Orange County - Navel Gazing - Vegan Mel Carries Out Her Nude Protest

Fight Over the Fight in Newport Beach Breaks Rolls On

¡Ask a Mexican! Blamed for Hate Charges Against Alleged Haters

Costa Mesa Cutter Promises Fastest Boob Job in the West

Vegan Mel Carries Out Her Nude Protest

By Matt Coker in A Clockwork Orange, Breaking News

Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 2:23PM

Photo by Keith May

Hear Vegan Mel roar!

You were told this morning about the vow made by Melissa Sehgal, who also goes by Vegan Mel, to sit in a cage in Anaheim while her nude body was painted like a tiger. If you point your eyes in that direction, you can still make out the smoke trail produced when photographer Keith May high-tailed it over there for the voluntary assignment. The fruits of his hard labor are revealed in this quite-possibly-not-totally-safe-for-work slideshow.

Sehgal is a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for whom she has pulled similar stunts, including one as recently as Tuesday in Fresno. The current target of PETA's ire is a familiar one to animal-rights advocates: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose treatment of performing animals has been blasted over the years. Circus officials have just as vigorously deflected the criticism.

Hoping to spread the word--and generate the headlines (you're welcome!)--before the circus comes to Honda Center July 15, Vegan Mel plopped her cage at South Lemon Street and West Center Street Promenade, where she held a sign stating, "Tigers in Circuses: Beaten, Battered, and Broken." Wonder if anyone even noticed the sign?