Whether for health or ethical reasons, every star has their reasons for eliminating animals products from their diet. Here are a few vegan celebrities and what motivated them to adopt veganism.
1. Ariana Grande
In November of 2013, the pop songstress announced via Twitter she had committed to a diet completely free of animal products. “I love animals more than I love most people, not kidding,” she said in an interview with the Mirror. “But I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-around happier person.”
2. Serena Williams
Following her sister Venus Williams’ diagnosis with Sjögren’s syndrome, tennis superstar Serena Williams joined Venus in practicing a raw vegan diet during the tennis season. “It was just kind of a whole raw world that I really enjoyed,” Williams said in an interview. “I was able to see a lot of benefits in my game and my body in general from that.”
3. Liam Hemsworth
The influence of Hunger Games costar Woody Harrelson and learning of the meat industry practices led to actor Hemsworth’s decision to go vegan in 2015. “After all the information I gathered about the mistreatment of animals, I couldn’t continue to eat meat,” he told Men’s Health. “The more I was aware of, the harder and harder it was to do.”
4. Miley Cyrus
Actress and singer Miley Cyrus began her vegan journey the year before her beau Liam Hemsworth. Her interest in veganism sparked when her beloved dog Floyd was brutally killed by a coyote. Cyrus said her pet fish and pig also inspired her to make the change. “I realized these are intelligent animals,” she said in an interview with Jimmy Fallon.
5. Russell Simmons
This legendary hip-hop producer is a yogi, meditation practitioner, and vegan. In his 2015 book The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life he discusses the physical and mental benefits of a plant-based diet. “I just feel better knowing I’m not contributing to the biggest karmic disaster in the world today, which is the suffering and violent deaths of billions of farm animals,” he said in an interview with Forks over Knifes.
6. Lea Michele
Best known for her roles in Glee and Scream Queens, actress Lea Michele is a part-time vegan. Though she usually follows a mostly gluten-free and plant-based diet, Michele admits to engaging in the occasional indulgence of a gourmet burger or macaroni and cheese. “I’ve never loved my body more than I do right now,” she told People magazine in their Special Wellness Issue.
Whether you’re considering going vegetarian, vegan, or just engaging in a meatless Monday every now and then, these celebrities offer the inspiration needed to make the switch to a lifestyle that promotes mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.