Ruby Rose -- Lighten Up! Blonde Hair and NO CLOTHES (PHOTO)

Ruby Rose Lighten Up! Blonde Hair & NO CLOTHES

Ruby Rose wasn't always the short-haired brunette, perfect-faced beauty we know today -- she used to be a LONG-haired BLONDE, perfect-faced beauty ... and yes, she still looked AWESOME.

Hotter Ruby?

The new "Orange Is the New Black" star posed for Maxim Australia back in 2011, but she's almost unrecognizable on the cover ... which is a totally nude shot. Tastefully done, of course.

Ruby was already tatted up back then, and apparently religious. If you're not ... we suspect holding her well-placed rosary beads will bring you closer to God.

The chick's a smoke show in or OUT of anything. Just sayin' ...