Queen for a Day

Following in the
footsteps and lipstick kisses of Fergie, Pamela Anderson, and
Linda Evangelista, a Los Angeles-based drag queen named Ongina
has become the latest spokesperson for the
M·A·C Viva Glam campaign, which has raised
more than $140 million by donating 100% of the sale of
M·A·C's Viva Glam products to fight
HIV/AIDS.

Known out of makeup as
Ryan Palao, the 26-year-old Philippines-born Ongina is a fan
favorite on Logo's cutthroat reality competition
RuPaul's Drag Race

, in which female impersonators vie to become America's next
top drag queen. M·A·C Cosmetics is a major
sponsor of the show, which is hosted by drag superstar RuPaul,
the original M·A·C Viva Glam spokesmodel.

In an emotional episode
that aired February 23, Ongina bested the five other remaining
contestants to win the M·A·C Viva Glam
Spokesperson for the Day Challenge, in which the queens starred
in screen tests to promote the campaign. When Ongina won, he
broke down in tears on the runway and revealed his own
HIV-positive status.

"With celebrity comes
responsibility," says Nancy Mahon, executive director of the
M·A·C AIDS Fund, which was established in
1994 to support those affected by HIV/AIDS globally. "What's
amazing about Ongina is that right as he's being introduced to
the world, he's saying, 'This is who I am, and this is what's
important to me.' He's the real deal."

On February 25, before
Ongina presented a $25,000 check on behalf of the
M·A·C AIDS Fund to New York City's
all-inclusive Harvey Milk High School, he raised awareness for
the cause with an appearance at the M·A·C
Cosmetics Flatiron store in Manhattan. We pulled aside the
petite Filipino princess to discuss his honesty, his style, and
his obsession with lady parts.

Advocate.com: You look fabulous. Who are you wearing?Ongina:

Oh, this old thing? I'm wearing Burberry Prorsum shoes,
Patricia Field shorts, and this lipstick-print shirt was made
for me by a friend.

What did it mean to you to win the M·A·C
Viva Glam challenge?

I was diagnosed with HIV on April 13, 2006, so winning the
challenge was completely amazing for me. I'm a living example
that you can be just as glamorous with HIV as without. You have
to keep celebrating life. I'm truly blessed to be able to
represent the M·A·C AIDS Fund.