Interesting topic! As a professional figure painter, I have noticed many differences between the attitudes of both the culture and individuals here and in the US towards nudity. It is my experience that it IS true that Europeans are much more relaxed about showing their bodies, about not judging others by their clothing, wallet, body shape, whatever, than most in the US (especially in SoCal!). Models here are much, much easier to work with, will take an erotic pose without embarassment, and in general are just much easier to work with than models from the US generally. The nude is everywhere here: statues, paintings, on the beaches. . . this is one reason I live here, and NOT in the US.
US prudishness is viewed as being the immature phenomena it is (forgive my spelling, I am forgetting my English!).