14 June 2005
Who Is The Sexiest Vegetarian Alive?
New Zealand Stars Rise to the Top of Online Poll at GoVeg.com
Auckland - Vegetarianism has officially gone mainstream, and the world of celebrities is no exception. In a star-studded
poll that was launched earlier this month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking people to vote
for the "Sexiest Vegetarian Alive" on GoVeg.com. Contenders on this year's hot list include some of the country's
biggest stars.
The current leader is singing sensation Hayley Westenra, with actor Anna Paquin - the only New Zealander to make the
list last year - and model Kylie Bax.
Celebrities cite many reasons for forgoing animal flesh. Many are opposed to factory farms, which are rapidly edging out
small family farms. Seventy-six percent of pig farms in New Zealand have 1,000 pigs or more, and roughly half of the
world's pigs, cows and poultry are confined in dark, filthy warehouses where they are deprived of everything that is
natural to them. Animals raised intensively on factory farms routinely undergo debeaking, tail-docking and castration -
all without any pain relief.
Only a steady diet of drugs keeps them alive long enough to be prodded to the slaughterhouse. Other animals are crammed
into tiny cages in live markets, where disease is rampant.
Many cite a desire for improved health and environmental concerns as the reasons for making the switch to vegetarianism.
And because vegetarians are much less likely to be overweight than their meat-eating counterparts, appearance-conscious
celebrities are flocking to salad bars from New York to Christchurch.
"Celebrities are shunning meat faster than you can say 'veggie burger'", says PETA Asia-Pacific Director Jason Baker.
"After all, what's sexier than someone who's both passionate and compassionate?"
In the overall poll, current American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is in the lead over Avril Lavigne and Gwyneth
Paltrow, while for the men, Batman Begins star Christian Bale is leading over Samuel L. Jackson and Coldplay's Chris
Martin.
Results of PETA's "Sexiest Vegetarian Alive" poll will be revealed at the start of July. A complete list of the
vegetarian celebrities who are in the running is available online at GoVeg.com.
ENDS