Chicago Woman Among Finalists in peta2's 'Cutest Vegetarian' Contest

The Vote Is On as 19-Year-Old Beats Out More Than 3,000 Contenders

For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2010

Contact:
Marta Holmberg 757-622-7382

Chicago -- What does 19-year-old Chicago resident Alesia Truong have in common with country-music cutie Kellie Pickler? Pickler was a winner of PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Alive contest, and Truong is one of the female finalists in the spin-off Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest sponsored by peta2, PETA's youth division. Truong beat out more than 3,000 contestants from across the U.S. Supporters can vote for their hometown favorite by visiting peta2.com or by clicking here. Two winners (one male and one female) will be announced on June 8, and each will win a professional photo shoot and star in a peta2 ad.

"More and more Americans are going vegetarian every day, and young people are leading the charge," says peta2 director Dan Shannon. "It's no wonder: Vegetarians are slimmer, trimmer, and healthier, on average, than meat-eaters, so they're bound to be a lot cuter too!"

A soon-to-be junior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Truong went vegetarian two years ago after watching videos about factory farming on peta2.com. Since then, she's become active in defending animals, and she took part in a spirited peta2 "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" protest outside a Chicago KFC. She says that she can throw a football better than most guys, and she prides herself on having a motorcycle license. In her spare time, Truong enjoys playing video games and reading action comic books. Her favorite foods are Morningstar Farms' Grillers Vegan Veggie Burgers and her mother's delicious vegan pho--a hearty, broth-based Vietnamese soup.

To view photos and bios of all the finalists and to vote in the contest, please click here.