Interviewing Maya Kawas: Vegan, Fighter, Disruptor of Norms
In a region where cultural traditions and social expectations often resist ethical change, Maya Kawas stands out as a bold and unapologetic advocate for animal rights. A Lebanese vegan activist, Muay Thai fighter, and influential content creator, she uses her voice and platform to challenge inherited norms around food, strength, and morality.
From martial arts tournaments to grassroots outreach, Maya confronts cultural conditioning and calls for systemic change. Her journey, from a childhood shaped by compassion to a public role in political and social advocacy, reflects a deep commitment to justice, consistency, and courage. Whether through street activism, digital campaigns, or political engagement with AlNahda, she continues to push boundaries and invite others to question what they’ve been taught to accept.
Many people feel a deep personal conviction about veganism, but not everyone takes the step into public advocacy. Was there a particular moment, experience, or realization that compelled you to speak out and become an activist?
Ever since I was young, I used to love animals so much. I was raised in a household where my parents taught me to respect animals and bodily autonomy. They taught me to be kind to them instead of fearing them like other parents teach their children. But sadly, animals were still part of our diet and lifestyle. Parents don’t tell their children what they’re eating—they take them horseback riding, to circuses and zoos—and I experienced all of these when I was a kid.
As I grew up, I made the connection by myself. I saw how cats and dogs were being treated and how other animals like cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, horses, and camels were being treated. I saw how pets were loved and how mice and rats were poisoned. I saw how butterflies were regarded as beautiful creatures, but crickets and snails were stepped on and hated.
As a person that respects all lives, I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t respect all animals. So I decided five years ago to change my life choices and habits because they were affecting others—my habits had victims. That’s when I turned vegan.
How do you navigate cultural traditions that involve animal products while promoting ethical alternatives?
Traditions should never be based on slavery, murder, and exploitation. I don’t care what the tradition is—if it’s based on using an animal for food, entertainment, or profit, it’s ritualized cruelty disguised as “culture.” There are many traditions in other countries like bullfighting, rodeos, whale hunting, religious animal sacrifice, horse and camel races, and circuses.
As a Lebanese person, I oppose traditions that require any form of animal exploitation in my country. Those traditions should be completely abandoned because ethics evolve. Some traditions like slavery, child labor, or discrimination were also once considered normal, yet society abandoned them when we realized they caused suffering. The same moral progress should apply to animals.
Regarding food, there are many recipes that require meat, dairy, and eggs. I encourage everyone to still create those dishes, but by replacing the animal products with plant-based alternatives—like soy meat, beans, and seitan instead of meat; vegan cheeses from nuts or coconut; plant-based milks instead of dairy; chia or flax eggs; and maple, carob, or date syrup instead of honey.
Maya Kawas at Woof N’ Wags Shelter in South Lebanon
How do you navigate the balance between emotionally charged messaging that speaks to the heart, and fact-based education that informs the mind? And how do you handle backlash or resistance?
I believe activism needs both heart and mind. Facts alone can inform people, but emotions move them to act. When I speak, I try to connect emotionally—to remind people that animals are individuals who feel pain and fear—but I also back it up with truth and evidence.
What I personally do is keep sharing videos of the animals in slaughterhouses. I keep showing people what they’re paying for, because supermarkets and restaurants don’t show you that. They promote their products without showing you the victim and how they’re being treated. Society ignores this and hides it.
When you show people what’s happening inside slaughterhouses, laboratories that test on animals, fur and leather industries, dairy farms, and the egg industry, you target emotions. You show them that they are hypocrites who are causing all this pain. You talk to their conscience. You show them that they cannot claim to be ethical and good people while still supporting those industries.
Regarding backlash, I’m an experienced vegan activist who has handled many types. There are three main ones: the ad hominem effect—people attacking your appearance, your voice, or anything personal instead of addressing your argument. I’ve faced a lot of that. The second is cognitive dissonance—people claim to love animals but still exploit or murder them. The third is religion—people trying to justify cruelty using religious scriptures as a shield.
Your activism and martial arts practice challenge two powerful stereotypes: that vegans are physically weak, and that fighters are inherently aggressive. What kinds of reactions do you get when people learn you're both a Muay Thai fighter and a vegan?
Real power isn’t about domination or violence; it’s about mastering yourself and protecting those who can’t defend themselves—including animals.
People were brainwashed into thinking that strong athletes are animal consumers. That’s false. Humans are naturally herbivores, and we get all our protein, vitamins, and minerals from the Earth itself—from plants—without consuming animals. That’s how I get all my protein and what my body needs.
I’ve won martial arts tournaments—first place—against non-vegans. I have better endurance, performance, and strength than many non-vegans. When people see I’m both, it challenges their assumptions about what strength really means.
You’ve engaged in diverse forms of activism, from street outreach and social media to public talks and political participation with AlNahda. Are there particular formats, messages, or settings that seem to resonate most deeply with people, whether youth, families, or skeptics?
I’ve noticed that the younger generation is generally more open and receptive. They have access to better education, are less tied to old traditions, and still have hearts and minds that are willing to question. Older generations, on the other hand, are harder to reach. They’ve been conditioned for decades, and their beliefs are tangled in habits and cultural norms.
In conservative and Arab societies, it can be particularly challenging to speak about animal rights or veganism—especially with family members or elders. But I’ve always made it a point to approach everyone—youth, families, skeptics, and even those who oppose me. What I’ve learned through all of this is that the only people who remain unconvinced are those who choose not to evolve—those who prefer denial over truth.
As someone with public influence, what do you say to people who are considering veganism but feel afraid of judgment from their society or pressure from their families? How can they navigate that fear while staying true to their values?
I want to tell those people: if your family members were pedophiles or your friends were rapists, would you be scared to confront them—or would you speak and call them out for what they’re doing? That’s the same thing about veganism. You know you’re on the right track—even if a million people say you’re wrong and you’re the only one. Never doubt yourself.
You should know that what you’re doing is the right thing, and what they’re doing is the wrong thing. Try to influence them too—they’re blinded and need guidance. But if they don’t want to be influenced, then be proud of yourself for walking out of this prison and waking up from this trance we were brainwashed into.
It takes courage to stand alone in a world that normalizes cruelty. Whenever you feel hopeless, remind yourself of the lives you’re saving and the values you’re living by.
Conclusion
Maya Kawas is not here to soften the truth; she’s here to expose it. Her activism is unapologetically direct, rooted in both personal conviction and a relentless pursuit of justice. She doesn’t separate emotion from evidence; she fuses them to awaken conscience. Whether confronting cultural traditions, religious justifications, or social conditioning, Maya speaks with clarity, urgency, and moral consistency.
Her life as a Muay Thai fighter and vegan activist defies stereotypes and redefines strength, not as domination, but as the courage to protect the vulnerable. In a society that often silences dissent, she reminds us that staying silent is a choice, and a dangerous one.
For those who hesitate to speak out, Maya offers a challenge, not comfort: to stand firm in truth, even when it’s unpopular. Because real change begins when we stop asking for permission to do what’s right and start doing it anyway.