WHILE they are obviously in the minority, vegetarians, and the more extreme vegans, not only believe their health is much improved  by their special diet  but many also have strong views on its relation to not meeting eat, especially because of what they term animal cruelty or animal rights.

PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)  is the largest animal-rights organisation in the world, with more than two million members and supporters. It focuses its attention on the four areas.

Firstly, it believes the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry.

But that’s the heavy deal and PETA have a lighter and of course good marketing side -- international beauty awards for vegetarians.

And they say that these sexy veggie-loving celebrities have not only captured the hearts of millions but being a vegetarian helps a person shine from the inside out.

With the awards from Tinseltown to Asia, the Philippines and Australia, PETA has given the vege celebs the thumbs-up, saying you can be beautiful and successful, particularly in the  realms of acting, television and modelling, without eating those juicy steaks and putting the lives of their four-legged suppliers on the chopping block.

And it seems the trend is already well established in the celebrity world for just take a look at some of the every day celebrities who are well known vegetarians.

How about that ageing sex siren of the 1960s Brigitte Bardot, a vegan and a strong human-rights activist who in 1986 established the BB Foundation for Cruelty and the Protection of Animals and just this year stood up to the French cultural minister against bullfighting.

Then there are two PETA can be justly proud of, because they have both featured in adverts for them.

Ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is a vegetarian and animal-rights supporter whose advert said: “I am Paul McCartney. And I am a vegetarian.” Former actress and US fashion model Kim Basinger, who came to screen prominence with her role in the Bond spy movie Never Say Never Again, did her PETA ad for the anti-fur trade.

But the list is myriad from 3D Rock star, film, stage and television actor and proposed New York mayoral candidate Alec Baldwin to former US president Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea and others that are worldwide household names.

So for PETAs 2011 Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities for 2011 who got the accolade?

Top of the pile were Russell Brand and Kristen Wiig ,who it said captured the hearts of many with their comedic charm and com-passionate choices.

Brand  has been a vegetarian since the age of 14 and Wiig lights up the big screen in films like Bridesmaids or cracking us up with her unique characters on Saturday Night Live.

Fads are a dime a dozen among red-carpet regulars, but there’s one Tinseltown trend that won’t be fading away any time soon: going vegetarian.

Closer to home, singer Faye Wong has been crowned Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian Woman for 2011, while Bollywood hottie Shahid Kapoor has won the title of Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian Man.

Often called the “heavenly queen” or the “diva of Asia” by her fans, Faye Wong has graced the covers of Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire, and her recent musical successes include the theme songs for the movies Eternal Moment and Confucius. Her concert tour began last October in Beijing, and she will be touring across Asia throughout 2011.

Actor and radio host Charli Robinson and comedian Chris Lilley were declared the Australian winners, while in Manila, singer and actr ess Geneva Cruz has been crowned the Philippines’ Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity for 2011 after a fierce, month-long battle that recently ended at PETAAsiaPacific.com.

Geneva, who has been a vegetarian since she was 15 and is now a vegan, narrowly beat out Delara frontwoman and television personality Lougee Basabas for the title.

Australian winner Charli Robinson, who is best known for her role on the children’s program Hi-5, can be heard weeknights on the Austereo radio network's The Dirt.

Award-winning Chris Lilley is best known for his television series Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes.

So you want to be famous and sexy? Go veg!