New York City ? Bristol Palin, arguably the nation’s best-known unwed teen mother, embarked on a media tour Wednesday to argue that abstinence is a realistic way for teens to avoid unwanted pregnancy — a view not shared by the father of her infant son.

Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, walked the red carpet in midtown Manhattan with Hayden Panettiere of NBC’s “Heroes” and ace Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza. The three appeared at a town-hall meeting for teenagers organized by The Candie’s Foundation, which works to reduce teen pregnancy.

Wednesday was National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day.

Palin gave birth in December to a baby boy, Tripp.

“Regardless of what I did personally, I just think that abstinence is the only way you can effectively, 100 percent foolproof way you can prevent pregnancy,” she said.

Palin’s promotion of abstinence was a turnaround from what she told Fox News in February. Then, she said teens should avoid sex, but abstinence is “not realistic at all.”