So, I guess it’s time I confessed something: I have watched almost every cycle (that’s model speak for “season”) of America’s Next Top Model. It’s mindless and ridiculous, and I can’t get enough of it. There, I said it. Well, it looks like all that hard work has paid off because now I get to watch a vegan girl take part in the competition. (Yeah, I have no idea what hard work was involved there either.)
Elina is 19 years old and lives in Seattle. On the show, she said she became vegan at the age of 7 and has dedicated her life to the animal liberation movement.
When the judges and host Tyra Banks found out Elina was vegan, Tyra asked her if she would have been able to participate in a photo shoot last year that involved all the models being DRESSED IN MEAT. Yes, clothes made from beef. It was absolutely disgusting.
That’s last year’s winner, Whitney, in steak underwear surrounded by carcasses and flesh and …. EWWW! I hated this episode. I thought it was distasteful and disgusting – AND, I was surprised that not one of the girls refused to do it.
Anyway, when Tyra asked Elina if she would have been able to get dressed up in dead animal flesh, Elina said no. What vegan could? I mean, I just cannot imagine putting on some beef underpants–so disgusting!
I am curious how Elina will do in the competition, speceifically I wonder if there will be anything she feels conflicted about, like confrontations from the other girls or a photo shoot that involves leather or fur or something like that. Hopefully she does well! I guess we’ll see!
They wore clothes made out of meat? That’s so gross! I hope she sticks to her guns and doesn’t give in and wear something made of leather.
Veganism aside, anyone who dresses themselves in meat is a moron. Go Elina!
I am also very excited to see a vegan in the competition. I hope to see her go far, but I hope she doesn’t get caught up in Top Model’s classic catty drama – that’s just one more stigma the movement doesn’t need.
And that shoot was just sick and tasteless. Just a huge step back from the feeble veg attempts Top Model has made in the past – like that girl who was supposed to represent Anti-Fur and she didn’t know what the hell she was supposed to do or the one where someone was supposed to be “vegetarian” and she had to make it very clear how non-vegetarian she was. (Mkay, now I’m just rambling. I too guilty-pleasure ANTM… perhaps a little too much.)
Thanks for the post on Elina. Anyone know whether she’s got a web site?
KATESAFLEET – I hope so too!
RURAL VEGAN – I know. I honestly could not believe they all did it.
VERONICA – I hope she represents well too!
JASON – Hmm, good question. I wasn’t able to find one, but I bet she’ll have one if she goes far enough.
I think it’s great that Elina is a vegan and shares that with viewers!
However if she wins her $100,000 contract be from a company that uses animal testing (Cover Girl). Does the show use exclusively Cover Girl cosmetics (I would think so since they are the main sponsor)? I’m just surprised that someone who is a vegan and cares about animal rights could feel comfortable using cosmetics that are tested on animals.
That is disgusting!!!!!!!!!
I still think Joaquin Phoenix was so classy when he refused to wear leather and animal hyde in gladiator.
When I talked about getting into modeling, every I knew told me I’d have to wear fur and leather – was I prepared for that?? and I said “no, I wouldn’t I wouldnt take that job. I have ethics.”
Thanks to you
that’s awesome! of course a vegan wouldn’t wear beef, gag! it’s not only not consuming animal products, it’s about trying to minimize promoting the industry. that’s why i’m always careful about things like if i see a block of cheese that someone misplaced in the grocery store, i return it back to it’s correct spot because i hate the idea that if that block is wasted, another block will need to be created, kwim? my kids are always tempted to knock over the milk jugs or poke holes in the meat because they are disgusted and angry but now they know that it will just cause more suffering in the end.
(gag) (barf) …imagine the smell….. i walked in to a seak restaurant that was connected to a hotel i was staying at and it REEKED of red bloody rotted flesh! people call this “fine dining”
Tyra is OFF MY LIST!
steak*
CB raises an interesting question. I’m curious if her advocacy will engender some criticism of Cover Girl during this competition. It seems to be a tailor-made platform for expounding the benefits of veganism.
