Shining World True Beauty Award Recipient: Merissa Underwood (vegan)– A Caring and Bold Beauty for Animal-People and the Environment

Today, we are delighted to present the Shining World True Beauty Award to Merissa Underwood, Miss Montana USA 2020, a talented and outspoken beauty queen who reigns in many hearts. A compassionate vegan, along with being an animal-people and environmental activist, Merissa voices her concerns regarding the suffering of animal-people and the resulting ecological destruction caused by raising them for food. A Political Science and Journalism major, poet, songwriter, music producer, and DJ in her spare time, Merissa believes in equal freedom for all and passionately pursues her dreams.

In addition to fighting for animal-people rights, Merissa is also concerned for the planet and strives to personally contribute through her everyday actions. “I think that our everyday choices in terms of what we wear, what we consume is really, really important, and just having that awareness. For me, I try to buy as much as I can secondhand. I don't buy things that I don't need. I compost at home, I recycle. I try to have as little trash as possible.”

Moved by her caring and bold actions, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan): “Cheerfully present Merissa Underwood the Shining World True Beauty Award along with a humble contribution of US$10,000 in loving support of your noble actions. May your inner and outer Beauty forever shine in the world as a beacon of Mercy toward all meek and gentle beings on Earth. God Love.”

“Dear Merissa, For your fearless advocacy of animal-people and the environment, it is with gratitude that we present to you the ‘Shining World True Beauty Award.’ This Award is presented in recognition of your courage, daring to reveal the dark secrets of the livestock raising industry and thus uplift citizens with information and wisdom to make the right choice. […] For the inner strength and commitment to use your stellar position to help the treasured beings of the animal kingdom, and for demonstrating the true radiant magnificence dwelling within; with high esteem, we salute the heroic and compassionate deeds of Merissa Underwood.”