Portland Man Is a Finalist in PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door Contest

Bodybuilding Champ Enjoys Living for ‘Something Much Greater Than Myself‘

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Portland, Ore. — PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2013 contest is down to the wire, and 33-year-old Edward Bauer, who lives in Portland, could take home the grand prize. That’s because Bauer has beaten out more than 100 other entrants from across the U.S. to become one of 10 male contestants to advance to the final round. Two lucky winners (one male and one female) will each receive a free vacation for two to Maui, Hawaii, courtesy of HumaneTrip.com. Although the annual contest dates back to 2004, this is the first year that participants must be vegan.

“Going vegan can help make you feel better on the inside, look better on the outside, and save more than 100 animals a year from the violence of factory farms, slaughterhouses, and fishing nets,” says PETA Associate Director of Campaigns Lindsay Rajt. “On average, vegans are fitter and trimmer than meat-eaters are, and that makes them sexier, too.”

Bauer went vegan during his junior year at Hoggard High School in Wilmington, N.C. He now owns and operates the Portland-based PlantFit Training Studio, a gym that encourages members to go vegan. He has won one bodybuilding competition and competed in five CrossFit competitions. And when he travels to Austin, Texas, this summer to compete in the Naturally Fit Health & Fitness Expo, Bauer—who can deadlift 410 pounds and clean and jerk 225 pounds—will be alongside nearly 20 other vegan competitors. “My favorite part about being vegan is knowing that I live for something much greater than myself,” he says. “I show others that you can have the body you want and live in harmony with your ethics.” He’s particularly pleased about persuading his father, who almost died from dangerously high triglyceride levels, to go vegan.

Voting for the finalists to help PETA determine the winners ends at 12 noon EDT on May 3. PETA will select winners based on several factors, including vote count. See full contest details here. Winners will be notified and announced by May 9.

For more information and to cast your vote, please click here.