London, Oct 10 (IANS) Leona Lewis, the new singing sensation, has rejected 1 million pound offer from Harrods boss Mohammed Fayed to open this year’s summer sale because the department store sells fur. A staunch vegetarian since the age of 12, the “Bleeding Love” singer stuck to her principles and turned the lucrative offer down, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Lewis, who was voted Peta’s World’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity, said: “I’m totally against animal cruelty. I don’t have clothes, shoes or bags made from any animal products.”

Harrods, which declined to comment, is the only department store in Britain that continues to sell fur, and is regularly targeted by animal cruelty campaigners. Its sales are traditionally opened by an A-list female celebrity.

Most of those invited have jumped at the opportunity to parade around Knightsbridge in a horse and carriage before being given a private tour of the discounted goods by Fayed himself.

After Lewis turned down the offer, 52-year-old “Sex And The City” star Kim Cattrall will do the job.

Last summer, Hollywood actress Sarah Michelle Geller, 31, was given the honour, while singer Lily Allen, 23, opened the winter sale last December.

Other leading ladies who have cut the ribbon include Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Christina Aguilera and Lucy Liu.