Dahl, the granddaughter of children's author Roald Dahl, won notoriety for her appearance in an Opium fragrance poster in 2000, where she appeared naked and reclining, legs akimbo.
The advertisement, which shows Dahl wearing nothing but a pearl choker and gold stilettos, went on to be banned by the Advertising Standards Authority after receiving 730 complaints from the public. It was the highest number of complaints for a single ad for five years.
Speaking yesterday, Dahl said she was embarrassed to have to show so much flesh. The 25-year-old former date of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger told The Sun newspaper: "I like there to be mystery -- I like not to see everything."
The ASA ordered Yves Saint Laurent to withdraw the Opium poster in December 2000, saying that it was too sexually suggestive and was likely to cause serious or widespread offence.
The ad, which used an image from a photograph by Stephen Meisel, only attracted three complaints when it first ran as a press ad.
It was dubbed "porno chic" by protestors and called degrading to women. There was also concern that the posters could distract drivers and cause accidents.
YSL went on to court more controversy last year when it placed male full-frontal nude ads for the new men's fragrance M7 in the magazines The Face, i-D and Dazed & Confused.
"Nudity in England does tend to get people's backs up," Dahl added.
The Opium ad went on to be parodied by Scottish Courage brand Newcastle Brown Ale where a Brown Ale drinker appeared in a boilersuit and battered working boots.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .