Two Manchester Locals Named Finalists in PETA’s Hottest Vegan Competition

For Immediate Release:

2 June 2016

Contact:

Sascha Camilli +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 235; [email protected]

TWO MANCHESTER LOCALS NAMED FINALISTS IN PETA’S ‘HOTTEST VEGAN’ COMPETITION

Winners Will Receive Stay at Luxury Boutique Hotel in London

Manchester – What do Jak Elmore and Naomi Djese, both Manchester residents, have in common with Joaquin Phoenix, Natalie Portman, David Haye, Jared Leto and Jessica Chastain? They are all sizzling, sexy vegans! Elmore, 24, and Djese, 22, beat out other entrants to become two of eight finalists in PETA’s Hottest Vegan Competition 2016.

Djese initially went vegan to experience many of the health benefits that come along with a plant-based diet. “I wanted to eat to live”, she says. Now, she cooks vegan food for her friends and family to show them “that being vegan isn’t boring.” Currently a student, Djese loves to travel and do yoga. She describes herself as a great cook, and her favourite dish is ratatouille.

Elmore has been vegan for a year and is outspoken about the benefits of a cruelty-free life. “I’d always been vegetarian because I love animals. But I realised this wasn’t enough to stop cruelty”, he says. “I couldn’t live with knowing that animals are suffering for me. So I had to eliminate [animal-derived foods] and things tested on animals from my life. … It was just the right thing to do.” He is training to be a dancer, and his favourite meal is chilli sin carne.

“Vegans are, on average, slimmer and healthier and have more energy than their meat-eating peers – plus, there’s nothing hotter than compassion”, says PETA Director Mimi Bekhechi. “All the finalists are already winners because they eat delicious, healthy foods that don’t harm a hair, feather or fin on an animal’s body.”

To see photographs and biographies of all the belles and beaux selected as finalists, click here. You can vote for your favourite contestants – one woman and one man – to let PETA know whom you think it should select as the winners. Two winners (one female and one male) will each receive a one-night stay for two at the luxury boutique hotel La Suite West in London, which will include a vegan breakfast as well as a dinner prepared by vegan Head Chef Nik Heartland at its animal-free restaurant, RAW.

Voting on the finalists to help PETA determine the winners will run until 17 June. Winners will be chosen by PETA based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on 21 June. See the full contest details here.

Djese and Elmore are available for interviews. For more information and to vote in the contest, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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