DAPHNE, Ala. — Rae Carlson of Daphne shuns meat, but that’s okay with her family and friends. In fact, she hopes to soon be named the Cutest Vegetarian Alive by peta2 (PETA’s youth division) after beating out hundreds of others nationwide to become one of 10 female finalists.

But, she needs your help to achieve that goal; online and text message voting are under way.

The 17-year-old Carlson, who will enter her senior year at Daphne High School this fall, went vegetarian Sept. 9, 2010. She said she noticed an improvement in her health right away.

“I have more energy, am healthier and lost weight,” she said. “My acne went away. And I’m doing something for animals by making a healthy choice.”

PETA and peta2 are sister organizations that champion the humane treatment of animals on farms and in food processing plants. The group also uses media advertising and the Internet to encourage consumers to amend their carnivorous habits, and become vegetarians like Carlson.

The switch did not dismay her mom and dad.

She said, “My parents have always been into being an individual and a freethinker. My friends think it’s cool. They like to see me happy.”

Carlson is a member of peta2’s Street Team, and regularly hands out literature and circulates petitions about animal rights issues to fellow students and others in the community. She also has educated her marine biology classmates about the suffering of animals used in dissection, and she successfully negotiated with her principal to introduce veggie burgers in the cafeteria.

She even used her considerable power of persuasion to encourage five other people to go vegetarian or vegan. Make no mistake, however. She doesn’t browbeat anyone.

“You can’t make people do things they don’t want to do,” Carlson said. “My boyfriend eats meat. I sometimes get made fun of (by others), but you’ve got to put mean people out and do what’s right. I don’t let other people get in the way of what I want to do.”

The sometimes feisty Carlson is a Buddhist, and a dual citizen of the United States and Italy. Her father was in the U.S. Navy stationed overseas when she was born in Catania, on the Sicilian east coast.

The family moved to Pace, Fla. when Carlson was age 9. They lived in Historic Malbis until she was in the eighth grade, and then found a home near Daphne High.

Carlson enjoys playing the guitar and singing, and she aspires to be an actor and photojournalist. She is also a poet and songwriter, loves riding her bicycle and shooting photos.

Roller derby is also in her future. She is a fan, and hopes to join the local Roller Derby Girls team when she turns 18.

“Every year, peta2 meets more and more young people who have pledged to help their health, the environment, and animals by sticking to plant-based meals,” says peta2 Division Manager Marta Holmberg. “Our finalists’ commitment to making a difference in the world means that they’re some of the cutest young people around — both inside and out.”

The finalists were announced May 14, and voting ends on Monday, May 28, at 2 p.m. The winner in both the male and female categories will be announced June 4. They will each receive a professional photo shoot and star in a peta2 ad.

To vote for Rae Carlson, visit www.peta2.com and click on the Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest banner near the top left of the webpage, or text CV9401 to 73822 on your cell phone.