Swimsuit

Pro surfer Anastasia Ashley got thousands of bug bites on 'Naked and Afraid'

SI Staff

anastasia-ashley-bug-bites1.jpg

This story originally appeared on EW.com and was written by James Hibberd. 

Note: Only scroll down if you actually want to see the rather gruesome bite-filled photo.

Anastasia Ashley won her first major surfing title at only 16 and conquered the 2010 Pipeline Woman’s Pro in Hawaii. But nothing could prepare Anastasia for her stint on Naked and Afraid. Though the surfer and model wisely made a bikini out of duct tape (take that, MacGyver), it didn’t prevent her from being eaten alive by insects.

Below is a shot of her back she sent to EW.com after six days in the bush of Belize, during which she says she endured thousands of bites from sand flies:

“Being attacked from a swarm of freshly hatched bugs that decided I was their host while naked in the jungle, with nowhere to hide is really the worst experiences of my life,” Anastasia tells [EW]. “It was pure torture. We wanted to jump in the fire to try to end the itching. Luckily we didn’t.”

And that makeshift bikini? Isn’t the show called Naked and Afraid? “As a pro surfer I am in a bikini most of my life and I am very comfortable with my body and being in a bikini, but stripping out of that is a very vulnerable and awkward experience,” she tells [EW]. “I have never done nude shoots and I am pretty modest. I had duct tape, so why not bring a piece of the beach to the jungle?”

Naked and Afraid returns to Discovery on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

See some of Anastasia's hottest moments from SI Swimsuit 2014!

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 24

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Anna Kosturova.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 26

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Ola Vida.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 20

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Indie Soul.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 15

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by MIKOH, Top by Aila Blue.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 18

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by TeenyB Bikini Couture.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 13

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Indah.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 1

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by San Lorenzo.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 5

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Anna Kosturova.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 10

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Ola Vida.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 7

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Indah.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 2

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by Indah.

Anastasia Ashley 2014 Swimsuit 6

Anastasia Ashley was photographed by Adam Franzino in Guana Island. Swimsuit by MIKOH, Top by Aila Blue.

Published