International model Austin Armacost is used to mouths dropping open when he passes by, but we doubt anyone will be able to pick their jaws up off the floor after they've seen the ad Austin shot last week for PETA's naked anti-fur campaign. The star of The A-List: New York walked a runway completely nude to show that it's much more comfortable to be in your own skin than someone else's. Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes:

Photo: Aaron Cobbett

Photo: Aaron Cobbett

Austin hopes that by, ahem, exposing his views, he can appeal to designers and stylists and persuade them to join Calvin Klein and the many other fashion icons who now avoid fur like a Westboro Baptist Church picnic.

Cheering Austin on from the front row were Village Voice columnist Michael Musto, Marie Claire's Sergio Kletnoy, rapper Cazwell, Austin’s A-List co-stars Ryan Nickulas and Derek Saathoff, animal advocate extraordinaire Simone Reyes, and many others.

The ad will launch just in time for New York Fashion Week and feature a strategically placed QR code that will take smartphone users to the fur industry exposé that Tim Gunn narrated for PETA.

When the Olsen twins—the "Trollsens," as PETA calls them—trotted out a fur backpack, there wasn't a chance that Running Russell Simmons star and animal advocate extraordinaire Simone Reyes was going to let it pass without a comment. She blasted the Trollsens on her blog, saying that they are "unfortunately using their vanity and the pursuit of making a blessed buck at the expense of innocent sentient beings." Russell Simmons jumped in to help, tweeting Simone's blog.

The Trollsens could take a cue from Banana Republic, which is launching a line inspired by the costumes in the upcoming film Anna Karenina that will be designed with elegant velvet, lace, and faux fur.

You won't catch Constance Marie wearing animals or gawking at them in the rodeo ring. She tweeted, "Please boycott rodeos! #Video shows #Reno rodeo horses being shocked to perform: bit.ly/LLoUot #CrueltyIsNotEntertainment."

Horror movie king Eli Roth knows that what's really horrific is when animals are abused for entertainment. He tweeted in defense of elephants: "Elephants need you! Urge the Atlanta City Council to pass a total bullhook ban! bit.ly/LFIivF #NeverBeSilent."

Photo: Robert Sebree  Grooming: Cheri Keating/The Wall Group  Animatronic Snake: Greg Nicotero/ KNB EFX Group

Vegan pitcher Pat Neshek knows that people provide the best entertainment: The talented Norfolk Tides player just snagged Pitcher of the Week honors.

To keep up with what the stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter. 

Of course, PETA loves cheering for Team Peeta, but Josh Hutcherson has really stepped up his game for animals. The Hunger Games hottie adopted a pit bull puppy from a California animal shelter, and now the dog's broken femur and broken heart are both on the mend.

Hollywood may be experiencing a second baby boom this year. Marie Osmond adopted a new dog, and Miranda Lambert tweeted that it was "being discussed" whether or not she and hubby Blake Shelton would keep a stray dog she had just rescued.

There were plenty of other discussions about animal issues going on elsewhere in the Twitterverse:

In her post for Global Grind, Simone Reyes wrote in depth about PETA's dairy farm investigation and made a great case for why milk is bad for our bodies and for animals.

Simone's boss, Russell Simmons, dissed milk, too, when he wrote to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo explaining why milk shouldn't be the official state beverage.

Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz noshed on cruelty-free vegan ice cream on Bones, and Gwen Stefani grabbed a healthy vegan lunch with her son Zuma.

To keep up with what your favorite celebs are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.

Last night's episode of All-American Muslim caused many viewers to have an all-American meltdown.

One of the show's "stars," Shadia Amen-McDermott, cited allergies and insisted that her husband, Jeff McDermott, get rid of his elderly dog, Wrigley. When the cameras recorded a sad and confused Wrigley trying to follow his beloved guardians after they dropped him off at his new home, the Twitterverse exploded with cries for the couple to take back the dog and for viewers to boycott TLC until they did.

PETA supporter and Running Russell Simmons star Simone Reyes posted an online letter to Amen-McDermott beseeching her to do the right thing.

PETA is getting into the fray by offering TLC a public service announcement highlighting how Islam teaches compassion for animals and abstention from cruelty. The timing couldn't be better, since Lowe's pulled all its ads from the show amidst controversy over the show's Muslim theme. We're hoping that TLC can find a place for our poignant message.

And we hope that the Amen-McDermott household can find a place in their hearts for Wrigley. After devoting his life to Jeff, the last thing Wrigley deserves is to spend his golden years feeling rejected.

The Rock and Roll of Fame's Class of 2012 has been announced, and animal-friendly stars will be boogieing in. The Red Hot Chili Peppers earned a spot, but we're wondering if this honor could top the Sexiest Vegetarian of 2008 title that Anthony Kiedis snagged. We'll call it a wash. Guns N' Roses was gunning for a spot and rose to the occasion too. We hope the awards ceremony will be fur-free, since Duff McKagan will be in attendance.

What Morrissey said about having his handsome mug on the new PETA postage really rocks: "I am delighted beyond words to be a PETA postage stamp. The rise and rise of PETA is the rise of common sense in modern society. Join the aims of PETA and join a better world."

Other celebs are rocking the Twitterverse with their awesome animal-friendly tweets:

We love what Eliza Dushku said about Forks Over Knives, the documentary that is changing the way Americans eat. Maybe Emily Blunt watched it? She was spotted at the California vegan restaurant Café Gratitude.

