Harleysville Student Among Finalists in peta2's 'Cutest Vegetarian' Contest

The Vote Is On as 20-Year-Old Beats Out More Than 3,000 Contenders

For Immediate Release:
May 25, 2010

Contact:
Marta Holmberg  757-622-7382

Harleysville, Pa. -- What does 20-year-old Harleysville resident Rose Baldino have in common with country music cutie Kellie Pickler? Pickler was a winner of PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Alive contest, and Baldino is one of the female finalists in the spin-off Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest sponsored by peta2, PETA's youth division. Baldino 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 college sophomore, Baldino has been vegetarian her whole life--her father and mother made the compassionate decision to go vegetarian before she was born. She says that her meatless diet is a great way to lead a healthy lifestyle and help stop animal suffering. Baldino learned to play the violin when she was in elementary school, and she began taking Irish fiddle lessons at age 13. It paid off because now she plays the fiddle and sings in a successful Celtic band called Burning Bridget Cleary, which has recorded two CDs so far. Baldino loves fruit smoothies, music, and animals.

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