Our parents always told us eating our vegetables would make us big and strong. They never said it would make us cute, too.

But just look at Kelly Anderson.

Eighteen-year-old Anderson, a senior at Smithson Valley High School, is a finalist in the national Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest.

The contest is sponsored by peta2, the young division of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The public can vote in the first round online at peta2.com through April 9.

This is the second year Anderson applied to be named cutest vegetarian. She beat out more than 1,700 female entrants to become one of 16 female finalists (there is also a contest for males).

“Mostly for me it's just about the ability to raise awareness (of animal rights) on a bigger scale,” said Anderson, who became a vegan after researching factory farms for a school project her sophomore year.

“Surprisingly, it's not that hard to be a vegetarian in San Antonio,” she said. She can find vegan options at most restaurants, even some fast food places, but her mecca is Green Vegetarian Cuisine on North Flores Street (she recommends the Sesame Chickin).

Jessica Belasco | 210SA contributor