Masonia Traylor lives in Atlanta, Georgia. As an adolescent and young adult, Masonia was vigilant about HIV testing and was familiar with how HIV was transmitted. During a routine annual medical visit, she insisted on getting an HIV test, and was told by the provider that she "wasn't at risk." Ms. Traylor found out from that test in October 2010 that she was HIV positive and two weeks later found out she was pregnant. Ms. Traylor was then forced to deal with regular pregnancy challenges, complicated by side effects and the stress of dealing with the HIV diagnosis.
Today she has an HIV-competent son and a healthy HIV-negative daughter. As a dedicated Emmy-nominated producer, HIV activist, and Legacy Leader, she gives of her time using advocacy, social media, community-based research, and community outreach to create awareness centering the intersections of HIV/AIDS with a primary focus on women and youth. She's been featured on Hulu in the documentary short UNEXPECTED, in TIME, ESSENCE, PEOPLE, POZ, Positively Aware, Variety Magazines, CNN.com, as well as campaigns with CDC (Act Against AIDS), Kaiser Family Foundation (Greater Than AIDS), and more. She volunteers as 1st vice chair of her local Ryan White Planning Council, The AIDS Memorial Quilt, and on several projects advocating for the meaningful and creative involvement of people living with HIV.
In her downtime from supporting The Well Project and building her very own nonprofit organization, Lady BurgAndy, she enjoys globe-trotting, eating out with music and mocktails, shopping, art, and spending quality time with family and friends.
"My life has always been very meaningful and purposeful; with or without HIV, it's a dope life no matter what. I have HIV, but I get to create what's possible for my life. My Life is Dope & I Do Dope Sh*t!"
