Spokane Woman Is Finalist in PETA’s ‘Sexiest Vegan Over 50’ Contest

Fans Can Help PETA Choose Winners by Voting for Their Favorite Meat-Free Man and Woman on PETA Prime’s Website

For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2014

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

It’s no secret where sexy celebrities Ellen DeGeneres, Samuel L. Jackson, and James Cromwell get their energy—they all attribute it to going vegan! And it’s their example that inspired PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—to launch its annual Sexiest Vegan Over 50 contest. This year, PETA has narrowed the field down to seven men and seven women—and 56-year-old Spokane resident Atania Gilmore is among the finalists. The contest is sponsored by PETA Prime—a resource for baby boomers who want to live a healthy, humane, and rewarding life.

“While many baby boomers have had to reach for pills to fight high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and impotence, older vegans tend to be slim, healthy, and energetic,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “One look at PETA’s finalists makes it clear that the only thing sexier than being passionate is being compassionate.”

At the end of this month, Gilmore will embark on a new career: She has developed her own dairy-free cheese, which she’ll soon begin selling to local natural-foods stores, and she hopes to open a café to share delicious vegan dishes with others. She earned her black belt in Taekwondo at age 50 and now runs 25 to 30 miles a week and regularly competes in marathons. And going vegan, she says, “has very much improved my fitness. … [L]ong runs that used to take three days to recover now take one or less. I have an insane amount of energy, rarely get sick, and can run circles around women half my age.”

Visitors to PETAPrime.org can see photos of all 14 finalists and cast their votes through October 19. Two winners (one male and one female) will be announced on October 22. PETA will select the winners based on several factors, including vote count, and each winner will receive a three-night stay for two at the beautiful Guatemalan eco-resort Laguna Lodge, a PETA photo shoot in Los Angeles, and a selection of goodies from the PETA Catalog. See the full contest details here.

For more information, please visit PETAPrime.org.