[...] Creature Talk has a great story about vegan advocacy (She has pictures!): “Elina is 19 years old and lives in Seattle. On [America's Next Top Model], she said she became vegan in 7th grade and has dedicated her life to the animal liberation movement. [...]
Elina bowing out of the competition because of CoverGirl or leather/fur/any other clothing material would not curb suffering–rather, it would be a wasted opportunity for her to potentially win. In addition, it would make veganism seem impossible, finicky, and pretentious, and instead of helping animals by ’standing up for her beliefs’ it would do more harm to animals by reinforcing the views that many people already have in place. The smartest thing she could do would be to go along with whatever the show throws at her while expressing this exact point.
The goal is reduction of suffering, not artificial purity.
i hope they don’t use this against her as they easily could. i’m so happy that she is on the show and would love for her to win! such a waste to use flesh for a photo. meat eating is bad but the photo op is so much worse. depressing that someone would event think of something so cruel and not think anything of it. and to get on a tv show the idea must have been approved by several people who thought it was a good idea. sad.
Why did anyone think of doing a shoot like that? I can’t find ONE THING good about it! It’s not necessary, pretty, cool, model related….it doesn’t make sense! And who would AGREE to do that???? omg, lol…ridiculous
Love, vegan Sylvia.
How disgusting to design a fashion shoot using dead flesh. Fashion is dead, literally. Good on Elina for staying loyal to her vegan principles.
Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to America’s Next Top Model on June 23, 2008. (P.S. When you see this kind of cruel insensitivity on t.v. or anywhere, it seems crucial to respond immediately so that insensitive persons involved understand that this type of behavior is not only wrong but that this type of behavior sends a message that animal cruelty is not of importance.) Here is the letter:
As a woman of color, I am always very happy to watch and support anything that you do. It seems that you understand the issues that have faced people of color especially in this country. There are a number of us who come together to watch you in America’s Next Top Model and we have enjoyed watching for years and we never miss a single show. Unfortunately, we watched an episode in which the models were told to model in a meat locker wearing slices of raw cow. We were so turned off by the insensitivity of this that we sadly, will no longer include this show in our weekly gatherings. It is amazing that you would allow a show like this to be made since historically, animals experience conditions that exactly mimic slavery and torture; two things that seem to relate to the slavery issue that African Americans have experienced in this country. We are extremely disappointed in ANTM for allowing this insensitivity to come into what up to now has been such a top notch art form. Please keep this letter in mind because we are definately not alone in our feelings about this show after watching this particularly disturbing episode. Supporting anyone who callously puts enslaved and then murdered animal body parts on someone as part of a modeling competition is too much for even us. Tyra, we just want to say that we are deeply disappointed in you and we have to wonder how ignorant you and the people who work for you are in terms of the serious animal issues that are unbelievably reminisent of the brutal days of slavery. Thank you for listening, we hope that you can find a way to correct this terrible oversight and contribution to a way of thinking that is both violent and old fashioned toward people, animals and the environment.
I think Kyle makes a valid point about symbolic activism as opposed to actions that really help reduce animal suffering. Refusing to use Cover Girl make up or being less than diplomatic with other things the show might throw at vegan Elina would not save animals and would be unlikely to give viewers enough detail as to why she is vegan. It would leave them with the impression that vegans are just “difficult people.” $100,000 could buy alot of quality, detailed literature like Vegan Outreach’s booklet Even If You Like Meat that could be distributed to young people, as they are the population most likely to be moved by the plight of farm animals. Until she wins, WE should get these booklets and go to a near or far college campus and distribute!
You go girl! Don’t let anyone try to change you or your beliefs. I am a vegetarian for the past 7 years because the love I have for animals. No one can ever change how I feel!!! Money isn’t everything!!!