Katarina: A Multilingual Traveler, Ethical Vegan, and Advocate for a Cruelty-Free World

Katarina is a well-traveled vegan from Croatia, who has also called Slovenia, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, and Spain her temporary homes. Her journey across these diverse lands has not only broadened her horizons but has also gifted her with fluency in several enchanting foreign languages 😊.

Katarina’s exploration of vegetarianism embarked during her university days in 2012, a period when she found herself living independently for the very first time. Not only did she embrace this dietary choice because of how it positively impacted her well-being and appearance, but her journey soon evolved into a profound awareness of the animal cruelty prevalent within the meat and dairy industries. This realization prompted her transition to a vegan lifestyle, driven by her deep-seated ethical convictions. Since then, Katarina has remained steadfast in her commitment to this not just as a diet, but as a profound mindset and way of life.

Tell us more about yourself, please

My Name is Katarina, I am from Croatia but I also lived in Slovenia, Italy, Dominican Republic, Curacao and Spain, which makes me fluent in several beautiful foreign languages 😊.

I am a cheerful person that loves life and loves discovering herself through various hobbies and activities. I have special interest in natural remedies, acupuncture, fitness, cooking, literature and recently I also started kickboxing.

My experimentation with vegetarianism began at University times in 2012 when living alone for the first time in my life ( and convinced my family to try the same ). Initially it was just because I liked how it made me feel and look but not long after that I learned about the animal cruelty behind meat/milk industry so I switched to the vegan diet for ethical reasons too, the diet that I have been following ever since. And yes, it is more than a diet, it’s a mindset, a lifestyle.

Quitting meat was almost effortless because I never enjoyed it anyway, but giving up milk and cheese was a bit challenging, especially considering that my family was a big consumer.

I’ve discovered that the most effective way to overcome these food addictions is through in-depth investigation into how they’re actually made, and especially, their impact on our health 😉 It worked for me and my family!

Heavy meat consumption is highly integrated into Croatian culture, unfortunately. And although I did notice some improvements in terms of wider meatless options, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in our region.

I would say that the hardest part of being a vegan in Croatia is the mental and psychological burden you have to deal with when getting into conversations with non vegans that often use inappropriate jokes about this subject.

It pays off regardless of all challenges, of course!

As an animal lover, I consistently strive to contribute as much as I can by not wearing animal products, providing financial support to shelters for mistreated and abandoned animals, signing petitions that advocate for stricter law enforcement against animal abuse, and feeding hungry street cats whenever I encounter them.

I do my utmost to raise awareness about this often-overlooked social issue, and I hope that one day we will inhabit a cruelty-free world where all life is valued equally. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to witness such a transformation.