Foxy Military Veteran Says Her Favorite Thing About Being Meat-Free Is Saving Animals' Lives
For Immediate Release:
May 2, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Hilton Head, S.C. -- The competition to be named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door is heating up, and 45-year-old Hilton Head resident Carmela Countz just may take home the grand prize. 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 in PETA's contest. Two lucky winners (one female and one male) will each receive a free trip to Hawaii, courtesy of the PETA Member Advantage Program.
"On average, vegetarians are slimmer and healthier than meat-eaters are—and they save more than 100 animals a year from the violence of factory farms, slaughterhouses, and fishing nets," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "One look at our radiant finalists proves that there's nothing sexier than kindness."
Countz went vegetarian 10 years ago after serving in the Army and later went vegan. A lupus survivor, she believes that eating meat in the past had worsened her symptoms and wants to spread the word that vegan eating is a healthy choice for others with lupus. When asked what she likes most about being vegan, she replied that it's knowing all the lives she's saving. Although you'd never believe it to look at her, Countz is a grandmother of a 3-year-old boy, who she's very proud is also vegan. Her hobbies include photography, swimming, and kayaking, and her biggest turn-on is men who eat vegan food.
To see photos of Countz and the other sexy vegetarian finalists, please click here. The voting—which can be done on PETA's website and by texting—ends on May 14, and the two winners will be announced on May 21.
For more information and to vote in the contest, please visit PETA.org or click here.
Three factors will be considered when PETA chooses the winners: the number of votes received from the public, the enthusiasm demonstrated by the entrants in living and promoting a vegetarian lifestyle, and PETA's assessment of the entrants' attractiveness.