New Zealand’s reigning beauty queen Rachel Millns has proven herself to be a passionate animal rights supporter, confirming she is the new face of the Be Cruelty-Free campaign.
The Waikanae native is a full-time beauty therapist determined to change the beauty industry in New Zealand, saying she would love to see the cosmetics industry reflect the nation’s clean, green image.
Milln explains to the Wanganui Chronicle that she checks brands’ stance on animal testing when selecting skin care products: "I'm always questioning what's in skincare, and I don't use products that are tested on animals. There are many non-ethical products on the market, and ethically tested products are actually really easy to come by if you ask the right question and do your research.”
She adds that her association with Miss Universe is not harbouring her belief system, but rather, is providing her with a platform from which to promote issues she is passionate about. She explains: “I'm not afraid to say that as a face of New Zealand, animal testing is not something I want to be associated with."
Be Cruelty-Free is interested in taking a global stand against animal testing, rallying for changes to be made to each country’s Animal Welfare Amendment Bill. For New Zealand, this would mean a complete ban on cosmetic testing on animals within the nation.
To date, the international Be Cruelty-Free campaign has already achieved a prohibition on animal testing in India and the European Union, with plans to extend the ban all over the globe.
