Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 and past Celebrity Apprentice[1] stopped by HuffPost Live on Tuesday to talk about National Latino AIDS Awareness Day[2] and the importance for the Hispanic community to engage in serious conversations about HIV/AIDS and sexual intercourse.


"It depends on the family you grew up in, Latinos are very conservative sometimes and we don't really talk about sex and preventing sexually transmitted diseases," Dayana told host Nancy Redd.


In 2009, Latinos accounted for 20 percent of new HIV infections in the U.S.[3] , according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hispanic men made up 79 percent of these new infections, which is two and half times higher than white men.[4] Hispanic women accounted for the remaining 21 percent, more than four times that of white women.


The 27-year-old beauty queen is currently working as a spokesperson for the over-the-counter in home HIV test, OraQuick[5] , which can help individuals avoid feeling exposed when getting tested in a lab.


When asked about working with Donald Trump on Celebrity Apprentice[6] , Dayana said, "I admired a lot his fatherhood and the way his family works in the business."


Check out the complete interview above.





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  • In 2009, Latino men accounted for 79% (7,400) of new infections among all Latinos. The rate of new infections among Latino men was two and a half times as high as that of white men (39.9/100,000 vs. 15.9/100,000). <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>




  • While Latina women accounted for 21% (2,000) of new infections among Latinos in 2009, their rate of HIV infection was more than four times that of white women (11.8/100,000 vs. 2.6/100,000). <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>




  • In 2009, Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 81% (6,000) of new HIV infections among all Latino men and 20% among all MSM. Among Latino MSM, 45% of new HIV infections occurred in those under age 30. <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>




  • At some point in life, 1 in 36 Latino men will be, diagnosed with HIV, as will 1 in 106 Latina women. <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>




  • In 2009, an estimated 7,442 Latinos were diagnosed with AIDS in the US and five US dependent areas. This number has decreased since 2006. <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>




  • By the end of 2008, an estimated 111,438 Latinos with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the US and dependent areas. In 2007, HIV was the fourth leading cause of death among Latinos aged 35 – 44 and the sixth leading cause of death among Latinos aged 25 - 34 in the US. <em>According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/latinos/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></em>