Former Miss Jamaica and National HIV and AIDS spokesperson Raquel Wright visited the University of Illinois campus recently.

Wright spoke about her experiences as a Miss Universe contestant and what opportunities it created.

She believes that her participation in the competition motivated her to educate people about HIV and AIDS.

“If I never entered, I would have probably been like so many young people in society, today that just hear about the disease and move on happily about it, ‘Ya people are dying of HIV/AIDS but let me go back to reading my book or trying to get my master’s degree.'”

Wright hopes that her stay at U of I brings more awareness to people, just as she hopes to have the same effect in Jamaica.

“Slowly but surely, the word is getting out, and I think in my own ways, they have looked up to me as someone who has good intentions and is a good role model.”

During her stay, Wright acted as guest-in-residence speaker for the Global Crossroads Community.