Compassionate 23-Year-Old Inspired at Early Age by Mother's Rescue of Imperiled Animal
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Maryland Heights, Mo. -- The competition to be named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door is heating up, and 23-year-old Maryland Heights resident Mark Kostedt 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."
Since childhood, Kostedt had always felt guilty for eating meat, and two years ago, after watching the PETA video "Chew On This," he went vegetarian. Since then, he has inspired two friends to go meat-free and inspired his mother, grandmother, and grandfather to eat less meat. One of his earliest memories is of the time that his mother pulled over her car to move a turtle out of the middle of the road and placed the animal next to a nearby pond—something he has done several times now himself. Kostedt, who is openly gay, enjoys biking, running, cooking, and reading and uses his YouTube channel to encourage LGBT youth to accept themselves.
To see photos of Kostedt 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.