Tens of Thousands of Votes Were Cast at PETAAsiaPacific.com for Celebrities Who Exude Passion and Compassion

For Immediate Release:

8 June 2009

Hong Kong -- Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu has been crowned Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian woman for 2009 after a fierce, month-long battle that recently ended at PETAAsiaPacific.com. Bollywood superstar and heartthrob Shahid Kapoor won the title of Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian man. Red-carpet runners-up include Mongolian singer Nominjin, pop star Faye Wong, model--turned--Hollywood hottie Maggie Q, Indian film heavyweights Mahima Chaudhry and Kareena Kapoor, Hong Kong pop star and actor Stephy Tang and Taiwanese music legend Yaya Meng.

Top vote-getters from outside the continent include Natalie Portman, Hayden Panettiere, Milo Ventimiglia, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leona Lewis and Olivia Wilde, who recently took the top spot on Maxim's Hot 100 list.

Barbie -- who has been called "The Queen of Beauty" -- is best known for her roles in Taiwanese dramas and numerous films. She got her first big break with the hit TV show Meteor Garden and also appeared on the hit TV series Mars. Her most recent film is Connected, which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Shahid trained under legendary choreographer Shiamak Davar and is credited with convincing Kareena Kapoor (who placed in the top 10 among females in the poll) to become a vegetarian when they were dating. He will appear in the upcoming, highly anticipated film Kaminey.

"I think we should respect the life of all species, a dog, a person ...", says Barbie. "Lives are equal, eating meat is like eating corpses to me and it makes me feel sick and sad."

"There's no easier way to put passion in your life than to put compassion in your diet", says PETA Asia-Pacific Director Jason Baker. "Going vegetarian is the best thing you can do for animals, the Earth and your health. Plus, there's no easier way to stay slim and sexy -- and Barbie and Shahid are living proof."

The complete list of vegetarian celebrities who were in the running in this year's poll is available on PETAAsiaPacific.com.

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