Venus Williams, Emelie Forsberg Win National Awards for Animal Advocacy

For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2022

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

For promoting the health and environmental benefits of animal-free foods and urging fans to try vegan eating, Venus Williams and champion trail runner Emelie Forsberg are winners of PETA’s 2022 Libby Awards. “Libby” is short for “liberation”—as in “animal liberation”—and the awards, which are given out by PETA’s youth division, recognize the individuals, brands, and products that go above and beyond for animals.

• Venus Williams won “Favorite Celeb Vegan Brand” for her company, Happy Viking, which sells vegan superfood powders and protein shakes. She created Happy Viking after discovering the benefits of vegan eating following her diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that left her in constant pain and unable to play tennis. After going vegan, she returned to the tennis court, ultimately winning her fifth Wimbledon Championship and an Olympic gold medal.
• Emelie Forsberg is the winner of “Favorite Animal-Friendly Athlete” for encouraging her followers to eat more vegan foods, pointing out that doing so is better for the planet, and explaining how easily she incorporates vegan ingredients—including beans, lentils, sprouts, seeds, nuts, and vegetables—into her diet on a daily basis. She and her partner, trail-running legend Kílian Jornet Burgada, regularly promote plant-powered eating as good for human health and the environment.

“These superstar athletes are living proof of the peak performance that can result from vegan eating,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “PETA is honoring Venus and Emelie for their advocacy and for showing that plant-powered nutrition is a win for athletes and animals alike.”

Other 2022 nominees included Chris Paul, Spencer Strider, and Alejandro Davidovich.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.