Martial Arts Competitor Credits His Vegan Diet With Keeping Him in Top Physical Condition
For Immediate Release:
May 2, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Pembroke Pines, Fla. -- The competition to be named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door is heating up, and 46-year-old Pembroke Pines resident Malik Kalonji just may take home the grand prize. 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 in PETA's contest. Two lucky winners (one male and one female) 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."
Kalonji has been vegetarian for 26 years and went vegan six years ago. He credits his healthy and compassionate diet with giving him more energy, improving his health, and helping him in martial arts. A yoga instructor, massage therapist, and winner of several martial arts competitions, Kalonji has a college-age son and an adopted cat named Kwanzaa. He writes poems and raps, which he uses to speak up for animals.
To see photos of Kalonji 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.