This Teen Wants Fashion Influencers to Change for Animals

Posted by Bridget on November 20, 2024

Do you enjoy writing? Whether you write as a form of self-care or are considering journalism as a career, using your writing skills to submit letters to the editor of newspapers or magazines is a great way to bring exposure to animal rights issues that you feel strongly about.

Sofia Quintana, a Virginia high school student, knows this all too well. She used an assignment in her Journalism class to address fashion influencers and encourage them to stop promoting fur. Check it out:

Dear fashion influencers,

My name is Sofia, and for over half my life, I’ve been a dedicated advocate for animals. In 2017, at the age of nine, I attended the annual Animal Rights March and marched block by block screaming ”There is no excuse for animal abuse!” at the top of my lungs in unison alongside my passionate peers. 

Later that afternoon, we rerouted to a Canada Goose store to fight against their cruel practices. It was at that moment that I became acutely aware of the atrocities within the fur industry. Those who trade the lives of these vulnerable animals for empty popularity exacerbate this cruelty. That’s right, influencers, I’m talking to you. 

Today, as I witness esteemed models strutting down catwalks adorned in the skins of what were once cows, minks, and rabbits, I hold my precious cat close and mourn. These animals are subjected to appalling treatment devoid of empathy or regard. They are treated as mere commodities, rather than living beings, despite their profound importance.

Animals, regardless of their species, possess remarkable intelligence that often goes unrecognized. Consider cows, often used for leather. They are social and intelligent creatures capable of learning tricks and getting the zoomies just as our beloved dogs at home do. Such intelligent beings should not be subjected to such cruelty.

Today, I admire the brave PETA protestors who infiltrated major fashion shows around the world last fall. They called out brands like Hermès and Coach to ditch their use of leather and furs. These are the fashion influencers we should be listening to.

I encourage every single one of you, from Kendall Jenner to Bella Hadid, to educate yourselves on the origins of your clothing. Your coats, scarves, and shoes are sourced from inhumane fur farms that confine animals to cramped and grimy wire cages. These animals are murdered using barbaric methods such as suffocation, electrocution, gas, and poison.

Fur and leather are not a status of wealth or luxury, and I urge you to stop treating it as such. When you post media of you wearing what most view to be a symbol of luxury and wealth, the fear, screams, and lives that were taken to provide you with that single article of clothing are evanesced. Your fans only view what is on the surface. They see someone they love, someone they cherish, and they stride to follow in your misguided footsteps. 

Therefore, I beseech you to stop the promotion of these blood-covered products for the sake of our precious animals. Fur is not a status of supremacy, but a status of ignorance. Faux fur, on the other hand, serves as a status of empathy, kindness, and compassion toward the beautifully bright animals that we repeatedly mistreat. 

In solidarity,

Sofia

Sofia attended her first animal rights march at 9 years old.

Sofia attended her first animal rights march at 9 years old.

We asked Sofia why writing this letter was important to her, and she said, “When we got this assignment, I recognized it as my chance to make a difference: to be heard. Pop culture is big, and celebrities are bigger. They have such a strong influence on both developing and established generations and the decisions they make”.

“It is utterly unfortunate that the companies and celebrities endorsing [wearing animal skins] are willing to hide the horror from the public. The media consumers are unaware of the truth because no one is talking about it! This is why I felt this was a crucial time and topic to write about, to spread the word of what is a hidden truth to so many. Humans are natural empaths, and when presented with the truth, I know many would divert their choices and choose compassion.”

Sofia, who became vegan at the age of 7, will soon be celebrating her 10-year vegan anniversary. When asked how she got her start in animal rights activism, she said, “My first step was finding groups of like-minded individuals. I also utilized the platform I had in school; I chose to write about animal rights every opportunity I got and would often speak about it to my peers.”

High school is a great place to speak up about issues you feel deeply for, including animal rights. Think of it this way: When else will you be surrounded by hundreds (sometimes thousands) of open-minded future leaders who are ready to make a positive difference in the world every day?

When asked what advice she would give other young people who want to speak up for animals in their community, Sofia said, “Never let the words of others get to you and stay headstrong. Start small, volunteer, or join local clubs, and build up from there. Be active in your community and be creative in finding ways to engage and participate.”

“Community is huge, and it is often underutilized. However, with the help of just one or two other people, we become so much stronger and our impact so much bigger. If you ever doubt yourself or feel like giving up, please think of the animals that are counting on you. Your impact and efforts are much greater than you might think”.

Keep up the amazing work, Sofia! Any student can take a page out of Sofia’s book by using your next school project to speak up for animals. Whether you are writing a thesis about speciesism, need to interview an expert about ways to help animals, or want to campaign to end cruel animal dissection in your school, peta2 staff is here to guide you. E-mail us at [email protected], or contact us here.