Coeur D’Alene Woman Is a Finalist in PETA’s ‘Sexiest Vegan Next Door’ Contest

Glamorous Model Has Compassion for Beings of All Species

For Immediate Release:
April 25, 2014

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2014 contest is down to the wire, and 29-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident Kenna Smoot could take home the grand prize. That’s because she has beaten out hundreds of other entrants from across the U.S. to become one of 10 female contestants to advance to the final round. Two lucky winners—one female and one male—will each receive a free vacation for two to Maui, Hawaii, courtesy of HumaneTrip.com.

“Going vegan can help make you feel better on the inside, look better on the outside, and save the lives of more than 100 animals a year,” says PETA Special Projects Manager Alicia Woempner. “On average, vegans are fitter and trimmer than meat-eaters are, and that makes them sexier, too.”

Smoot—who splits her time between Coeur d’Alene and Los Angeles—went vegetarian 10 years ago and vegan a year later. “One day, I was sitting at a stoplight and a semitruck pulled up next to me, and it was filled with cows,” she says. “When I looked over, a beautiful brown and white cow locked eyes with me. … I felt like she was trying to tell me to save her.” Smoot has a dog named Rebel Alley, whom she adopted from a shelter. She has protested against the cruel Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and one of her heroes is longtime PETA pal Bob Barker. She operates a blog called Meat Meets Vegan to help people understand the health benefits of cruelty-free living. Smoot has modeled for Swedish beauty campaigns and Axe commercials, and she’s the mother of three vegan boys. She makes her living as a paid online blogger and cook, converting meat-based recipes into vegan meals. She credits her father with instilling in her the Native American principles that we’re connected with animals and plants and we all need one another to survive.

Voting for the finalists to help PETA determine the winners ends at noon EDT on May 2. PETA will select the winners based on several factors, including vote count. See the full contest details here. Winners will be notified and announced by May 6.

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