“If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Meggan Anderson—whose volunteer efforts have appeared in photographs in newspapers around the world—has spoken volumes in behalf of animals,” says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “PETA is proud to recognize this brave young woman for doing whatever it takes to bring animal rights issues into the spotlight.”
Meggan has been an active member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for over twenty years! “For me, becoming a vegan was the biggest thing I could do for animals. On average, one vegan saves over 100 lives of animals each year, by simply not eating them” says Anderson. “It’s ethical, environmental, political, and healthier.”
Winning PETA’s “Too Hot For Leather” contest, appearing in several magazines, radio and television interviews, and even the cover of The Wall Street Journal, Anderson likes to educate people on the animal rights movement. In 2008 she received from George W. Bush the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work with PETA. “I like to help people realize that you can still live a normal life being vegan. I think if people really knew how animals were being treated for their food, clothes, and entertainment that people would gladly choose a more compassionate way of living.”
Anderson tours with PETA all over the world to help promote animal rights. She is a recipient the prestigious Nanci Alexander Activist Award being named PETA's Activist of the Year. Anderson’s participation in PETA demonstrations—from dressing as a bikini-clad “Lettuce Lady” to promote vegan meals to crashing the stage at a fur showcase at Bloomingdale’s—has landed her photographs on E! and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, among many other media outlets. And when Anderson stripped down for an anti-fur protest at Moscow's Fashion Week, she was arrested—and she ended up on the front page of the Moscow Times.
Anderson also has been arrested in Dallas, Texas protesting Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey Circus (which is now animal-free). She also was arrested during the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California while blocking a SeaWorld sponsored float which depicted Orcas in the wild, not in concrete tanks where they live their whole lives at SeaWorld. Anderson was literally carried off her feet while disrupting the Westminster Dog Show in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, while advocating for the 4 million dogs that die every year due to overpopulation. She was arrested at Miami International Airport while advocating for Lolita the killer whale and voiced that the Miami Seaquarium release her to sea-side sanctuary (the facility is now shut down permanently). She was arrested at SeaWorld Aquatica in San Diego while advocating for the numerous orcas who have died in captivity at Seaworld.
Anderson has also volunteered to speak out against abusing animals for experimentation, KFC’s cruel chicken-slaughter methods and has spoken at numerous city hall meetings in the Los Angeles area advocating for declawing bans and the humane treatment of coyotes.
She encourages people to go to PETA.org and educate themselves about how they can choose cruelty-free alternatives for their lives that will benefit their health, the planet and save countless of animals!