Horcelie Sinda Wa Mbongo was only 11 years old when she discovered that she was HIV positive. The 22-year-old Fine Arts student, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo and lives in the UK, was born with HIV.
And now, she is campaigning to end the stigma around HIV/AIDS.
Earlier this month Horcelie couldn't control her tears when she was crowned Miss Congo UK 2017 held at the Stratford Town Hall.
"I am happy I have won at least something in my life and my story has warmed people's hearts and that is the most important thing," she told the BBC.
"BEAUTY QUEEN WITH HIV"@MissCongoUK 2017, This year, the winning act highlighted the plight of millions of Africans who suffer with #HIV. pic.twitter.com/W0vgy6YH3d
— Miss Congo UK (@MissCongoUK) April 4, 2017
She said that she hopes her story will help other people like her.
In another candid interview to BBC Africa, Horcelie spoke about how it felt to be told that she had HIV at a very young age, how she hadn't take any medicines for it prior to that, her dreams, views on having a boyfriend and more.
Watch the video here: