San Diego Man is a Finalist in PETA’s ‘Sexiest Vegan Next Door’ Contest

Bodybuilder, Surfer, and Model Works With Special-Needs Kids

For Immediate Release:
April 22, 2014

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2014 contest is down to the wire, and 44-year-old San Diego resident Julian Christian could take home the grand prize. That’s because he has beaten out hundreds of 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.

“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.”

Christian—whom most people mistake for being at least 10 years younger than he is—spent most of his life in New York City before moving to San Diego. He’s a pediatric occupational therapist who works with teens with special needs. He stopped eating meat after working in a slaughterhouse when he was 16 and went vegan seven years ago. He credits his kind and healthy diet with giving him his exceptional physique, which has landed him on the cover of a few novels and in the pages of fitness magazines. He’s very active in the battle against SeaWorld’s cruelty to orcas and other animals and proud of his “SeaWorld Sucks” bumper sticker. Christian’s passion is surfing, during which he commonly encounters marine mammals living free, as they were meant to.

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.