Why pick me for a 'nude' security scan?: Ex-Baywatch star claims airport staff were leering at her contours



Singled out: Miss D'Errico said that she was felt overexposed after she was picked for a scan, despite their being a large number of passengers to choose from

The airport security man could have chosen any one of the queue of passengers to undergo a ‘nude’ security scan.

Surprise, surprise, he picked blonde ex-Playboy model Donna D’Errico.

The former Baywatch beauty claims she was singled out although her bearded boyfriend Roy J Bank actually looks like a ‘stereotypical terrorist’.

She adds that she saw officers from the Transportation Security Administration ‘leering’ at her scan, which reveals every contour of the body.

Miss D’Errico, 42, was flying from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh with Mr Bank and her 17-year-old son Rhyan.

She said she was pulled aside and told she would have to go through one of the full body scans which have caused much controversy since being introduced at US airports.

The screening officer can see an image of the unclothed body, while the passenger’s face is blurred. Once the passenger has been screened the ‘naked’ imagery is deleted.

Miss D’Errico said she felt ‘overexposed’ at being chosen to go through the scanner.

She said she asked why she had been chosen from a long line of passengers. ‘In a very sarcastic tone, and still holding me by the elbow, the agent responded, “Because you caught my eye, and they didn’t”.’

She added: ‘My boyfriend sailed through with no problems, which is rather ironic in that he fits the stereotypical “look” of a terrorist when his beard has grown a bit.’



‘After the search, I noticed that the male agent who had pulled me out of line was smiling and whispering with two other agents and glancing at me. I was outraged.’

Officials have faced widespread criticism in recent weeks over increased security measures.

X-ray: The body scanners are used to pick up hidden objects that a passenger may be concealing under their clothes but leaves little to the imagination



Passengers are given a choice of going through the full body scanner or undergoing an extensive patdown by an officer.



Several fliers have stripped to their underwear before going through scanners to avoid being touched inappropriately by security officials.

Miss D’Errico said she was not given the option. ‘This could, and I’m sure does, happen to other women,’ she said.

‘It isn’t right to hide behind the veil of security and safety in order to take advantage of women, or even men for that matter, so that you can see them naked.

It’s a misuse of power and authority, and as much a personal violation as a Peeping Tom. The difference is that Peeping Toms can have charges pressed against them.’

An airport security spokesman denied any improper behaviour by staff. But it is only a week since Fergie, the blonde singer from the group Black Eyed Peas, was also forced to go through a full body scan.

Donna D’Errico was a regular on the Baywatch series from 1996 to 1998 after working as a swimsuit model and appearing as a centrefold in Playboy in 1995.

She has continued to act in several independent films.

She said she was unsure if the security men had recognised her from her modelling days but added: ‘I must have overlooked the clause in both my Playboy and Baywatch contracts stating that once appearing in that magazine, or on that show, I would forever be subject to being seen naked live and in person by anyone, at any time, under any conditions, whether I agree to it or not, and for free.’