Forever 21, Gabe Saporta, Justin Bieber, Other Teen Favorites Grab peta2 Awards

Best Animal-Friendly Retailer, Hair Product, Celebrity, Breakthrough Artist, and More Given Top Honors in Annual Libby Awards

For Immediate Release:
February 24, 2010

Contact:
Marta Holmberg 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- The world's largest youth animal rights organization, peta2, has just announced the winners of the group's fourth annual Libby Awards ("Libby" is short for "liberation"), which honor animal-friendly people and products. Visitors to peta2.com helped the group determine the winners by voting for their favorites in each category. There were 38 Libbys given out this year, and the following are some of the winners in categories that are of particular interest to teens who are passionate about animal rights:

* Favorite Animal-Friendly Celebrity: Gabe Saporta--Gabe Saporta has long been a big supporter of peta2 and has been a vegetarian for more than a decade. He also starred in an anti-fur ad and was the face of peta2's "Animal Testing Breaks Hearts" campaign on the 2009 Warped Tour.
* Breakthrough Artist (Best Newcomer to peta2): Justin Bieber--Justin Bieber took the world by storm with his platinum-selling single, "One Time," and shortly thereafter starred in one of peta2's all-time most popular ads, which included the words "My World Includes Compassion for Animals, Yours Should Too."
* Best Retail Store: Forever 21--Forever 21 has one of the best varieties of stylish and affordable vegan clothing, bags, and shoes on the market. In 2004, the company removed all fur from its stores--forever. And Forever 21 has even carried T-shirts featuring peta2 slogans such as "Club Soda, Not Seals."
* Best Women's Vegan Shoe: Charlotte Russe T-Strap Cut Out Booties--These stylish and sexy booties feature a cut-out T-strap, buckled ankle strap, 4 1/4-inch stiletto heel, and an interior platform--but not a speck of real leather, which is great news for cows who are routinely abused on factory farms.

In addition, Dirty Shirty won the award for Most Animal-Friendly Clothing Company; Kiss My Face's Upper Management Medium Hold Styling Gel was named the Best Cruelty-Free Hair Product; and LUSH's 'None of Your Beeswax' Lip Balm, which has a delicious lemon-vanilla flavor, was named Best Vegan Lip Balm. All winners will receive plaques and will be featured on peta2.com.

"A growing number of today's teens are taking a stand against cruelty to animals when they shop, eat, or listen to music," says peta2 Director Dan Shannon. "Our winners prove every day that compassion is more than just a virtue--it's also a road to success."

For more about the Libby Awards and to read about all of this year's winners, please visit peta2.com.