Naomi Djese is 22 and from Manchester. She has recently become one of the finalists in PETA's UK Hottest Vegan search. We caught up with her to talk about why she feels so strongly about this lifestyle and how her journey into veganism began.
Naomi Djese
You went vegan to experience the many health benefits of this lifestyle so did you feel any change physically when you made the switch?
I was diagnosed with aHUS (atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome) and was on multiple medications and treatments; which completely ceased a few weeks into my diet change. I felt stronger, I had more energy, less anxiety and increased mental focus. I rarely fall ill now, including the flu and the common cold, which I used to experience several times per year.
You now cook vegan food for friends and family so have you converted any of them to follow in your footsteps?
I am yet to comprehensively convert anyone, as it is a process for most and will not happen overnight. However, I do have a lot of family and friends that have started the journey and are making impressive strides towards full 'veganhood'. I just give them the support they need - whether it's a new recipe I've tried, some information or a little bit of encouragement. I am also creating a website that they can turn to for recipes or information on natural skincare, remedies, hair care and lots more.
Why do you think people see the vegan diet as boring?
I feel society heavily misinforms or projects a carnivorous diet on to us and make it seem 'normal' and more appealing than a plant-based diet. The majority of us take this information on board without question and accept it as fact.
You love to travel, so how have you found eating vegan aboard and where is your favourite place to visit?
It can be difficult abroad because the branding changes and so do supermarkets, plus in some countries the vegan movement isn't as established, so if you're not informed about the place you are visiting it could be tricky. My favourite place to visit so far is Portugal (Porto Santo).
Your favourite dish is ratatouille, so why do you love it so much?
It's a quick and easy delicious recipe that requires very little hands-on time for me, which is helpful as I am on a university schedule. Sometimes it isn't possible to spend an hour in the kitchen when deadlines are looming!
You say you are a great cook now- is this something that has happened since becoming vegan?
I was always interested in cooking but I didn't have a passion for it like I do now. Cooking was just something I had to do to feed myself - but when I turned vegan, I had to reignite the spark to avoid boredom. So I started experimenting with food, looking up recipes and watching a few YouTube videos. It opened up a whole new world for me! I was surprised at what I could do with my meals and what I could make. I stopped dreading dinnertime and started to look forward to it. This is also one of the reasons that I'm creating my own website - to inspire people to try a plant-based diet.
You enjoy doing yoga so how does a vegan lifestyle support this activity?
Yoga is about health and cultivating self-love…and diet is a pivotal part of this belief. To be proficient in yoga, the body, mind and soul must be in good health - nothing a plant-based diet can't help you achieve! I feel able to push myself further than I could before and achieve more than I could before. I definitely feel a lot less tension in my body and I'm a lot more relaxed, which any yoga practitioners will tell you are beneficial to the practice.