Story highlights Pamela Anderson discusses her childhood sex abuse at a charity event in France

Despite "loving parents," Anderson says she "did not have an easy childhood"

"Needless to say, I had a hard time trusting humans," Anderson says

Actress Pamela Anderson revealed Friday that she suffered sexual abuse throughout her childhood, starting at age 6 when she was molested by a babysitter.

The former "Baywatch" star talked about it in remarks at the launch of her animal rights charity -- The Pamela Anderson Foundation -- at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

"I feel now might be the time to reveal some of my most painful memories," she said, according to the transcript posted on her online blog.

Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men That first issue of Playboy featured Marilyn Monroe on the cover. Financed with $600 of Hefner's money and less than $8,000 of raised capital, the magazine appeared on newsstands December 1, 1953, and sold more than 51,000 issues. Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men The July 1955 issue was the first time the bikini was modeled prominently on the cover. The model on the beach towel is Janet Pilgrim, who also appeared as the issue's Playmate of the Month. Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Donna Michelle appears in the shape of Playboy's bunny logo on the May 1964 cover. "I had this idea of a girl posing in the shape of the rabbit, but I thought no model would be able to do it," said Art Paul, Playboy's first art director. "I asked Donna and there was no problem. She got into that position with great ease and could still smile." Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Some of Playboy's simplest covers appeared in the 1960s. This cover, in June 1965, features Hedy Scott in a head wrap, staring intently above her sunglasses. Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men The July 1969 cover model was Barbi Benton, Hefner's girlfriend for the better part of eight years. She would appear on three more covers: March 1970, May 1972 and December 1985. Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men In October 1971, Darine Stern was the first African-American model to appear on a Playboy cover. By putting Stern on the cover, Playboy helped shift the nation's standards of mainstream beauty. Although the magazine had already featured two black Playmates by this time -- Jennifer Jackson (March 1965) and Jean Bell (October 1969) -- nude African-American models were mainly seen in publications produced for and by the black community. Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Pamela Anderson holds the record for the most Playboy covers. This October 1989 issue was the first of 13 cover appearances. Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Anna Nicole Smith is named Playmate of the Year on the June 1993 cover. Smith first appeared on Playboy's March 1992 cover. Within months, she was named Miss May 1992 and a spokeswoman for Guess jeans. Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Jenny McCarthy has appeared on six Playboy covers, including this January 2005 issue where she is wearing a bunny costume. Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Seth Rogan appears on the cover in April 2009. In Playboy's 60-year history, the magazine has featured a man on the cover 10 times. The first was Peter Sellers in April 1964. Other men on the cover: Burt Reynolds, Steve Martin, Donald Trump, Dan Aykroyd, Jerry Seinfeld, Leslie Nielsen, Gene Simmons and Bruno Mars. Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men Playboy has recently returned to running the more art-inspired concept covers that it was known for in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. This November 2013 "Lips" cover was recently awarded "Cover of the Day" by the Society of Professional Designers. Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Playboy: Entertainment for men The cover of Playboy magazine's 60th anniversary issue features supermodel Kate Moss. Hide Caption 12 of 12

Although she had "loving parents" while growing up in British Columbia, Canada, Anderson said she "did not have an easy childhood."

She recounted being molested between the ages of 6 and 10 "by my female babysitter," and then being raped when she was 12 by the 25-year-old brother of a "friend's boyfriend." The man "decided he would teach me backgammon, which led into a back massage, which led into rape," she said.

Coincidentally, the Cannes event at which she revealed the rape was a backgammon tournament.

"Needless to say, I had a hard time trusting humans," Anderson said. "I just wanted off this earth."

Although her parents "tried to keep me safe," the "world was not a safe place," she said. Her mother was busy working two waitressing jobs, she said.

"My mom was always crying," she said.

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She never told her mother about the molestation and rapes because "I couldn't (bear) to give her any more disruptive information," she said. "I couldn't break her heart any more than it was breaking."

Anderson, now 46, said her love for animals saved her.

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"My loyalty remained with the animal kingdom," she said. "I vowed to protect them and only them. I prayed to the whales with my feet in the ocean. My only real friends, till I had children."

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