Playboy model Pamela Anderson went through a rough childhood before finding fame and becoming a nationwide sex symbol. She spoke out during a reception at Cannes Film Festival regarding experiences with sexual abuse.
The former "Baywatch" star was promoting The Pamela Anderson Foundation, which cares for animal rights, human rights, and the environment.
"I did not have an easy childhood. Despite loving parents, I was molested from age 6 to 10 by my female babysitter," Anderson stated.
"I went to a friend's boyfriend's house and when she was busy the boyfriend's older brother decided he would teach me backgammon which led in to a back massage, which led in to rape. My first heterosexual experience. He was 25 years old, I was 12," she continued.
The activist went on to describe a traumatic experience with a boyfriend and her troubled home life.
"My first boyfriend in grade nine decided it would be funny to gang rape me with six of his friends. Needless to say I had a hard time trusting humans and I just wanted off this earth," the star confessed.
"My parents tried to keep me safe. But to me the world was not a safe place. My dad an alcoholic, my mom worked two jobs waitressing," Anderson added.
"My mom was always crying, dad didn't always come home, leaving us in tremendous pain and worry. I couldn't bear to give her more disruptive information so I couldn't break her heart any more than it was breaking."
Anderson is now married to Rick Salomon, her third husband, and has two teenage boys with ex Tommy Lee. She took comfort in nature to deal with her struggles, which inspired her charity.
"My affinity with animals saved me, they came to me naturally. The trees spoke to me, I wasn't sure why I was alive, a burning question, a quest. My loyalty remains with the animal kingdom. I vowed to protect them and only them," she said.
"I prayed to whales with my feet in the ocean, my only real friends until I had children. Then I realized humanity was suffering and our children were born perfect."
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