A new wave of glamorous vegan activists are building a huge online following across Australia and around the world by using their stunning looks to push their plant-based message.
Far from the hippie aesthetics of yesteryear that have long been associated with the meat-free lifestyle, these Instagram models are on the cutting edge of fitness, fashion and digital marketing.
Some have been arrested multiple times for participating in disruptive public protests that have been condemned by the broader community.
But the outrage only helps to boost their public profile and add to their legion of social media followers who are hungry for more raunchy content.
They make no apologies for using their bodies to promote animal rights and say their high-profile controversial stunts are necessary to stop what they call an ‘animal holocaust’.
Daily Mail Australia has gone inside this growing counter-culture, speaking to the young Australians using their bodies and social media skills to push their agenda.
Tash Peterson
Tash Peterson is pictured during a disruptive protest at a Melbourne KFC where she soaked the floor in fake blood and berated customers
Ms Peterson (pictured) has ruffled so many feathers in her home state of Western Australia that she was served with a ban notice last month, barring her from every licenced venue in the state.
Tash Peterson is considered by most lawmakers, police officers and fast-food restaurant operators as Australia’s ‘biggest pest’.
She is condemned by a huge cross section of society for her shock-and-awe style protests where she storms popular restaurants and berates diners for participating in the ‘animal holocaust’ by eating meat.
The 26-year-old has dressed up as a cow and protested in the meat section of a busy supermarket, invaded the pitch at an AFLW match and donned a blood-soaked apron while screaming at patrons in a KFC.
Ms Peterson has ruffled so many feathers in her home state of Western Australia that she was served with a ban notice last month, barring her from every licenced venue in the state.
While many on the west coast cheered on the harsh penalty, she’s now taken her in-your-face style of veganism to Melbourne and has vowed to continue her controversial antics.
When Ms Peterson (pictured) is not interrupting busy eateries by pouring fake blood on the floor and going on a megaphone tirade against the meat industry, she works as a lifeguard and teaches kids to swim
The photogenic OnlyFans model, who goes by the online moniker Vegan Booty, comes across in her confronting demonstrations as angry and hateful.
But if you ask her friends and loved ones what Tash is really like, they will say she’s a kind, caring and compassionate young woman who simply has ‘a flair for the dramatic’ and cares deeply about animal welfare.
In fact, when she’s not interrupting busy eateries by pouring fake blood on the floor and going on a megaphone tirade against the meat industry, she works as a lifeguard and teaches kids to swim.
‘People misunderstand my protesting as hateful and aggressive but I have no inherent hatred for any non-vegans,’ Ms Peterson said.
‘I was initially against the idea of doing disruptive protests but after I thoroughly looked into the science, psychology and history of social change, I understood this is exactly how other social justice movements – like gay rights and women’s right – have stopped oppression.
‘A lot of people say I’m just attention-seeking, and they are absolutely right. I am seeking attention for the most oppressed beings on this planet and I’m willing to go to just about any lengths to raise awareness about animal suffering.’
Ms Peterson’s (pictured) friends say she’s really just a kind, caring and compassionate young woman who simply has ‘a flair for the dramatic’
Ms Peterson uses ‘direct action’ demonstrations the same way a heavy metal band might turn up the distortion on their guitars or incorporate satanic symbols in their logo.
There is a performative and artistic element to her public protests, which almost always includes costumes, planning and props – as well as her sexuality.
‘Using my body in this way definitely helps my animal rights message,’ Ms Peterson said.
‘I embrace my body, I want to empower the female body and I use it to help the vegan cause’.
Lauren McGeachin
In November 2019, after posting footage of a late-night raid to rescue piglets from a Queensland slaughterhouse, police slapped cuffs on Lauren McGeachin and charged her with a litany of break-and-enter offences.
Newspaper scribes knew immediately that a story about a blonde bikini model and her horde of militant, pig-stealing vegans carrying out a daring midnight heist would be a major hit with readers – and they were right.
Since then, the blonde bombshell’s online profile has skyrocketed and she’s now raking in the cash from her army of devoted subscribers on OnlyFans, where she posts raunchy NSFW content.
