Celebrities Who Are Vegetarian or Vegan: Inspiring Role Models for Your Plant-Based Journey

Choosing to eat less meat can feel like a lonely decision at first, especially when your family, friends, or culture still center animal products. One comforting truth is that many famous people have made the same choice, for the same mix of reasons: compassion, health, ethics, and the environment. Seeing those stories can make the path feel more normal, more possible, and a little less isolating.

Why celebrity stories help

Celebrity diets do not determine what is right for everyone, but they can be powerful sources of encouragement. When a familiar face talks openly about going vegetarian or vegan, it can reassure people that plant-based living is not fringe, extreme, or temporary. These stories often show that the transition happens gradually, through experimentation, curiosity, and a desire to live more in line with personal values.

Famous celebrities who are vegetarian or vegan

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish became vegan at 12 after learning more about how animals are treated in factory farming. She has also linked that choice to climate concerns, which makes her a strong example for people who want their diet to reflect both compassion and environmental values.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix has been vegan since early childhood and has spoken publicly about animal rights for years. He also used his Oscar speech to draw attention to the ethics of animal agriculture, which made his position impossible to ignore.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman became vegetarian at 9 after developing a strong attachment to animals, then later moved to veganism. She has described veganism as “basic empathy,” which is a concise way to explain why the choice matters to her.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande went fully vegan in 2013 after already eating mostly plant-based. She has said her love of animals is a major reason, and she has also used her platform to criticize animal exploitation.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus turned vegan after the death of her dog in 2014, which pushed her to think more deeply about animals. She has been outspoken about the topic for years, often in very direct terms.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams switched to a plant-based diet in 2011 after being diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue, joint pain, and stiffness. She has said the change was part of how she managed her health, and she later launched a plant-based protein brand as well.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is one of the most famous athletes associated with a plant-based way of eating, and he has repeatedly spoken about the impact diet has had on his performance and recovery. He is often cited among elite sports figures who rely on plant-based nutrition to support a demanding training schedule.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain tried veganism on a friend’s suggestion when she was struggling with low energy and feeling unwell. She says the change made her feel better, and that was enough to keep going.

Lizzo

Lizzo became vegan after years as a vegetarian, and she has said she simply feels better eating plants. She presents veganism as something enjoyable rather than restrictive, which helps make it feel more approachable.

Gisele Bündchen

Gisele Bündchen has said her family embraced vegan eating as a shared choice tied to health and values. That makes her story especially relevant for readers trying to change habits at home, not just personally.

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire became vegetarian in 1992 and later vegan in 2009. His long timeline shows that plant-based eating can be a durable, decades-long commitment rather than a passing phase.

What these stories have in common

Across these different journeys, a few themes repeat: compassion for animals, better health, concern for the environment, and a growing sense of alignment with personal values. None of these people arrived at plant-based eating in exactly the same way, and that is part of the point. Your reason does not have to look like anyone else’s reason for it to be valid.

A message for new vegetarians

If you are just starting out, these stories are a reminder that you are not alone. Famous people, like everyone else, often begin with a single realization, a single meal, or a single uncomfortable truth that changes the direction of their life. The journey does not need to be perfect to be meaningful; it only needs to be yours.