We've been watching adorable Fivel Stewart sporting our "Adopt, Don't Buy" tee on the YouTube channel that she shares with brother, Booboo. Guess respect for animals runs in the family.

Nothing says "Thanksgiving" like People's Sexiest Man Alive announcement. This year, the magazine named Bradley Cooper, whose good looks are matched by his good heart. He counts as his greatest loves his rescued mixed-breed dogs.

Speaking of actors and their rescued pups, Booboo Stewart showed up at the Breaking Dawn tent city event wearing PETA's "My Dog Is a Rescue" T-shirt. Booboo is one of several PETA pals in the film, so feel free to use that as an excuse to go watch sexy vampires canoodle on the big screen.

Thanksgiving and football go together like Tofurky and gravy, which is probably what Dallas Cowboys starting fullback Tony Fiammetta will be eating during the holiday. Fiammetta recently switched to a healthy vegan diet, which he says makes him feel better both on and off the field.

Would you invite Bill Clinton to be your Thanksgiving menu consultant? Now that he's vegan and reportedly makes his own cream of asparagus soup, Ellen DeGeneres sought out the former president to sample her new vegan restaurant's menu.

Celebs were a-buzz on Twitter this week, including Megan Park and Carrie Ann Inaba, tweeting about their delicious vegan meals:

Other animal-friendly updates came from Emmanuelle Vaugier and Lexie Tomchek, both of whom shared anti-fur messages. Lovely ladies Angela Simmons and Simone Reyes posted several updates about a PETA event they attended at Uncle Rush's house.

And what better way to wrap up a Thanksgiving-themed celeb update than with a few words from longtime vegetarian Sarah Silverman?

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

Whoa! Joey Lawrence rescued a dog from a local animal shelter while filming in Australia. He called his new family member "the most amazing little thing ever." Another shelter dog—a pit bull who was rescued from a trash chute—has inspired Newark Mayor Cory Booker to build a new state-of-the-art animal shelter. And to further fight cruelty to animals, the mayor's also a vegetarian.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has made the heavenly decision to cut meat almost completely out of his diet too. And Lady Gaga will have to cut meat out of her wardrobe when she performs for Bill Clinton at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow. The former pres told David Letterman, "In deference to my diet, she'll be meatless that night."

Speaking of cruelty-free garb, The Veronicas sent flowers to Australian designer Rachel Gilbert to thank her for ditching fur.  

And just check out what these compassionate celebs had to say to their Twitter followers:

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Michael Vick's last-minute cancelation of his scheduled February 24 appearance on Oprah is all over the news, and the big question everyone's asking is, "Why did Vick back out?"

PETA pal Simone Reyes tweeted her theory: "Rumor has it @Peta was prepping @oprah w/ the tough questions for Vick." We can't blame Vick for fearing the grilling he might have received from an avowed dog lover and PETA's 2009 Person of the Year, but, so far, the only explanation Vick has given for canceling is that it was for "personal reasons."

Hopefully, Vick will take the advice of Los Angeles Times blogger Joe Flint, who wrote yesterday, "Part of what Vick needs to learn and show is humility, and going on a popular TV show to say look at me now is not humble." But in case Vick decides to try his luck with Piers Morgan (who lost a $300 bet with Oprah that he would be the first to snag Vick for an interview), PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk has already sent Piers a friendly e-mail asking him not to book Vick on his show.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Are you one of those people who dread going home for the holidays because of the inevitable arguments over what who you choose not to eat, wear, or chain up in the backyard? Russell Simmons—hip-hop mogul and author of the upcoming self-help book Super Rich—has some sage advice about making peace with less ethically evolved friends and relatives.

PETA V.P. Dan Mathews recently interviewed Russell for the PETA Files:

"People are uncomfortable with anyone who's different for any reason, whether they're vegan or gay or black or whatever," he said. "They feel threatened, and there's nothing we can do about it but try to lead by example and not make people feel they're on a different side. I tell this to my assistant Simone, the supervegan: 'Stop whipping bitches' asses. You have to love the people you want to change.' Obviously anyone who loves animals has some compassion in their heart, but it's easy to get frustrated and block out compassion for the people we want to change. They'll change easier if they don't feel hated."

But even Zen master Russell can lose his cool when it comes to fur. Dan asked him what he says when he encounters people who wear fur: "I say, 'You know how they chop those motherfuckers up for that coat?!'" 

Written by Alisa Mullins

Set your TiVo tomorrow night because you won't want to miss Oxygen's new series, Running Russell Simmons. The episode features fantastic animal rights activist Simone Reyes, who is the executive assistant to one of the coolest vegans on the planet, Russell Simmons.

Odds are, you know that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has spoken up for lonesome, chained dogs, abused KFC chickens, and victims of dogfighting, but you might not know about his right-hand woman, Simone Reyes. Let's change that:

Simone has been a true-blue friend to PETA and all animals. She's a vegan fashionista who's always ready to help, whether by stripping for a PETA anti-fur action or donning "bloody" cellophane for a meat tray demo.

In her profile on the show's website, Simone says, "I only adopt special-needs animals, and they require a lot of my time and attention. … I always carve out time to give undivided attention to my 'kids.'" Simone is Russell's "go-to" gal, and she says she's always ready for action: "That means eating clean (vegan!), exercising, and doing A LOT of charity work so that I can wake up in the morning feeling good about what's reflected back to me in the mirror."

Want to know more about these two phenomenal advocates for animals? Read up, and then round up your friends to celebrate the show's PETA episode on November 9.  

Written by Karin Bennett