Lauren McGeachin (pictured) was arrested in 2019 for breaking in to a slaughterhouse and stealing piglets in just one of her animal rights stunts
Ms McGeachin (pictured) said that the provocative and sometimes downright illegal protests she’s been involved in are nothing personal against meat-eaters
The blonde bombshell’s online profile has skyrocketed since her arrest and she’s now raking in the cash from her army of devoted subscribers on OnlyFans, where she posts raunchy NSFW content
‘I want to show that you can be vegan and still have a really good body,’ the 29-year-old said.
‘I want to show other girls that you can eat a plant-based diet and still feel good and be strong’.
Ms McGeachin said that the provocative and sometimes illegal protests she’s been involved in are nothing personal against meat-eaters.
‘It’s about the cruelty and death that is perpetrated against animals,’ she explained.
‘People get so angered and upset at protests because I think there is a little bit of guilt from meat-eaters and when you put that idea in front of them it scares them and they are afraid to change.
‘Everyone has a different way of promoting animal activism, my way might be a little different to most but if you have a lot of people promoting veganism in different ways, I think that is a good thing that can spark change.’
Stefania Ferrario
Stefania Ferrario (pictured) is a 1950s-style pin-up model who commands a following of over a million people on Instagram
The Marilyn Monroe look-alike (pictured) works with major brands like Myer, Victoria Secret, David Jones and Target
Stefania Ferrario is a 1950s-style pin-up model who commands a following of over a million people on Instagram.
The 26-year-old stunner works with major brands including Myer, Victoria Secret, David Jones and Target and is also preparing to create adults-only content when she launches her upcoming OnlyFans account this month.
She uses her massive platform to promote animal rights and lures in droves of adoring fans with her teeming sex appeal.
‘Most of my followers aren’t vegan so when I post an animal rights message it might get to more people than it normally would and just make them think for a second,’ the Marilyn Monroe look-alike said.
‘I’m quite an exhibitionist naturally so I really enjoy being nude and performing in front of the camera,’ Ms Ferrario (pictured in Melbourne during a topless protest with Tash Peterson) said
‘I’m quite an exhibitionist naturally so I really enjoy being nude and performing in front of the camera.
‘And because it’s my decision, I am happy sexualising myself, I personally think it’s really empowering.’
Just this week, she and Ms Peterson stood topless in the streets of Melbourne’s CBD holding up placards with provocative animal rights messages like ‘eat p***y, not animals’.
James Aspey
James Aspey , 34, is a shredded vegan fitness model
While there’s an array of young attractive Australian women making waves in the animal rights movement, the cause also has its fair share of muscle-bound hunks.
James Aspey, 34, is a shredded vegan fitness model who lives a leisurely life in Bali, posting topless shots of his impressive physique to Instagram and investing in cryptocurrency.
The laid-back Aussie surfer who grew up in Sydney doesn’t participate in the more extreme public protests, but is very active promoting veganism online to his Instagram devotees.
He says the idea to combine his ripped abs with his animal rights beliefs is not something that happened by accident.
‘It is absolutely a conscious decision because one of the major roadblocks to people leading vegan life is that they believe they need to eat meat for some perceived health reasons,’ he said.
‘A lot of people have been misled to believe they won’t get enough protein on a meat-free diet, but you can find every optimal nutrient you need from plants and one way to prove that is with your physical appearance.’
Mr Aspey said his inspiration to go vegan came after a years long battle with cancer when he was just 17.
During the gruelling chemotherapy process Mr Aspey says he developed an affinity for other beings that were also suffering.
‘I was diagnosed with leukaemia and lymphoma and told by doctors I would be dead in six weeks unless I started chemo treatment immediately,’ he said.
Mr Aspey (pictured with his wife Nicky) says the idea to combine his ripped abs with his animal rights beliefs is not something that happened by accident
The muscle hunk (Mr Aspey pictured with his wife Nicky) said his inspiration to go vegan came after a years long battle with cancer when he was just 17
‘During that time I put on heaps of weight, lost all my weight and suffered a lot.’
‘But that helped me connect to the suffering of others and have more empathy for animals.’
At the same time, he was educating himself on health and fitness to rebuild his body after three years battling the debilitating disease.
He turned vegan but says he still has many meat-eating mates.
‘I would never choose to not associate with non-vegans. I’d definitely hang out and have a beer with meat-eaters because I’m all about finding common ground,’ Mr Aspey said.
‘I don’t necessarily push any conversations but if the opportunity came up to speak about going vegan, I love sharing how it’s helped me.’