A Beauty Contest PETA-Style, Featuring North Hollywood Woman

No one would ever accuse People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals of being shy. So when the activist organization holds its version of a beauty contest, well, the results can be – how do we put this? – not so modest.

Meet Katarina Van Derham. She’s beaten out hundreds of entrants to make it to the final round of PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2014. And since you live in North Hollywood, she really does live next door.

"Going vegan can help make you feel better on the inside, look better on the outside, and save the lives of more than 100 animals a year," PETA Special Projects Manager Alicia Woempner said in a press release. "On average, vegans are fitter and trimmer than meat-eaters are, and that makes them sexier, too."

The 38-year-old local was born in Slovakia and lived there for 22 years before moving to the Los Angeles area. She was a vegetarian for 15 years before going vegan six years ago after reading the book Skinny Bitch and immediately noticed a surge in energy and an improved outlook, says the PETA PR machine.

A TV and print model, Van Derham is the only woman ever to be re-elected as the St. Pauli Girl spokesmodel. As founder and publisher of Viva Glam magazine, she writes to the CEOs of cosmetics companies and asks them not to test their products on animals and she urges businesses to stop making false eyelashes out of minks.

You can see more of Van Derham here. And we do mean more.

If you clicked through, it won’t be too surprising to learn that Van Derham’s role model is longtime PETA pal Pamela Anderson.

By the way, she speaks three languages and enjoys whitewater rafting and hiking, and she's head over heels about her dog and two cats, all rescued animals and all spayed (of course).

Voting for the finalists to help PETA determine the winners ends at noon EDT on May 2. PETA will select the winners based on several factors, including vote count. See the full contest details here. Winners will be notified and announced by May 6.

For more information and to cast your vote, please click here.

Happy voting!