It seems that celebrities love to jump onto every diet train that rolls through town, so it’s no surprise to see that dozens and dozens of celebrities have dabbled in (and even hardcore committed to) a vegan lifestyle, which involves eating a diet free of animal-derived foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Even Queen Beyonce has flirted with veganism — in fact, she went so far as to launch her own vegan meal planning program called 22 Day Nutrition.
But choosing to embrace a vegan lifestyle is much more than just a trendy diet move. There are a wide variety of reasons that people are going vegan. Many regular peeps and famous folk alike have made the transition to a plant-based diet as a way to benefit their health, lessen their environmental impact when it comes to food, and make an ethical statement in favor of animal rights.
Plus, with the wide variety of delicious and healthy vegan recipes and foods available in mainstream grocery stores and restaurants these days, it’s easier than ever to access the benefits of vegan eating without a struggle.
And while there’s a seemingly endless list of celebrities who have flirted with veganism, you’d be surprised to learn that some of our favorite chart-topping pop stars, Hollywood royalty, and even Game of Thrones stars (yep) are full-time, plant-eatin’, flesh-foregoing vegans and proud.
Check out the deets on these 15 vegan celebrities that will probably surprise you — and perhaps even inspire you to give plant-based eating a shot yourself!
1. Miley Cyrus
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Miley is a straight-up vegan queen.
According to reports, Miley went vegan in 2014 and has been going strong (and been very vocal about her animal-friendly lifestyle) since that point. Earlier this year, she and her vegan beau Liam Hemsworth (who also made this list!) got married in an all-vegan wedding celebration.
And Miley’s vegan choices aren’t just limited to food — she also extends her vegan lifestyle to her wardrobe.
In fact, Vogue praised Miley’s vegan fashion choices after an appearance in London late last year, stating that “the pop star and longtime animal rights activist has used the occasion to showcase the best in cruelty-free fashion,” and continued on, with the vegan love fest, writing, “With vegan versions of fur, leather, and wool all in the mix in her wardrobe, Cyrus proves that skipping the authentic materials doesn’t mean sacrificing style.”
2. Peter Dinklage
That’s right: The actor behind Game of Thrones‘ beloved Tyrion Lannister is a longtime vegan.
Dinklage — who was apparently vegetarian for more than a decade before going full vegan — has been outspoken about his ethical vegan lifestyle and even starred in PETA PSAs on the abuse of animals in the food industry.
And while the Seven Kingdoms didn’t seem to be the most vegan-friendly place in silver screen space/time, Dinklage was apparently able to stick to his guns on-set. “In all of the scenes that require him to be eating meat with his dear family in King’s Landing, Dinklage eats tofu or fake meats instead,” reported Peaceful Dumpling.
3. Ariana Grande
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This pop princess says “Thank U, Next” when it comes to animal-derived foods.
OK sorry, that was cheesy (oh god, maybe “cheesy” isn’t the right terminology here either?), but it’s true: Ariana has reportedly been vegan since 2013, according to Food Network. ” I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person,” explained Ariana in an interview with Mirror UK.
4. Madelaine Petsch
Known for her portrayal of the sometimes hateable but usually lovable Cheryl Blossom on hit series Riverdale (one of my guilty pleasures, not gonna lie), Madelaine is a longtime vegan.
“I was raised vegetarian and I tried vegan at about fourteen,” shared Madelaine in an interview with PETA. “I felt a lot healthier, I didn’t feel as lethargic because I wasn’t eating milk and eggs.”
Madelaine is an outspoken advocate for a healthy vegan diet and has campaigned with animal rights organization PETA. Check out her video interview with the animal nonprofit above.
5. Jaden Smith
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Spawn of celeb royalty Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, 21-year-old rapper/artist Jaden is vegan and proud.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Jaden actually opened a vegan food truck in July 2019 to help feed homeless people for free in Los Angeles’ skid row.
Now that’s dedication. The food truck, called ‘I Love You,’ launched on Jaden’s birthday. According to Paper Magazine, he describes the new project as “a movement that is all about giving people what they deserve, healthy, vegan food for free.”
6. Maisie Williams
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Aaaaand here’s another badass Game of Thrones star here to prove that vegans can be tough: It’s Arya Stark herself, aka Maisie Williams.
According to PETA, Maisie is vegan, but she doesn’t stop at a plant-based diet. She’s also spoken out against animal testing and in favor of cruelty-free beauty products (as you can see in the post from her Instagram above), she apparently adopted her puppy (instead of purchasing an animal from a breeder or pet store, which only exacerbates the animal companion overpopulation problem), and has also used her voice to raise awareness about the plight of animals exploited for entertainment. This girl’s an all-around activist.
