Summer Cruiser team and I'm certainly not shy. It was a fantastic opportunity."
However, this is Ms. Kelly's first time hosting a TV show and she said she is enjoying it to the fullest.
The series was given a green light after a successful pilot episode in the summer of 2008 and Ms. Kelley said the feedback so far from the launch of the premiere on Nov. 18 has been really positive.
With regard to ratings, Skinny Dip outperformed the primetime audience timeslot for Travel + Escape by as high as 129 per cent.
Taking the plunge
According to Ms. Kelly, individuals don't have to be nudists, college students or exhibitionists to enjoy a skinny dip. In fact, she said people of all ages, body types and genders enjoy a nude dip.
"I travel the globe in search of the world's most beautiful, but hard to reach, swimming holes," she said. "I recruit locals from each location to join me on a trek and adventure. I'm not always sure where I'm going, but that's the fun of it. The skinny dip is the pay off at the end of the adventure. You get to release your inhibitions, put stress of the everyday aside and delve into Mother Nature."
Ms. Kelly also mentioned that the show may have a jaw-dropping title, but is very tasteful.
"Although the title of the show is a bit cheeky, once people actually watch an episode they'll realize it's a great travel series that focuses on releasing your inhibitions and the adventure involved in getting to hard-to-reach natural springs and swimming holes," she said.
Ms. Kelly has braved the Canadian Winter to take a polar-dip with five people and the Bahamas to go skinny-dipping in the legendary Blue Hole.
Skinny Dip will also feature shows from Costa Rica, Australia and New Zealand.
As to what Ms. Kelly's friends and family think of her latest globetrotting career, Ms. Kelly said they have been very encouraging.
"My family, friends and the community have been very supportive," she said. "They are very proud and look forward to tuning in each week."
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