Lauren Conrad Encourages Teens to Drink Milk to Get Gorgeous From the Inside Out

WASHINGTON, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Lauren Conrad wants teens to know that beauty doesn't always come from the cosmetics aisle or fashion racks. Whether it's getting ready to look your best for a big event or a regular day at school, Lauren has partnered with the National Milk Mustache "got milk?"® campaign and DonateMyDress.org to show how making the right choices, like eating nutritious foods and drinking lowfat or fat free milk, can help teens look and feel their best. As part of her partnership with the "got milk?" campaign, Lauren is asking teens to cast their votes to make "got milk?" history and help style the milk mustache ad she'll appear in this spring.  

Lauren considers milk one of her beauty secrets and knows that drinking it regularly helps her look and feel her best – whether at a red-carpet event or hanging out with friends. To learn some of her other beauty tips, teens can visit bodybymilk.com, where they'll also have the chance to vote on the style of Conrad's milk mustache ad – cool and casual "California Girl" or fun and flirty "Night Out." One dollar for every vote will go to DonateMyDress.org*, the first national network to bring together local dress drive organizations across the U.S. to help ensure every girl can have a dream night at her prom.

For each vote cast, teens will be entered to win fashion and beauty prizes from Lauren's ad shoot. One teen will be selected to win a professional style session and will appear alongside Lauren as she reveals the ad teens chose.

"I attend lots of high-profile events, so it's important to me to always look and feel my best," said Conrad. "I know it's about making good choices regularly, like eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of milk. Milk's nine essential nutrients are my beauty secret for healthy, glowing skin and strong teeth, hair and nails."

And Conrad knows all about stepping out for big events. In 2005 she attended her prom in front of America as one of the high school seniors on the show "Laguna Beach." Since then, she's grown up to become a bestselling author, appear in numerous TV shows and movies and launch her own fashion line. As the newest face to don a Milk Mustache in the popular "got milk?" campaign, Conrad joins the ranks of more than 290 actors, athletes, models and musicians who have lent their upper lips in support of milk.  Conrad's ad will debut this summer.

*Up to $10,000. Begins 5/3/10 and ends 5/30/10

Benefits from Head to Toe

Conrad isn't the only one who counts on milk as an important part of her beauty routine. Registered dietitian and author of "The Beauty Diet," Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D. wants teens to know that making the right choices, such as eating nutrient-rich beauty foods and drinking lowfat or fat free milk, can help teens look and feel their best.

"Many women rely on strict regimens, creams and products as part of their beauty routines, but making smart food choices is just as important to looking and feeling fantastic," said Drayer. "That's why true beauty insiders eat a healthy diet, stay active and choose foods and beverages that help improve their appearance from the inside out. Milk is a source of many beauty nutrients, including protein and vitamin A for healthy skin and calcium and vitamin D for strong bones. What's more, research suggests that teens who drink milk instead of sugary beverages tend to be leaner than those who drink little or no milk."(1-2)

Furthermore, along with exercise, the protein in milk can help build muscle. Studies show that regularly drinking milk during the growing years is associated with greater height, bone size and bone mineralization, while research has linked skipping milk to reduced height and increased fracture rates. (3-5)

Make Milk Mustache History – Choose Lauren Conrad's Milk Mustache Ad

Log on to the Body By Milk Facebook page (facebook.com/BodyByMilk) or bodybymilk.com to check out Lauren's "California Girl" and "Night Out" looks and get beauty tips and fashion advice from her team of stylists and check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the ad shoot. Then, cast your vote for the style of Lauren's upcoming Milk Mustache ad at bodybymilk.com. Every teen that votes will be supporting DonateMyDress.org and will be entered to win a professional style session and will appear alongside Lauren as she reveals the ad teens chose.

After the winning look is revealed, the other ad will be revealed exclusively to Body By Milk fans on the Body By Milk Facebook page.

References:

1 Murphy MM, et al. Drinking flavored or plain milk is positively associated with nutrient intake and is not associated with adverse effects on weight status in US children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2008;108:631-639.

2 Novotny R, et al. Dairy intake is associated with lower body fat and soda intake with greater weight in adolescent girls. Journal of Nutrition. 2004;134:1905-1909.

3 Goulding A, et al. Children who avoid drinking cow's milk are at increased risk for prepubertal bone fractures. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2004; 104:250-253.

4 Rockell JEP, et al. Two-year changes in bone and body composition in young children with a history of prolonged milk avoidance. Osteoporosis International. 2005; 16:1016-1023.

5 Fiorito LM, et al. Girls' calcium intake is associated with bone mineral content during middle childhood. Journal of Nutrition. 2006; 136:1281-1286.

About the National Milk Mustache "got milk?"® Campaign

The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption.  The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, through MilkPEP, runs the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the health benefits of milk.  For more information, go to www.whymilk.com. Deutsch, A Lowe and Partners Company, is the creative agency for the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign.

About Body By Milk®

Body By Milk® is part of the National Milk Mustache "got milk?"® Campaign, a multi-faceted education program focused on the health benefits of milk. The campaign is managed by the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) in Washington, D.C., which is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. For more information, go to www.bodybymilk.com. Deutsch, A Lowe and Partners Company, is the creative agency for the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign.

About DonateMyDress.org

DonateMyDress.org is the first national campaign designed to encourage girls around the country to donate their special occasion dresses to those who cannot afford them for prom, sweet 16, quinceanera or formals. The site features a directory of local dress drive organizations across the U.S. that enables girls to find where they can donate or receive a dress. In addition, DonateMyDress.org contains information on upcoming events and special promotions, a photo gallery of real girls donating and receiving dresses as well as links to content on prom and quinceanera planning, hair and makeup tips, and other worthy causes.

DonateMyDress.org is part of the Hearst Teen Network, which includes the industry's leading teen brands — CosmoGirl.com, seventeen.com and teenmag.com — as well as MisQuinceMag.com, eCRUSH.com and eSPIN.com. With more than three million monthly unique visitors, the Hearst Teen Network is one of the top 10 ranked entertainment news web sites, according to ComScore Media Metrix.

SOURCE Body By Milk