High School Student Beats Out Hundreds to Contend for National Title
For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2012
Contact:
David Perle
202-483-7382
Daphne, Ala. -- Seventeen-year-old Daphne High School student Rae Carlson just may win the national title of Cutest Vegetarian Alive—that is, if she can triumph over her nine fellow female finalists in the contest sponsored by peta2, PETA's youth division. Rae beat out hundreds of contestants from across the U.S. for a spot in the finals, and now it's up to visitors to peta2.com to help peta2 select the winners, who will be announced on June 4. The two winners (one female and one male) will each receive a professional photo shoot and star in a peta2 ad.
"Every year, peta2 meets more and more young people who have pledged to help their health, the environment, and animals by sticking to plant-based meals," says peta2 Division Manager Marta Holmberg. "Our finalists' commitment to making a difference in the world means that they're some of the cutest young people around—both inside and out."
Rae went vegetarian a year and a half ago and almost immediately noticed a big boost in her energy. A member of peta2's Street Team, she regularly hands out literature and circulates petitions about animal rights issues to fellow students. She also has educated her marine biology classmates about the suffering of animals used in dissection, and she successfully negotiated with her principal to introduce veggie burgers in the cafeteria. She also used her considerable power of persuasion to encourage five other people to go vegetarian or vegan. Rae—who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy—enjoys playing the guitar and singing, and she aspires to be an actor and photojournalist.
To view photos and bios of all the finalists, please click here.
PETA will select winners based on several factors, including vote count. See full contest details here.