Retired Mahopac Teacher May Just Be the ‘Sexiest Vegan Over 50’

Visitors to PETA Prime Can Now Cast Their Votes to Help PETA Pick the Sexiest Meat-Free Man and Woman in the Country

For Immediate Release:
November 3, 2015

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Hollywood is full of sexy vegan A-listers over 50, from Woody Harrelson and Michelle Pfeiffer to Bill Clinton and Wendy Williams (who just lost 50 pounds on a vegan diet)—but Mahopac’s no slouch, either. The New York town may be home to PETA’s 2015 Sexiest Vegan Over 50. That’s because 58-year-old Shanti Urreta is one of 10 finalists in the annual contest sponsored by PETA Prime—a resource for baby boomers who want to live a healthy, humane, and rewarding life.

“Vegans tend to be slim, healthy, and energetic, so it’s no surprise that older vegans avoid the high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes that plague so many baby boomers,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Each one of PETA’s finalists is sparkling with vitality and compassion for others, and there’s nothing sexier than that.”

Although it took a cancer scare to inspire Urreta to go vegan for life, since dropping meat and dairy foods, she’s seen her health and energy skyrocket. With more than 20 years under her belt as an elementary school teacher, she has since launched a new career as a vegan educator, author, and public speaker, sharing the benefits of plant-based eating in her book, Dear World, See What I See: My Vegan Path. She regularly speaks at libraries and organizes vegan food programs, letting others in on the secret to her svelte physique and boundless energy. When she’s not holding regular “Transition to Better Health” workshops or hitting the gym, she can be found relaxing with her husband or tasting delicious vegan fare at local restaurants.

Visitors to PETAPrime.org can see photos of all 10 finalists and cast their votes through November 13. Two winners (one male and one female) will be announced on November 23. PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—will select the winners based on several factors, including vote count. Each winner will receive a PETA photo shoot in Los Angeles and a selection of goodies from the PETA Catalog. See the full contest details here.

For more information, please visit PETAPrime.org.