Since its inception in 2014, the Y+ Beauty Pageant has grown from 10 contestants to over 1,000 ambassadors by 2022, shattering stigma and redefining what it means to live positively with HIV. These changemakers are leaders, not just survivors, using platforms like school outreaches and community dialogues to inspire hope and empowerment. This year’s theme, Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps, celebrates them as champions of gender equality and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health rights. With a stigma index resilience score of 1.85%, the 18 regional winners embody strength, courage, and the drive for a stigma-free, inclusive world.