Dani Julien is a true survivor.

The 27 year-old beauty — and contestant Discovery Channel’s NAKED AND AFRAID — narrowly escaped with her life during a violent home invasion while volunteering five years ago in Tanzania.

“I was living with a friend of mine in a roof shed and our house was broken into,” she shares. “To shorten a long story, I came out of it alive and he did not.”

Dani — a sales and marketing manager from Santa Cruz, Calif. — came out of the experience with a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“I tried traditional therapy, but sitting on a couch for an hour and talking about my issues wasn’t really doing it for me,” she says.

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So Dani gave wilderness therapy a try.

“And out of that has come my passion for survival.”

Dani is one of the brave and adventurous Americans who were challenged to spend 21 days naked and in the wild, literally living off the land for the third season of the Discovery Channel series.

She told me more about her experience when we caught up in Beverly Hills yesterday…

What was the most unexpected challenge of being in the wilderness?

It’s funny. I went out there and did the challenge and it was so hard in certain aspects. But coming home with the television and the lights and the music and the overload of technology, it was so crazy. It was such a different challenge coming back home into it.

What did you think you were going to do with your life before this all started happening?

Not this! [laughs] I didn’t think I would be doing this with my life, that is for sure. I got a call from casting last July. They said, “Hey, we’ve got this show going on. Would you like to participate?” And I thought, “That sounds right up my alley. That is something I would love to do.” So I started going through the casting process and then a couple of weeks into it, I thought, “Maybe I should watch the show and see what exactly this is all about.” So I started watching the show and I thought, “Oh, my God. This is a TERRIBLE idea! What am i doing?” But I am so glad I went and so glad I committed myself to it.

You and the other participants must share a very unique bond now…

All of the people on the show, we are kind of a different breed. We are all kind of out there doing our best in these miserable situations. So that we have in common.

Why do you think the casting people reached out to you?

A friend of mine is a phenomenal survivalist and they had wanted her to do the show but she for various reasons didn’t have the time. So she said, “I can’t do it, but I have this friend in California…”

What did your parents say when you told them?

My parents were so supportive. My mom thinks I am a little bit nuts, but they totally support everything that I do. It’s funny because my whole life I have always been that kid that springs something crazy on them at the last minute. I think at this point I have given my mother enough gray hairs that she has learned she just needs to accept and let me go on with whatever crazy idea I come up with. So it wasn’t too much of a shock to them…

Was there a boyfriend or anybody at home who you left behind?

No.

So you recommend that if you are going to go to the jungle naked you should be single?

Yes and no. I think it depends on your relationship. For me it was easy. But both of the boys were married. I can’t imagine that their wives were too excited about it. But I met both of them and they are fabulous women and very supportive of their husband.

What is next? Would you go on SURVIVOR or is that too easy?

I will be starting a (film) documentary in February.

Do you see show business in your future?

If anything comes my way, I would take it. But I am not actively seeking anything.

What is your long term goal?

I wish I had one. I wish I had a plan. My goal right now is just to continue to live life to its fullest.

NAKED AND AFRAID airs Sundays at 10:00 PM on Discovery.