February 1, 2010

New Miss America Champions HIV Awareness

The newly crowned Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron of Fredericksburg, Virginia, promises to promote HIV awareness and education during her one-year reign, The Free Lance-Star reports. The platform is a personal one for Cameron, whose uncle died of AIDS-related illnesses when she was 8 years old.

“We need to let people know this is a disease affecting people right here, right now,” said Cameron, a 22-year-old African American. “We need to make sure we’re having those uncomfortable conversations that are lifesaving conversations.”

According to the article, Cameron, who is a college senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, volunteered for AIDS education organizations during her teen years and, as Miss Virginia, was involved in a program called Real Talk: AIDS in America, which teaches young people about HIV prevention. In addition to speaking out on HIV-related issues this year, she will also tour the country on behalf of The Children’s Miracle Network, the Miss America Organization’s partner charity that raises funds for children’s hospitals.

Cameron pointed out that every nine minutes someone in this country contracts HIV—and stemming that tide means talking about the problem.

Click here to read POZ columnist Shawn Decker’s blog entry on the new Miss America and her commitment to HIV awareness.

NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Dixya Rimal, Chitwan,Nepal, 2010-02-12 07:03:05
I too won the title of "Miss HIV Stigma Free Beauty Peagent"conducted by Family Planning Association of Nepal.I am too working on the feild of HIV and awareness is only one part of our work.I got married at the age of 19 and later on I knew that my husband was a drug user, I tested HIV positive when my husband died with AIDS defining illness,as the travel ban to USA is over I want to attend the IAS AIDS conference at USA on 2012 with my HIV infected boyfriend.Please help us and sponser us .Dixya

Ujjwal Baral, Kathmandu Nepal, 2010-02-03 04:49:55
Well,in Nepal also Family Plannimg Association Of Nepal conducted "MISS HIV Stigma Free Beauty Peagent" where all participants were HIV infected and Miss Dikshya Rimal won the title.She wants to show the recording of the contest at IAS conference at Washinton DC on 2012.She is searching sponser for her self and her HIV infected boyfriend.All HIV infected Nepalese were very happy when they heard that travel band to USA is over and IAS decided to organise conference at Washington on 2012.

jimmymac, Garden Grove, 2010-02-02 23:35:40
Good for her! Awareness takes good people taking those difficult steps toward opening up the conversation.