Celebrities end up being role models because of our fixation on them and everything they do. When you ask a kid what they want to be when they grow up, it seems like more than anything you hear that they want to be an actress or a famous singer or an all-star athlete. Little kids don't dream of becoming surgeons and astronauts and lawyers anymore. They want to do something to achieve celebrity status because it seems like becoming a celebrity opens up a lot of doors. The biggest problem is that 99% of the celebrities out there aren't worth having as role models. But, I've compiled a list of a few that I was impressed to find out were vegans or vegetarians. Yes, I know that's just one little, tiny detail of these celebrities lives and they're not perfect people by any means, but they've all taken a stand for something they believe in and are choosing to support ending animal cruelty and they're also promoting a healthy lifestyle. Those are the kinds of traits that role models should have. They should believe passionately in something and work to promote and teach people about it, because if you don't believe in something bigger than you, what's the point in being here?
Anthony Rapp, the brilliant actor who brought to life the role of Mark Cohen in both the stage and screen versions of 'Rent', is a vegan.
Alicia Silverstone, a vegan, has written a book and started a great website about veganism. Visit The Kind Life to check out some of the amazing things Alicia posts about.
Actress Alyssa Milano is a vegan, too.
Anne Hathaway, actress and Lancome spokesmodel, is a vegetarian. It makes me proud to work for Lancome knowing they picked such a terrific role model to personify Magnifique perfume.
Actress and Ashland, Kentucky (where I live) native, Ashley Judd is a vegetarian. I recently met her grandmother (she shops where I work all the time).
Amber Valetta, model-turned-actress, is a vegetarian.
Brad Pitt's a vegetarian.
Actress Brooke Shields is a vegetarian.
Bryce Dallas Howard, who recently played bad vampire Victoria in 'Eclipse' is a vegetarian.
Powerhouse singer and recent bride Carrie Underwood is a vegetarian.
Chris Martin, lead singer of the band Coldplay (and Gwyneth Paltrow's hunky husband) is a vegetarian.
Eccentric actress Diane Keaton is a vegetarian.
Actress and singer Doris Day is a vegetarian.
Dustin Hoffman, actor, is a vegetarian.
Triple-threat talk show host, actress, and comedienne Ellen Degeneres is a hardcore vegan.
Model-turned-actress (Bones) Emily Deschanel is a vegan.
Singer and surfer Jack Johnson is vegetarian. Just one more thing to make him dead sexy.
Jared Leto is yet another sexy singer (and actor) who is a vegetarian.
Jenny McCarthy isn't just an autism awareness advocate, she's also a vegan animal rights activist.
We have yet another sexy singer - Jason Mraz, and he's a vegan.
Actor (turned rapper?) Joaquin Phoenix is a strict vegan.
Kate Winslet, another actress and gorgeous Lancome spokesmodel, is a vegetarian.
Broadway star and 'Glee' sensation, Lea Michele, is a vegan.
Actress Liv Tyler is a vegan.
The beautiful Natalie Portman is a vegetarian.
'House' actress Olivia Wilde is a vegan, too.
Vegetarian actor Orlando Bloom is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Pierce Brosnan is a vegetarian. And the best James Bond there has ever been.
The always-fabulous Prince is a vegetarian.
Rivers Cuomo, the adorable lead singer of Weezer, is another vegetarian.
RuPaul, the drag queen of many talents, is a vegetarian.
Russell Brand, bizarre actor, is a vegetarian. And he's going to play Fred in the remake of 'Drop Dead Fred', all the more reason to love him.
Sandra Oh, 'Grey's Anatomy' actress, is a vegetarian, too.
You might think that I've provided you with a gigantic list of vegetarian and vegan celebrities, but the website where I found this information had a MUCH larger list, which can be found at Famous Vegetarians. There are literally HUNDREDS of vegetarian and vegan celebrities, writers, political, and religious figures that are mentioned on their list. Cheers to all those who make the decision to become vegetarians and vegans, celebrity or not; you're all doing something good not only for your bodies, but for the world, too.
