Vegan Champions - Strength in Compassion, Part 2 of 2

Melissa Busta, born in the United States, works as an emergency room nurse. In 2024, during her second year of Strongman competitions, she took 1st place and earned her Strongman Corp Nationals Pro Card. She once stated in an interview: “I hope to show up and show the world how strong vegans are on that world competition floor!” In 2013, Melissa Busta adopted a vegan lifestyle after witnessing the damage caused by meat consumption during an open-heart surgery, where she worked as a nurse.

Vegan Strong Plant Built Team (also known as Vegan Strong Team), founded in 2012 as a nonprofit organization based in the United States, is made up of champions, vegan bodybuilders, and strength athletes -- many of whom are also coaches, nutritionists, and authors. “My name is Giacomo Marchese. I have been vegan for 20 years. I am also a founder of the world’s largest team of vegan strength and physique-based athletes. We are on a mission as a team to prove that plants have all the protein you need to be strong, healthy, and competitive. I felt better about my choices because of a plant-based diet supporting me as an athlete and helping me become more and more competitive.” At the Mr. America 2024 Sports Festival in October, the Vegan Strong Team won 55 medals, 48 of which were gold, further proving that a vegan (plant-based) diet can elevate your health, wellness, and fitness goals to the next level. Their remarkable achievements continue to challenge and reshape public perceptions of veganism in strength sports.