Round Lake woman a finalist in PETA contest
What do Prince, Sir Paul McCartney and Ellen DeGeneres have in common? Besides their enduring star power, they’re all sexy vegetarians who just happen to be older than 50.
Their example is what inspired PETA to expand its popular series of Sexiest Vegetarian contests to include the over-50 set.
After receiving hundreds of entries from across the U.S. for its 2011 Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50 contest, PETA has narrowed the field to six men and six women — and 51-year-old Round Lake resident Donna Hoffman is among the finalists.
The contest is sponsored by PETA Prime — a resource for baby boomers on how to live a healthy, humane and rewarding life.
“Unlike many of their peers who are on medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and impotence, older vegetarians tend to be slim and healthy — and that makes them sexier, too,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.
Five years ago, Hoffman’s college-aged daughter showed her a video from PETA’s website that revealed how animals suffer on factory farms. Hoffman vowed to go vegetarian on the spot and, an hour later, she started sharing the video with everyone she knew.
Now, Hoffman shares her home with a menagerie of animals — including a goose — and spends her time educating neighbors about the importance of spaying and neutering their dogs and cats.
Hoffman’s photo and bio, along with profiles of the other vegetarians who were selected as finalists, are available at PETAPrime.org.
Voting to help PETA determine the winners will end Oct. 17 at noon eastern time. Two winners (one female and one male) will be announced Oct. 24.
Winners will be decided on four factors: the finalists’ total number of votes, their enthusiasm in promoting their entry, their potential to reach a large audience and PETA’s assessment of their physical attractiveness.
Each winner will receive a $125 gift certificate toward a purchase from PETA’s catalog merchandise, and a copy of Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook DVD package.
For information and to vote to help PETA choose the winners of the contest, visit PETAPrime.org.