Cover Girl recognized for contribution to animal rights.

For her role in raising awareness of the abuse and exploitation of animals, supermodel and longtime vegetarian Isabel Roces has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia’s Person of the Year. Roces, who has graced the pages of numerous fashion magazines—including Marie Claire, Women’s Health, UNO, Rogue, Preview, and Cosmopolitan—is an outspoken critic of cruelty to animals and is widely considered to be the country’s most public proponent of vegetarianism. The following are just a few examples of her animal rights activism:

· In the wake of Typhoon Ondoy, she donated her time and services to The Philippine Animal Welfare Society’s rescue operations for abandoned dogs and cats. In addition to reminding people not to leave their animal companions behind during emergencies and natural disasters, she coordinated the donations of bottled water for dehydrated and exhausted animal evacuees.

· She solicited donations from sponsors for the Palawan Animal Welfare Association (PAWA) to assist in their efforts in rescuing stray animals and improving standards in slaughterhouses.

· From publicly advocating a vegetarian diet to educating people about how animals killed in the fur industry are often electrocuted, bludgeoned, or gassed, she takes every opportunity to speak out about cruelty to animals.

· She chooses not to lend her image or name to commercials, print ads, or high-profile events that promote meat or dairy products.

· In her newspaper column, she shares her beauty secrets and promotes cosmetics and body-care products that were not force-fed to animals in laboratories or smeared on their raw, shaved skin.

· In recognition of her commitment to animal rights, Lifestyle Network recently named her one of the Philippines’ Top 10 Outstanding Women. The award is given to the countries most inspirational women.

“Isabel Roces continues to impress us with her commitment to promoting vegetarianism and drawing attention to the plight of animals,” said PETA Asia Director Jason Baker. “Her exceptional, unending fight against cruelty to animals sets an example for us all.”

For more information, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.