By Jazelle Hunt, NNPA Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON—Rae Lewis Thornton likes to sneak in a tranquil teatime between expanding her brand and the 16 pills she has to take each day. But, that’s nothing compared to the 21 pills she was taking in her darkest days of battling full-blown AIDS.

Thornton was diagnosed with HIV at 23 years old after attempting to donate blood. The following year, she shared her story and made the cover of Essence magazine, instantly becoming toe face of HIV/AIDS for young, successful, heterosexual black women, catapulting herself into a life of activism and ministry. Today, she continues to minister, teach and welcome the world into her life through her award-winning syndicated blog, Diva Living with AIDS.

And, she certainly is living.

Now 51 years old, Thornton is an Emmy-Award winner, author, life coach and motivational speaker, jewelry designer, and avid reader.

“One thing I’ve done is live incredibly well with this disease,” said Thornton, who lives in Chicago. “But, don’t confuse my HIV now with how it used to be. Now, they can keep you here and you can live a long life, but it is a very hard life.”

Read the rest of this article at Frost Illustrated.