Denver drag artist Camila Spanic brought PrEP and HIV awareness to the stage at this month’s Miss Potreros Internacional. The competition was held at El Potrero Night Club, located off Virginia Ave in Glendale beginning on February 16 and ending on the 19.
The pageant followed the same format as Miss Universe, with categories such as Bikini, Presentation: Vegas, Talent, Evening Gown, and Q&A. It featured a panel of international judges including the 2021 winner of Miss Contential, Juliana Rivera*.
Spanic, who spends more of her time in drag advocating for sexual health awareness than she does on a stage, took the pageant’s presentation category as an opportunity to do just that. From a small pill-shaped clutch, Spanic pulled out a single dose of PrEP, was handed a cup of water by her hunky and scantily clad assistant, and took the preventative drug in front of the crowd. From there, she used to rest of her time to launch into an informative speech about the drug in her native language of Spanish. See the full performance below.
At the end of her time, she turned her back on the crowd to reveal the message written on her shawl; “PrEP Previene El VIH.” For Spanic, using her platform to educate people on sexual health is at the core of her drag.
“I actually have several people approach me and asked me about PrEP, and I even have people living with HIV telling me how much it meant to them that I used that platform to spread that message and to destigmatize HIV,” Spanic tells OFM.
“I particularly chose to talk about PrEP during my Vegas presentation because I knew that I was going to have a big audience who religiously watch this pageants, and I could spread the word very easily. This would also make people remember that I am someone they can reach out to if they have questions about PrEP or HIV, so I made a statement and demanded attention by being bigger than life.”
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a preventative drug accessible to anyone who is sexually active, which can significantly reduce one’s chances of contracting HIV. While PrEP doesn’t have an age limit, it does have weight restrictions and can be used by those who weigh over 77 pounds.
PrEP is available with or without insurance, or legal documentation at several health clinics around Denver including Denver Health, CHN, and Vivent Health. To learn more about PrEP and how it prevents HIV, visit this website. 
*This article originally listed 2022 Miss Continental winner Sunny Dee Lite as the guest judge, when it was in fact 2021 winner, Juliana Rivera.
