Brazilian supermodel Fernanda Tavares has been named Humane Society International's Ambassador for the charity’s Be Cruelty-Free Brazil campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics.
Tavares has pledged to help HSI end animal suffering in Brazil’s beauty industry.
Last month Fernanda Tavares starred in a video appeal for HSI calling for the Brazilian government to follow in the footsteps of Europe, Israel and India by introducing a nationwide cosmetics animal testing ban. Fernanda subsequently joined HSI for a meeting with Senator Eduardo Suplicy, the Minister of Justice, Dr. José Eduardo Cardozo and Deputy Ricardo Tripoli to discuss why banning cosmetics animal testing, which was recently done in the state of Sao Paulo, would improve consumer safety and promote modern science as well as protect animals from unnecessary suffering.
Fernanda said: “I’m really thrilled to become HSI’s Be Cruelty-Free Brazil Ambassador. I love my country very much, but cosmetics cruelty shames Brazil so I want to see an end to the suffering as soon as possible. I feel very close to this issue, coming from the modelling world where make-up is so central, I feel I am in a unique position to speak out for these poor animals who suffer in silence. There really is no excuse for animal testing when so many companies make amazing cosmetics without hurting any animals. So I want to do whatever I can to help HSI achieve this goal.”
Although banned throughout Europe, Israel and India, Brazil’s cosmetics regulations still allow for eye, skin and oral toxicity tests on rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents. The animals are given no pain relief and are killed at the end of the test by asphyxiation or neck breaking.
Helder Constantino, HSI’s Be Cruelty-Free campaigner said: “Fernanda is the perfect Ambassador for our Be Cruelty-Free campaign so we are honoured to have her support. She encompasses beauty with compassion and we know she shares our determination to see an end to cosmetics animal testing here in Brazil and around the world.”
Be Cruelty-Free Brazil is part of the largest campaign in the world to end cosmetics animal testing, supported by ARCA Brasil, ProAnima and the National Forum for the Protection and Defense of Animals. HSI has Be Cruelty-Free campaigns in Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan and Be Cruelty-Free USA is spearheaded by The Humane Society of the United States.
