Ball State University Student Wins 'Cutest Vegetarian Alive' Contest

Bluffton Man's Winning Smile Helps Him Earn the Top Spot in peta2 Competition 

For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2010

Contact:
Marta Holmberg 757-622-7382

Bluffton, Ind. -- Nineteen-year-old Joe Jackson and his winning smile emerged victorious in the Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest sponsored by peta2, PETA's youth division.

"With his ambition to help animals and people, Joe Jackson exemplifies the best in today's youth," says peta2 Director Dan Shannon. "And on a vegan diet, he'll probably always stay thinner, healthier, handsomer, and more energetic than his meat-eating classmates."

Jackson has a lot more going for him than his looks. He's adventurous--he recently spent five months in New Zealand. A rising sophomore at Ball State University, he is majoring in both journalism and public relations, and he loves to read and write.

Jackson uses his writing skills on Twitter to spread the word about the dog and cat overpopulation crisis and to urge others never to buy animals. He adopted his two cats, MJ and Foster, from an animal shelter.

The newly crowned Cutest Vegetarian Alive has been a vegan for two years and says that giving up dairy products was easy with such a wide range of yummy substitutes available, such as vanilla soy milk and So Delicious vegan ice cream. His favorite meal is Thai green curry with chocolate tofu mousse for dessert.

Jackson has won a professional photo shoot and a starring role in a peta2 ad.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.