Marlina Moreno sets up charity to save animals by dancing in clubs

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Marlina Moreno, 24, quit job as an NFL cheerleader to visit jungle in 2012
Has now launched her own charity to help exotic animals around the world
To help pay for her travel, she struts her stuff as a club dancer at weekends
Says she's 'not really girly' and prefers the modest jungle life to the clubs

Published: 14:02 EST, 3 August 2015 | Updated: 23:07 EST, 3 August 2015

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An American model and former NFL cheerleader has funded her wildlife conservation efforts by dancing in nightclubs.

Marlina Moreno, 24, who has appeared in Sports Illustrated, has now launched her own charity to help the plight of exotic animals around the world.

To help pay for her travel, the model struts her stuff as a club dancer but says she's 'not really girly' and prefers the modest jungle life.

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Glamorous: Marlina Moreno, 24, a model, has launched her own business to help exotic animals worldwide

The 24-year-old model, pictured with a Shoebill, that can be found in various locations across Africa

Miss Moreno quit her job as an NFL cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers in 2012 to visit the jungle

The model pictured relaxing by the Amazon River in Peru with Karina, a spider monkey and rescued ex-pet

The model, who has featured in adverts for Nike, quit her job as a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers to visit the South African jungle in 2012.

She immediately found her calling and recently started Pink Monkey Media, where she shoots wildlife conservation documentaries.

Since then, she has visited eight different countries across Asia, Africa and South America - with her latest being a field research trip to Borneo to work with orangutans. She is also studying for her second MA in Conservation Biology.

The 24-year-old, who lives in Los Angeles, said: 'I always wanted to travel to exotic places but I didn't grow up with money.

'I had a pretty modest childhood and we didn't travel much.

'But the path I've been on over the last few years has allowed me to marry my love of wildlife and filming - it has changed my life.

'It's a very different lifestyle but it is amazing. Borneo was amazing and I was recently in Malaysia learning about primate conservation.'

Marlina Moreno finds a friend in Skunky the monkey

Miss Moreno, pictured with a rhino, grew up on a farm in the countryside, which inspired her love of animals

The animal-loving brunette, shooting a film (left) and (right) with a chimpanzee funds her trips to the jungle by dancing in San Diego nightclubs

Miss Moreno, pictured with a Llama on the Machu Picchu, has set up a charity to help exotic animals

Her humble conservation work is a far cry from her hectic weekend job as a nightclub dancer in San Diego.

'When I'm in the jungle with no make-up on people don't expect me to be half naked dancing at night clubs when I get home', she said.

'And when I'm at home dancing people tend to be surprised to find out I travel and spend months in the wilderness.

'It's interesting to see people's reaction. I think people assume you to be a certain way. With me, they see a young pretty girl and assume I will be high maintenance or stuck up or materialistic.'

The model, 24, who has featured in Sports Illustrated, plays with a baby elephant during a conservation trip

Her unglamorous conservation work is in stark contrast to her glitzy weekend job as a club dancer (pictured)

The glamorous 24-year-old model was an NFL cheerleader for four years (left) and earns money as a club dancing in San Diego on the weekends (right)

But the animal-loving brunette, who grew up on a farm in California, said she had always been a tomboy at heart.

She said: 'I hate make-up and shaving my legs - I'm not really girly.

'I grew up on a farm in the countryside riding horses with tons of space and outdoors and around animals.

'I never planned on dancing it's just something that happened but it's been a great platform and I've been able to bridge two different worlds.'

Miss Moreno plans to re-visit Uganda later this year having climbed the 5,109 metre-high Rwenzori Mountains in January to promote tourism in the country.