Beautiful with HIV

HIV-positive women wearing evening gowns and sparkling jewels entered a beauty pageant in Botswana in an attempt to dispel the stigma that surrounds the deadly virus in this AIDS-ravaged southern African country with one of the world's highest rates of HIV infection. 37 percent of its 1.7 million population has tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.

It is hoped the pageant, Miss Stigma Free, now in its third year - will show the disease does not prevent women from being beautiful and living positively.

The winner, Cynthia Leshomo, a 22-year-old AIDS counselor, is determined to encourage the government to involve HIV-positive people in work on HIV/AIDS

Judy Peacock, Miss Botswana 2004, helped the contestants prepare for Saturday's pageant by coaching them in how to answer judges' questions about AIDS and walk down the runway with poise. The women, aged 18-35, were making an important statement by participating, Peacock said. They accept their condition, and want to live positively with the virus.

The contest, organized by the Center for Youth of Hope AIDS support group, was broadcast on national television.

Botswana, aggressive in fighting the pandemic, initiated the African continent's first program to prolong life with anti-retroviral drugs through the public health system in 2002. Some 34,500 people are now receiving treatment here, according to government figures. Botswana whose wealth is from diamonds, is rife with fear and discrimination about AIDS which prevents many from coming forward to be tested for HIV.

Neo Sampoela, another contestant, an unmarried mother of four who was diagnosed with HIV in 1994, said she wanted to help break the silence about the virus.

"It is possible to live long with HIV/AIDS," she said. "I do not want people to give up because of HIV/AIDS."