Born in the USA

11 Sept

INTERVIEW: Born in the USA

Cassandra Reed loves her homeland…most of the time.

You can’t get much more all-American.

Born just outside MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Florida, where her father was in the military, Cassandra Reed is also a military wife herself. Married for ten years, she and her husband are currently living in Colorado, courtesy of his latest posting. She works at a gym part-time on her husband’s base, teaches yoga and other fitness classes around town, and even takes part in beauty pageants.

The difference comes in the fact that she also supplements her income with naked modelling assignments. And the beauty pageants, it’s probably worth adding, happen to be nude ones.

“I’m guessing that you could say that, in many respects, I’m a little different from a lot of other American women I encounter!” she smiles. “As you’d expect, I spent a lot of my childhood moving around. My mother is also part-German, part-Italian. My parents met when my father was assigned in Germany, and my mother was the first person who introduced me to nudism at a young age. I grew up with the attitude that it was very common, even unremarkable, in Europe. I remember my first time going to a nude beach and a nude waterpark and it was such a load of fun. I’ve been in love with nudism ever since.”

Being naked in the United States however is, as she concedes, “very difficult at times. Little by little, some places are allowing nudists to host events, but there are still many people who see it as a bad thing. Along with other naturists, we’re fighting to push for more nudist rights and wider awareness, but there is still a long way to go. I wish the US was more like Europe when it comes to normal, clean, wholesome family nudism.”

Opportunity

In spite of some of the obstacles in her way, Cassandra enjoys being naked whenever the opportunity arises. “I don’t get the chance at work, as it’s not a nude gym and we don’t hold naked yoga classes, but I love being nude in my free time. And I really enjoy the modelling. I started doing nude modelling when I was at a naturist event, back in California, and was approached by a professional photographer who asked me had I ever thought about posing for nude art photography. I said no, but would love to try it out. This led to me doing a series of projects both in the United States and Europe. And as a result, I also got to compete in Miss Nude North America back in 2017 and a number of other nude pageants at various naturist resorts.

“I’ve also became good friends with a lovely lady named Kendra, who I met down in Florida at Haulover nude beach. She helps out down there in the summers at nudist youth camps, and told me the organisers were always looking for staff - in particular ones who didn’t have a problem themselves with nudity - to organise and supervise activities for the camps. I’ve helped serve meals to the campers, and overseen nude tug-of-war contests. And doing something especially close to my heart, I’ve also run body acceptance workshops and nude aerobics classes. It’s great to be involved with young people and teach them not to be ashamed of their bodies.”

Climate-wise, it’s a bit different from Colorado?

“Just a little! You can’t beat the feeling of the sun on your skin. I have been to a few nudist resorts and beaches in the US, and I have to say my favourite is Haulover. I love how beautiful the water and the sand are, and the fact that you see so many people of all ages, shapes and sizes enjoying being nude and free, and just having fun.

“From the point of view of work, it’s also a great place to make contacts. I don’t really come across too many other nudists where we currently are, but at Haulover you meet so many, from all walks of life and with such different interests. Apart from that however, I primarily use social media to network with photographers, resorts, non-landed clubs and other naturist groups, and get involved with related events.”

Having been a nomad for much of her life, Cassandra is now looking at finally putting down some roots, and she and her husband are planning to buy a property of their own for when he comes out of the military.

In Europe?

“No,” she admits. “Back in my hometown. You can take Tampa out of the girl, but you can’t take the girl out of Tampa…”