Who’s the ‘Coolest Vegan Alive’? peta2 Contest Aims to Find Out

Two Special Young People Sought for Trophies, National Spotlight

For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2015

Contact:
Alexis Sadoti 202-483-7382

peta2, PETA’s youth division, is launching its first ever Coolest Vegan Alive contest, inviting young people between the ages of 13 and 21 to let the world know why they’re making the choice to leave animals off their plates. Voters will help peta2 decide whom it should select for the top prize, which includes a personalized Web feature, a prize pack containing cruelty-free goodies, and a Coolest Vegan Alive trophy. Two contestants—one male and one female—will take home top honors.

“Whether they’re leading protests in their communities, getting veggie burgers added to their school cafeterias, or sharing tasty vegan treats and recipes with friends and family, young people everywhere are inspiring people of all ages to go vegan,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “By taking a vital step for animals, the environment, and their own health, all of peta2’s entrants are already winners.”

Eating vegan meals helps save the environment, as raising animals for food is a leading cause of water pollution, land degradation, and greenhouse-gas emissions. Every vegan also saves the lives of more than 100 animals every year. But animals aren’t the only ones reaping the benefits of vegan eating: According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less prone to developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are.

Contestants can submit entries until May 19. Voting to help peta2 decide who it should select as the finalists will begin on May 22 and end on June 12. Twelve finalists—six males and six females—will be notified and featured on the peta2 website on June 30, when public voting for the final round opens. Voting to help peta2 determine whom it should choose as the winners ends on July 21, and the winners will be featured on the website on July 28.

peta2—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—will consider three factors when selecting finalists and winners: contestants’ actions for animals, their enthusiasm, and their total number of votes. For full contest details, please see peta2.me/CoolestVegan.

For more information and to enter the contest, please visit peta2.me/CoolestVegan.