Polar Bear ‘Best Choice’ As 2018 FIFA World Cup Mascot In Russia: Pamela Anderson

A polar bear should be the mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, according to Pamela Anderson.

The Canadian-born model is a member of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Anderson, who is on her second visit to Russia in less than six months, said other choices might be tigers and leopards. Anderson was on Playboy’s cover for 14 times, which is a record in itself.

"As long as a live animal is not going to be abused as a mascot, I think a polar bear is one of the iconic animals in Russia," the Playboy veteran told Russian News Agency Tass. "Leopards and tigers, but polar bear I think would be good."

Anderson earlier had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin's head of office, Sergey Ivanov, on animal rights. “It's nice to hear about the great things that Russia's doing for wildlife and wildlife conservation [both] in and outside of Russia,” Anderson told RT after the meeting.

“I like to go to the top, I like to go to the most powerful people.”

The mascot selection process is divided into three stage. The first stage was held online between April and July. People were allowed suggest choices for the mascot, including its name and the legend behind it.

At the end of the first stage, there were 10 options for voters to choose from: a firebird, a wolf, a robot, a cat, a Far Eastern leopard, an alien, a cosmonaut, a bear and an Amur Tiger, Bogatyr (a legendary medieval Russian figure).