A 55-year-old has beaten numerous other entrants from across the UK to become a finalist in a beauty competition.

Lorri Delahunty is one of 12 finalists for PETA’s ‘Most Beautiful Vegan Over 50’ competition.

Lorri, from Stockton on Teme, said: “I had started considering veganism but more as a lifestyle choice rather than making the connection with the animals, then one night, one of our dogs had a bad accident and at 1am in the morning, I am leaving the emergency vets after having parted with a lot of money to help my beloved Beagle, and drifting over to thoughts of what to take out of the freezer for dinner… and chicken was the choice.

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“Immediately, I made a connection that I should have made so many years, in fact decades, earlier. Why didn’t I see the life of a chicken as the same as my dog?”

Lorri added: “Our family is all now fully vegan and we can’t understand how, as educated people, we were so blinkered for so long. There are so many ways to get people interested in veganism, but our belief is that we want to approach it from the gentle side. To try and encourage conversation. To invite that question that might just ignite the spark. To drop some film names in to our chats to try and encourage people to watch.

“I have had more conversations about veganism here in the county by farmers and country folk, that stop me to ask about it. Lifelong livestock or dairy farmers are interested in how their farming could change. They are worried financially about change and the dwindling call for meat and dairy, and could really do with some guidance on how to adapt to new crops as they recognise it’s such a growing market and might protect their farm and livelihood.”

PETA director Elisa Allen said: “With her huge heart and courageous spirit, Lorri is a hero for animals through and through. All the finalists of PETA’s Most Beautiful Vegan Over 50 competition are setting an admirable example of compassion for younger generations to follow.”