Her words dance resiliently as she speaks of living a life full of magnetizing courage. She’s walked many a red carpet, sat with the most famous, been featured in everything from Essence to the NY Times, and even appeared on Oprah. Make no mistake though, this 27-year-old trailblazer is no movie star; Hydeia Broadbent is a walking testament that life is a gift to be owned.

At 6-years old, when many little girls were playing with their dolls, Hydeia was center stage educating the world on HIV/AIDS.  Abandoned at birth, Patricia and Loren Broadbent took Hydeia in as a foster child and later adopted her.  Hydeia was sick as a child, but her parents thought her symptoms were the result of being born to a drug-addicted mother. It wasn’t until she was three years old that they learned Hydeia contracted HIV at birth from her mother who was an intravenous drug-user.

Doctor’s gave Hydeia a grim prognosis –that she would be dead by the age 5. They were wrong. Twenty-two years later, Hydeia continues to educate and inspire the world as an international HIV/AIDS activist and humanitarian.

AIDS is the leading cause of death for African-American women ages 25–34.  Special for Michelle O Brunch, Sylvia A. Harvey caught up with Hydeia to speak about leadership, her struggles and the impact of HIV/AIDS on Black women.

Sylvia A. Harvey: For so many people you exemplify fearlessness. Is there anything that you’re afraid of, and how do you rise above that?

Hydeia Broadbent:  At this point, I’m trying to rebuild and start over. I’m going after some big things that require sacrifice and struggle. I fear failing and having my family loose faith in me, but that just makes me go after everything more [passionately].

SAH:  In your speeches you’ve said you can be president. We have our first black president, which leads us to our first lady. What significance does Mrs. Obama’s role play in your life?

HB:  I mentor young girls and she is an inspiration. We see someone in high power that’s also smart, graceful, and polite. It tells the [younger generation] they don’t have to be naked to get attention or negative to be in the spotlight.

SAH: How do you negotiate being a young black woman with AIDS when you approach dating?

HB:  I give [prospective romantic interest] pamphlets so they’re aware. You can’t negotiate it. You just have to tell. The guy I’ve been dating on and off since high school was was originally afraid of me. But when he got to know me, and after being educated, he came with me to my doctor appointments.

I’ve had guys that liked me but were afraid. Yes, I’ve been rejected, but that hasn’t stopped me. You have to pick someone who is open-minded and looks at life outside the box. If you’re dating someone that worries about [superficial] stuff like clothes, going out, and what other people think – he’s not the best person.  You have to date a very secure person.

SAH:  What advice would you give other women about talking about and learning their status? What do you say to women that fear being rejected or demonized by telling their status?

HB:  A lot of people are afraid to tell people because of the stigma. It’s a “nasty disease.” My best friend who is HIV negative and I are doing a campaign with the CDC to fight the stigma.

People say they would rather not know, but need to know.  People have to be upfront and honest. The same way a woman wants to know [a prospective partners] credit score, employment status, education…they should also want to know his HIV status.

I was born with a pair of brass balls. AIDS is not the downfall of my life. I plan to get married and have kids.

SAH:  You’ve become the face of HIV/AIDS awareness and that’s brought along a certain level of fame – what’s it like being in the limelight?

HB:  My family is very working class so when I go to these events that’s a break from my reality, and it inspires me. People get stuck in their communities and don’t get to see the rest of the world. I’ve had a girl say to me, “you live in the ghetto and your Hydeia?”

When I wear jeans, flats, and a durag people treat me a certain way. We idolize and have more respect for money and fame, but we should respect everyone we meet. I’m for the people, of the people, and by the people. I want to be humble to be able to go to those places, reach people and inspire people to take action

SAH:  What is your upcoming book about?

HB:  It covers my youth years, having low self-esteem, and my rocky relationship with my mom. There are/were some things not right that I will speak about. I don’t blame her, and I have forgiven her, but I hold her accountable for her actions. We do not currently have a relationship, so the book talks about overcoming.

SAH: What’s in your leadership toolkit? What books, music, people, and/or ideas empower you?

HB:

Books: The Bible, it teaches you compassion, love, patience, and to be kind.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. with a foreword by Coretta Scott King. His viewpoint is [powerful] and Mrs. King gave me that book as a little girl.

Music: Rihanna’s Hard is a song that gets me pumping it’s a reminder that no one or anything can stop me – I’m so hard.

Concept: Social responsibility and helping those in need, I’m really motivated by wanting to change society.

You can check Hydeia Broadbent out on her site: www.hydeiabroadbent.com.

This post originally appeared on Michelle O Brunch