Distinguished Lecture: Mondo Guerra

Fashion designer Mondo Guerra, who appeared on two Project Runway television series, will join San Antonio Express-News columnist Emily Spicer for a conversation on the eve of World AIDS Day. In 2010, Guerra finished as runner-up on season eight of Project Runway during which he came out as HIV positive. Two years later, he won the first season of Project Runway All Stars. He went on to become a mentor on Lifetime’s Under the Gunn spinoff series. Since his days on Runway, Guerra has served as an advocate for HIV organizations, becoming a spokesperson for Merck’s Project I Design and Subaru’s Dining Out For Life. In an interview with Lover Boy Magazine, Guerra explained the process behind disclosing his HIV status on Project Runway. “To be honest I wasn’t thinking about coming out as HIV positive. It wasn’t planned. It all happened very organically. Moment by moment it all fell into place. In retrospect I have an understanding of why though. Creativity has always allowed me to live. Creativity was my escape, my best friend. After 31 years of living with this existence I was given the opportunity to share my life through design.” Shortly after disclosing his HIV status, Guerra designed two limited edition T-shirts with a Day of the Dead theme in honor of World AIDS Day. The shirts were sold to raise funds for amFAR, an AIDS research organization. “The Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead isn’t about death at all,” Guerra told the Huffington Post at the time. “It’s about celebrating the memory of loved ones. I think it’s a smart choice to use this for this cause.” Guerra continues to design everything from apparel to eyewear to Crocs. A post on his website says he is “currently focused on the development of cutting-edge multimedia content and continues to create modern designs that blend his fashion and social consciousness.”