Peta announces 2018 UK Hottest Vegan finalists

The winners of the Hottest Vegan contest will be announced on August 13

Peta names finalists in hottest vegans competition (Stock)

Not all beauty contests are about outer beauty - animal rights charity Peta’s annual competition is about inner beauty as well.

To prove their point that there is “nothing more attractive than compassion,” the animal activists revealed the 2018 finalists of their annual UK and Ireland’s Hottest Vegan Competition.

The 16 animal-loving finalists include a pilot, a Disney Channel actor, and a nurse - and the competition is fierce.

"There's nothing sexier than someone who is committed to helping animals and the environment, and it doesn't hurt that vegans are, on average, healthier and more energetic than their meat-eating peers," says PETA director Elisa Allen. "Each one of the finalists in Peta's contest is a living example of the strength and vitality that can come from vegan eating."

One male and one female winner will be chosen from the group and announced on August 13 - and each will receive a trip for two on a luxury five-night cruise on Germany and Switzerland’s Rhine and Moselle rivers, courtesy of Vegan Travel.

Winners will be chosen based on a number of factors including vote count - and judging by their dedication to saving animals, it will be a hard choice.

These are the finalists for this year’s Hottest Vegan contest.

Kieran Sullivan

(PETA)

The 25-year-old digital marketer from Brighton has been a vegan for four years.

He said: “Life is precious, so why would I choose to end a life for 10 minutes of enjoyment on a plate?

“I always said I was an animal lover, but it was only at 21-years-old that I made the conscious effort to have my actions reflect my morals.”

George Sear

(PETA)

Sear, a 20-year-old Disney Channel actor has always felt a “deep connection with animals.”

In addition to appearing in The Bill and the series Evermore, the actor has also attended protests against outerwear brand Canada Goose.

He uses every opportunity he gets to promote positive action to protect the environment.

Vincent Azzopardi

(PETA)

The 30-year-old from Burton-on-Trent previously lived in Dubai - where he rescued over 20 abused animals.

After realising he felt a connection to the animals, he decided he couldn’t eat them anymore.

Azzopardi is now the father to three happy rescued dogs and continues to help save dogs and other animals from abusive situations.

Ben Brownsell

(PETA)

Brownsell, a sales advisor, and his dog Nacho are based in Cambridgeshire.

He credits documentaries such as What the Health and Dominion with convincing him to make the transition to vegan living.

“As an animal lover, I realised my actions weren’t aligned with my morals. I pretty much went vegan overnight and haven’t looked back since,” he said.

Ciaran O’Shea

(PETA)

The 22-year-old from Cheshire works as an airline pilot.

In addition to talking to people about following a vegan lifestyle, the pilot is also encouraging his employer to increase the availability of vegan options on board flights and implement changes such as stocking non-dairy milk and reducing plastic use.

Jose Sanchez

(PETA)

The Californian-born professional drummer became vegan when he learned about the cruelty inherent in animal agriculture as well as the abuse of animals for entertainment and clothing.

His two big passions in life are music and animals.

Mathew Parkin

(PETA)

26-year-old Parkin is a full-time activist and volunteers at sea for marine-conservation group Sea Shepherd for eight months each year.

When he is not campaigning to save the world’s most endangered marine mammals, he attends leafleting events and uses dating apps to promote vegan living.

David Archard

(PETA)

Archard is a 28-year-old beatboxing animal-fact junkie from London. He is passionate about environmentalism and ending cruelty to animals.

He does his best to minimise his impact on the planet and currently works as a business development manager at an organisation that fights against food waste.

Katie Crisp

(PETA)

26-year-old Crisp from Edinburgh went vegan after reading Yuval Noah Harari’s book Sapiens while on her honeymoon.

The marketing manager describes herself as a “massive adventure seeker,” a trait she credits to all of her childhood holidays spent at theme parks.

Nuria Molins Larripa

(PETA)

The 22-year-old moved to London from Tenerife when she was 17 to study fashion.

Of her decision to go vegan, she said: “I watched Gary Yourofsky’s speech. For me, it was a very emotional connection and I decided to go vegan mainly for my ethics.”

Cath Kendall

(PETA)

Kendall is a support worker who lives in the West Midlands and spends her time getting involved in animal rights activism, blogging and cuddling her dog Walter.

She became vegan the day she found out what cows go through in order for us to drink their milk.

Elisa Farias

(PETA)

Farias, a dietician from Cork, changed her life in 2012 after meeting a vegetarian for the first time.

She comes from a family of butchers and says her mission in life is to turn her father vegan.

Krystal Gavigan

(PETA)

The teacher from Leighton Buzzard has been a vegan for eight years and loves vegan pizza and her cat Missy.

“She is my everything. I am a fully-fledged crazy cat lady!” she said.

Kimberley Goddard

(PETA)

Goddard went vegan after discovering the truth about the dairy and egg industries.

She loves animals and wants to do whatever she can to help them.

Her dream is to open an animal shelter with her husband.

Kirsten McLeod

(PETA)

The nurse from Edinburgh spreads the vegan message every chance she gets.

She also protests against zoos, aquariums, and marine "abusement" parks in support of animal rights.

Alexandra Lacey

(PETA)

The 19-year-old from Norfolk loves nature - which prompted her to commit to a vegan lifestyle.

She said: “I’m studying politics in the hope that my words will one day change the current state of animal agriculture and environmental policies.”

To vote, visit PETA.org.uk