7. Liam Hemsworth
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He’s married to Miley Cyrus, so we aren’t too surprised this Hunger Games star is also a strong vegan — and he appears to be motivated both by ethical reasons and his health.
“[A]fter all the information I gathered about the mistreatment of animals, I couldn’t continue to eat meat,” explained Hemsworth of his decision to go vegan in an interview with Men’s Journal.
And according to Hemsworth, he’s extremely happy with his vegan lifestyle. “[T]here are no negatives to eating like this,” he continued. “I feel nothing but positive, mentally and physically. I love it.”
8. Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish, the super talented 17-year-old singer/songwriter that’s taking the pop world by storm, is a longtime vegan.
And she’s quick to speak out about it. She took to her Instagram earlier this year to share videos of a behind-the-scenes investigations of a factory farm and pleaded with her tens of millions of followers to go vegan. “I understand that meat tastes good … and I know you think you’re just one person and it won’t change anything if you stop but that’s ignorant and stupid,” she wrote on her Instagram story. “If you have half a brain, you should know ‘one person’ adds up. Be smarter.”
9. RZA
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Rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member RZA has been a loud and proud vegan for years now, and has participated in campaigns for animal rights, helped to launch the vegan sliders at White Castle, and has been open about the many benefits of a vegan lifestyle.
And RZA is in good company, as the majority of his fellow Wu-Tang Clan members are also vegan, according to an interview in the Metro.
He’s also brought his vegan ethics to his entrepreneural endeavors and has created lines of vegan wallets, as well as launched a vegan clothing line in 2018.
10. Ruby Rose
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It’s clear from her Instagram that actress Ruby Rose loves doggies, but she also loves other animals enough to not eat them.
According to Veg News, the ‘Orange Is The New Black’ actress has been vegan for years now — and she’s very vocal about it. She’s asked her fans to try vegan via Twitter, and even taken to Instagram to show off the vegan food staples she keeps stocked in her fridge — which included things like vegan cheese, raviolis, sausages, coffee creamer, yogurt, milk, and more. Yum.
11. Benedict Cumberbatch
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The actor known for Avengers: Infinity War is very vegan — and he’s not shy about talking about it.
In fact, while promoting the film in 2018, he found ways to bring up his vegan diet in numerous interviews, so he must be pretty proud of the decision. And like some of the other celebs on this list, he extends his animal-friendly choices into his wardrobe, too: “In 2016, he graced the cover of British GQ sporting vegan boots and a suit made of ‘future wool’ from Brave GentleMan, the world’s first all-vegan luxury menswear store,” reported PETA.
12. Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan reportedly first went vegan at age 10 after watching a video about the reality of slaughterhouses, according to Women’s Health Magazine.
” It just stuck,” she said in an interview with the magazine. “I feel good about it morally and physically.” That’s pretty legit. The actress and dancer (who was married to and shares a child with actor Channing Tatum) is known for her vegan lifestyle and is very open about the benefits of eating plant-based and her motivations for doing so.
Curious about what this super-fit momma eats to stay healthy on a vegan diet? Check out the “Lifestyle” highlight on her Instagram for tons of delish vegan meal inspo and a peek into her day-to-day vegan snackage.
13. Russell Brand
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Actor/comedian turned spiritual guru Russell Brand is vegan… again.
After being vegetarian since he was a young teen, Brand reportedly decided to go vegan in 2011 after watching the documentary Forks Over Knives, which discusses the health benefits of a vegan diet. After a several-year hiatus where he apparently went back to vegetarianism, Brand recently announced that he had cut dairy and eggs and was back to his vegan ways.
14. Jhene Aiko
Jhene Aiko isn’t just vegan — she’s an award-winning vegan.
Yup. This R&B star was given the honor of being PETA’s Sexiest Vegan in 2016, and she hasn’t look back. While Aiko reportedly first explored veganism as a way to get her health in order, it’s turned into an ethical choice that’s about helping animals, too. “I just feel like we have to really wake up and educate ourselves on how these animals are treated,” shared Aiko in an interview with PETA. “It’s not fair that we take advantage of them by using them for food[.]”
15. Erykah Badu
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If you’re wondering why Erykah Badu doesn’t seem to age, it might have to do with the fact that she’s been vegan for more than two decades.
Yep, the legendary singer/songwriter apparently went vegan in 1997, so she’s got lots of experience. She has certainly left her mark on music, but she’s also made a huge difference for animals in her many years as a passionate vegan. This queen even did a question and answer session on veganism, if you’d like to give it a view.