Yeah whatever, Australia. You got Sexiest Man Alive — that would be actor Chris Hemsworth for all you non-readers of People magazine. But Tucson has a sexy vegan next door.
Maybe even the sexiest.
Dr. Guy Borders is one of 10 male finalists in PETA’s annual Sexiest Vegan Next Door contest. Voting ends Friday, and contestants find out Wednesday which man and woman are hot enough and vegan enough to score a free Maui vacation.
“I’m excited,” said Borders, 45, who was vegetarian but went whole hummus, switching to a plant-based diet, eight years ago. “Who knows what will happen?”
The married neuroradiologist, who has a 2½-year-old daughter, is very aw shucks about how far he’s advanced. His competition, by the way, includes a guy from California who posed with a bunch of strategically placed bananas.
Borders’ contest photo shows off two of his rescued pets, beagle Barnaby and Gretchen the cat — as well as a serious dimple and major muscles, thanks to a fitness regimen that includes weight-lifting and biking 24 miles to and from work a few times a week.
Borders, who grows potatoes in a home garden, said he entered the contest not for the provocative title but as a way to promote veganism, which he’s done over the years through groups such as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a national organization.
“This is a good medium to let people know a plant-based diet is one of the most thoughtful diets one can do health-wise, and it affects the world at a global level,” Borders said.
This is the 12th year People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has run this contest, although in the past it was open to vegetarians. It’s been vegans only for the past three years. PETA also just launched a Coolest Vegan Alive contest that includes the under-18 set.
And no, you don’t have to be vegan to vote.
