2 May 2002

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Anuradha Sawhney (0) 98201 22602

Mumbai—In a star-studded online poll that launches today, PETA India is asking Web surfers to vote on who is the ‘Hottest Vegetarian Alive’ at its Web site www.PETAIndia.com. Choices run the gamut from supermodel Christy Turlington to American first-family favourite Lauren Bush, from Southern heartthrob R Madhavan to Bollywood newcomer Esha Deol, and from country music singer Shania Twain to cricketer Anil Kumble. Actor Jude Law, Sir Paul McCartney and daughter Stella are also among the growing number of celebrity vegetarians choosing compassion over cholesterol.

What’s so hot about being a vegetarian? There’s nothing beautiful about heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancer and other diseases associated, in study after study, with eating flesh. Some of our nominees show that, even into their 50s and 60s, a veggie diet keeps them trim and good looking.

‘With so many celebrities going vegetarian, it’s hard to decide who’s the hottest,’ says PETA India Representative Jason Baker. ‘After all, what’s more enticing than someone who’s both passionate and compassionate?’