Pair of Midwesterners Radiate Kindness Toward Others—Including Animals
For Immediate Release:
February 28, 2013
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Los Angeles -- The Leughmyers of Columbia City, Ind., have always known that their daughter, Ciera,was the cutest kid around. The same goes for the Andersons of Fairfield, Iowa, and their 6-year-old son, Vaughn. But now it's official. That's because Ciera and Vaughn have been chosen as the winners of PETA Kids 2013 Cutest Vegan Kids contest. They beat out more than 120 other kids 12 and younger in the inaugural year that the competition was limited to vegans, thanks to the fast-growing number of kids who don't eat meat or unhealthy and cruelly obtained eggs and dairy products. Ciera and Vaughn have each won a prize pack and the opportunity to appear in their very own PETA Kids ad.
"Ciera's and Vaughn's radiance is no accident—it's the result of their healthy diet and their kindness toward others, no matter the species," says PETA Youth Marketing Manager Emily Rodriguez. "All our entrants were already winners because they spare the suffering and lives of animals every time they sit down to eat."
Ciera is already a seasoned activist, having handed out leaflets and discussed animal rights with other children as well as adults. Her philosophy is very simple: Animals are her friends, and she doesn't eat her friends. She knows that if something contains animal products, it means that an animal suffered. Ciera's "brothers" and "sisters" include two dogs, two cats, 10 rats, four mice, and one fish—all of whom were rescued.
Vaughn went vegan at 5, all on his own, after being raised a vegetarian from birth. Although he loves animals, he never asks to go to the zoo because he believes that animals should be free and not caged. Vaughn's commitment to a vegan lifestyle has inspired his 4-year-old sister also to go vegan, and he has inspired no fewer than five adults to go either vegan or vegetarian.
Winners were selected based on several factors, including vote count. For more information, please visit PETAKids.com.
