With a record 2 million people set to give Veganuary a go in 2022, more Brits than ever before are cutting out animal products in favor of more fruit, veg, and other cruelty-free ingredients. Many top brands are jumping on board the Veganuary trend, but are celebs leading the way in encouraging all of us to try out a vegan lifestyle?
Plenty of big stars have famously used their celeb status to promote veganism over the years, such as Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix and pop icon Miley Cyrus – she has even been dubbed the “veganest vegan to ever vegan” by PETA.
But which celebs have kept their lifestyle close to their chest and which have only recently waved goodbye to animal products?
The team at SlotsUp has revealed some of the biggest stars to have committed to the lifestyle, including some you probably never knew had put their meat-eating days behind them.
1. Billie Eilish
Despite still only being 20-years-old, the ‘Happier Than Ever’ singer claims to have been living the vegan dream since 2014.
Eilish was raised vegetarian and is said to have gone vegan after learning about the harsh realities of the meat and dairy industries, leading her to cut all animal products out of her lifestyle for good.
2. Lizzo
Not only does she enjoy writing ‘feel-good’ music, Lizzo has also taken up a feel-good lifestyle. She is one of the latest stars to adopt a vegan diet, making the switch as recently as 2020.
After being vegetarian for several years prior, Lizzo announced that she had gone fully vegan via TikTok. Her 20 million followers and counting are often treated to updates on the ‘Juice’ singer’s vegan journey, as well as recipes for some of her favorite plant-based meals.
3. Ariana Grande
Just like fellow chart sensations, Billie Eilish and Lizzo, the ‘Thank You, Next’ singer showed wisdom beyond her years and has led a vegan lifestyle from a young age.
The Don’t Look Up actress is thought to have transitioned to a fully vegan lifestyle as far back as 2013 after deciding that she simply loved animals too much, telling one interviewer “I love animals more than most people”. Well, who can blame her?
Grande’s trainer and nutritionist revealed that her vegan diet consists mostly of Japanese-inspired cuisine, including tasty vegan-friendly treats like daikon, lotus and adzuki beans.
4. Kourtney Kardashian
Since she began dating Blink-182 drummer and long-time vegan Travis Barker in December 2020, the oldest Kardashian sister has been attempting to lead a vegan lifestyle which she professes is 95% vegan.
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is proof that any of us could make a big difference to the planet simply by reducing our meat and animal product consumption.
5. Benedict Cumberbatch
The Doctor Strange star has never shared too much information about his diet but did reveal his vegan status when asked in an interview about his Nando’s order.
The Oscar-nominated actor has stated that his vegan lifestyle has been integral in helping him stay in shape while shooting for the high action Avengers franchise.
Meanwhile, his vegan lifestyle has won him extra brownie points with PETA, who named him the ‘most beautiful vegan’ in 2018.
6. Thandiwe Newton
The acclaimed British actress went vegan after starring in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story alongside long-time vegan activist Woody Harrelson, citing the actor as the reason for her change in lifestyle.
It is thought that Harrelson has had an influence on many of Hollywood’s vegans, with Stranger Things star Sadie Sink and Hunger Games icon Liam Hemsworth both making changes to their diet after working on set with Harrelson.
7. Lewis Hamilton
One of the UK’s most decorated Formula 1 drivers has been leading a vegan lifestyle since 2017. Since then Hamilton has used his platform to promote all sorts of issues including animal welfare and boycotting leather.
The racing legend has made efforts to make the fast-food industry a much greener place by opening a chain of plant-based burger restaurants by the name of ‘Neat Burger’. The tasty treats can be found across sites in London, including at Camden Market.
Hamilton, who was recently honored with a knighthood is not the only sports star to commit to a vegan diet, with fellow Brit and Rangers footballer Jermain Defoe also going vegan in 2017.
There’s also former NFL star and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick, plus legendary tennis sisters Serena and Venus Williams flying the flag for veganism in sport.
8. Stevie Wonder
Despite being a music industry legend from as early as the 1960s, Stevie only made the switch to a wonderfully vegan lifestyle in 2016.
The ‘Superstition’ singer revealed that the future of our planet is what motivated him to take the plunge into veganism, stating in one interview: “we have to be about making our planet greener, the urban areas more sustainable for our children”.
Wonder often uses his public appearances to promote veganism, even going so far as to duet a ‘vegan jingle’ with James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2017.
9. Fearne Cotton
TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton has not eaten meat since the age of 11 but admits that it had not occurred to her to go fully vegan until 2019, when the lifestyle truly hit the mainstream.
The former Celebrity Juice star officially revealed her switch to veganism in an appearance on the Chick Peeps Podcast hosted by Harry Potter actress and fellow vegan, Evanna Lynch.
Cotton has urged her fans and 3.4 million Instagram followers to give the vegan diet a try, stating that it is “not that hard”. Since turning vegan, she has even released her own vegan cookbook and convinced her husband to adopt the lifestyle.
10. Tobey Maguire
The original Spider-Man and secret star of recent box-office smash No Way Home has been a vegetarian since 1992 and committed to going full vegan sometime between 2008 and 2009.
It is thought that Maguire was encouraged to adopt a totally vegan lifestyle after working on the 2008 movie Brothers with Natalie Portman, where the two Hollywood stars bonded over a love of cruelty-free food and each has been 100% vegan since.
Maguire takes his vegan commitment seriously and while filming for The Great Gatsby in 2013, he even refused to take a hire car because it contained leather seats.
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