Leilani’s Story
Biography
Leilani Münter is a biology graduate, environmental activist and former professional race car driver. She is an advocate for renewable energy, electric cars, and animal rights. Discovery's Planet Green named her the #1 Eco Athlete in the World, she was awarded the Evergreen Athlete Award at the inaugural BBC Green Sports Awards, Glamour Magazine named her an Eco Hero and Elle Magazine has awarded her their Genius Award. She has spoken at The White House twice (during the Obama Administration) and the United Nations in both New York City and Geneva, Switzerland.
Prior to her racing career, Leilani earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of California in San Diego specializing in ecology, behavior and evolution. She had excelled in science as a student and earned a Presidential Academic Fitness Award in high school, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. While still in high school, she became a PADI certified scuba diver, a hobby she continues to this day. She was a teacher assistant in cellular and developmental biology at UCSD and a volunteer at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. During this time, Leilani began volunteering at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center — a tradition she has continued to the present day. After graduating from college, Leilani worked as a photo and stunt double for actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. She used the money she made working in the movies to put herself through racing school. She ran her first race in 2001.
During her racing career, Leilani adopted more than 1500 acres of rainforest while using her race car to spread awareness about renewable energy, electric cars, plant-based diets and animal rights to millions of race fans. She has raced both open wheel cars (Indy Pro Series) and stock cars (NASCAR, ARCA). In 2014, Leilani’s team became the first race team in history to power their pit box using 100% solar power. Leilani debuted the first ever vegan-themed race car in the world at Daytona in 2017 and the following year she gave away over 30,000 vegan burgers to race fans. Leilani has been active in the effort to end cetacean captivity and has run the documentaries The Cove and Blackfish on her race cars. During her career, she recorded 9 top-five, 21 top-ten, and 37 top-fifteen finishes in 61 starts – including an 8th place finish at Daytona. Her motto during her racing years was: never underestimate a vegan hippie chick with a race car. Leilani retired from racing in 2019 and is now focused on helping nature full-time.
Leilani began traveling to Capitol Hill to lobby for the Climate Security Act in 2008, the first time a climate change legislation was argued on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Her efforts to fight for this bill were featured in The Washington Post. In April 2010, Leilani was one of the first activists to visit the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, appearing on a live interview with MSNBC from the spill. In September 2010, Leilani made her first of four trips to Taiji, Japan as a volunteer for Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project documenting the dolphin slaughter and captivity trade depicted in the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove. In 2011, Leilani and Ric O'Barry were in Taiji during the devastating Typhoon Talas, which killed 82 people. In the aftermath of the storm, Leilani lived without access to water for five days, an experience she credits to helping her more deeply understand the clean water crisis. Leilani served on the board of Oceanic Preservation Society for ten years and is featured in their 2015 Emmy-nominated documentary film "Racing Extinction” about the sixth mass extinction of species. Leilani is currently on the board of the solar non-profit Empowered by Light, she is a patron of Population Matters in the UK, and an ambassador of Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project.
Leilani has been vegan since 2011, has owned only electric cars since 2013, and has solarized two homes with her husband (so far). The couple, married since 2009, moved to New Zealand in May 2026 where Leilani is currently working on an environmental media project that will launch in 2027.
Notable Honors and Achievements
BBC Evergreen Athlete Award, Wembley Stadium London, BBC Green Sports Awards - 2022
Bad Ass Women in Green Award, California League of Conservation Voters - 2019
Speaker, United Nations New York City - 2018
Vegan Athlete of the Year Award, Farm Animal Rights Movement - 2016
Speaker, Palace of Nations, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland - 2015
Cool the Earth and Captain Planet Foundation's "Superhero of the Earth" Award - 2015
White House meeting in West Wing with Vice President Joe Biden on renewable energy and electric cars - 2014
Sustainatopia Honors Award - 2013
ELLE Magazine's Genius Award - 2012
Guest at the White House for briefing on the Greening of Sports - 2012
Origin Magazine "Leaders Shifting the Planet" - 2012
Front page of MSN Causes being honored for Earth Day - 2012
Guest at the White House, briefing on Women and the Environment - 2012
Earth Day Speech on the National Mall in Washington DC- 2012
The Huffington Post "Creative Minds: People We Expect Great Things From" - 2011
Featured in United Nations book "Champions For Change: Athletes Making a World of Difference" - 2010
#1 Eco Athlete in the World by Discovery's Planet Green - 2010
Front page of CNN: "She's Racing To Save the Environment" - 2010
Coco Eco Magazine, "One of the Most Influential Women in Green" - 2010
Glamour Magazine named Leilani "An Eco Hero" - 2009
National ad campaign for Lucky Brand Jeans, appearing in Vogue, Vanity Fair, In Style, W Magazine and Lucky Brand Stores across USA - 2008 & 2009
Guest, United Nations roundtable discussion on climate change - 2008
First Ambassador of the National Wildlife Federation - 2008
Sports Illustrated named Leilani one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world - 2007