Tia Mowry, Steve Aoki Nominated for peta2 Awards

Fans Can Help These Animal-Friendly Celebrities Earn Top Honors

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2013

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

What do you get when you sing the praises of helping animals everywhere, from Twitter to a national music tour? The pleasure of knowing that you’re helping countless animals, yes, but also a possible nomination for the eighth annual Libby Awards, which is why Tia Mowry and DJ Steve Aoki are both contenders this year. The Libbys are presented by peta2, PETA’s youth division, and stand for “liberation”—as in animal liberation.

“I wanted to become a voice for my community… I wanted to educate my culture about the benefits of becoming vegan,” Mowry says. And has she ever. The proud vegan actor and Tia and Tamera star has become a one-woman recruiting machine for going vegan, keeping her Twitter followers up to date on her delicious plant-based creations and starring in a stunning peta2 ad in which she wears only strategically placed vegetables. “The more you learn about the benefits of being vegan, the more you become alive and the more you become aware of why it’s a really great decision. Not only am I helping myself, I’m helping the animals out there, I’m helping the environment—going vegan, I feel great,” she says. She’ll likely be just as excited if she grabs the award for Most Animal-Friendly Celebrity.

Not to be outdone, when Aoki goes on tour to take his explosive live performances and electro indie dance tracks to fans across the country, he often takes peta2 along for the ride. He lets peta2 set up shop at his concerts, reaching thousands of young people every night with an animal-friendly message. An avid PETA supporter since the age of 14, Aoki is passionate about advocating for animals, especially those who are tormented and killed for their fur. And he made that clear with his arresting ad that proclaims, “I’d Rather Be Arrested Than Wear Fur.” Aoki’s compassion earned him a nomination for Most Animal-Friendly Pop/Hip-Hop Artist.

“The number of people ditching meat and refusing to wear fur is growing by leaps and bounds, and kind celebrities such as Tia, Steve, and all of their fellow nominees deserve a lot of the credit for that,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “Their positive influence has convinced countless people to give cruelty-free living a try.”

There are a total of 26 categories this year, and voting ends on December 13. Winners will be chosen by peta2 based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on December 17. Each winner will receive a personalized certificate. See the full contest details here.

For more information and to cast a vote to help peta2 decide whom it should choose as the winners, please visit peta2.com/Libbys.