Cutest Vegetarian Alive 2009
Click on each tab below to view the female and male finalists.
It was quite a battle, but we've finally narrowed down the 5,500-plus entries for the Cutest Vegetarian Alive 2009 contest to our two winners. In addition to the title of Cutest Vegetarian Alive, each will receive a "Cutest Vegetarian Alive" tee and an iPod Touch.

Click on the "Winners" tab below to find out who was crowned cutest, and click on the "Contestants" tabs to read more about all 32 finalists.

Sofia Vasconi and Barry Sheppard Voted Cutest Vegetarians Alive!

peta2 received more than 5,500 entries from adorable vegetarians and vegans worldwide for our fourth annual Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest, and we asked all of you to help choose the winners. The response was overwhelming this year, with more than 25,000 votes cast. It was a mighty close race, but big congrats go out to Barry Sheppard and Sofia Vasconi for taking home the top honors.

Sofia Name: Sofia Vasconi
Age: 18
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Sofia has been a vegan for one year, and she was a vegetarian for five years before that. She enjoys dancing, "cooking up a vegan storm," potlucks (her friends love her vegan stuffed shells made with tofu and nutritional yeast instead of cheese), and sewing. Her dream is to become a vegan chef and open her own restaurant.


Barry Name: Barry Sheppard
Age: 21
Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan

Barry, a theatre major at Eastern Michigan University, went vegetarian about two years ago when he became sick after eating chicken. After looking into the cruel and disgusting reality of the meat and dairy industry, he said to himself, "I'm not eating this crap anymore!" Barry is now a recent vegan. He says he is fun-loving and prone to spontaneity, and he describes himself as "concert crazy." (Some of his fave bands include Cobra Starship, Rocket Summer, All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, and The Academy Is.)


More than 5,500 adorable vegetarians sent us photographic evidence of their cuteness (and let's be honest, what could be cuter than compassion for all beings?) along with a number of great reasons why they went vegetarian. Cruelty to animals was definitely far and away the number one reason that people went vegetarian. Let's face it: Animals are subjected to countless horrors on factory farms and in slaughterhouses, and no one wants to support torture.

It's absolutely wonderful to see that more and more people are expanding their circles of compassion by leaving animals off their plates. What's stopping you from going vegetarian? It's easier than ever, it's absolutely delicious, and of course, you can save more than 100 animals' lives every year simply by saying "No" to meat. Give it a try today—who knows, maybe you'll be Cutest Vegetarian Alive 2010!

Do You Want to Be Crowned Cutest Vegetarian Alive in 2010?
You've gotta go vegetarian first, of course! Making a change in your life that will allow you to spare animals' lives and feel and look great in no time is a no-brainer. Get the facts, then try your hand at some recipes. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to cut meat out of your diet.

We're looking forward to your entry next year!