Nineteen-Year-Old's Winning Smile and Warm Heart Vault Her to the Top of Hundreds of Entries
For Immediate Release:
June 7, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
St. Louis — More and more people are kicking the meat habit, and nowhere is that truer than among young people. After a field of more than 1,200 entrants was whittled down to 20 finalists, 19-year-old St. Louis resident Madeline Smith was chosen the female winner of the 2011 Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest sponsored by peta2, PETA's youth division. Visitors to peta2.com cast their votes last month to help peta2 determine a winner. The contest is a spinoff of PETA's annual Sexiest Vegetarian Alive contest, whose reigning queen is actor Olivia Wilde.
"One look at Madeline Smith's radiant smile, and it's plain to see what a happy and healthy young woman she is," says peta2 Division Manager Marta Holmberg. "Going vegetarian—at any age—is the best thing that anyone can do for animals, the environment, and themselves."
Smith, who has been vegetarian for three years, recently went vegan after learning about the cruel treatment of cows and their calves in the dairy industry, and she says that she's never been happier. She has also gotten active in animal rights by attending demonstrations, handing out leaflets at school and in the community, and talking to as many people as possible about the benefits of a vegan diet. Any time that she hears someone is getting a cat or a dog, she explains the importance of having the animal spayed or neutered and makes sure that the person knows to save a life by adopting from an animal shelter instead of buying an animal from a breeder or a pet store. Smith believes that animals have the same right to enjoy life as humans do. Her favorite foods are meat- and cheese-free tacos, vegan baked goods, pasta, and peanut butter.
Smith will hold the title for a full year. She and the male winner—15-year-old Corey Ketterman of Martinsburg, W.Va.—have each won a professional photo shoot and will star in a peta2 ad.
For more information and to view Smith's winning photo, please visit peta2.com or click here.