Celebrated photographer Mario Testino, famous for his pictures
of Princess Di, Kate Moss and Madonna, tells PN why he turned his golden lens
on HIV positive women for the Fashion Fights Aids campaign
Words David G Taylor
Photo Sam Faulkner
What was your motivation behind the book Women to Women: Positively
Speaking?
Twenty years ago my best friend died from Aids. Since then I am regularly
made aware through the media of the continuing destruction of the epidemic.
The invitation to become involved was timely as I’m at a point where,
realising life has brought me so much, I feel I should give something back.
In the book you photograph women living with HIV. What were your impressions
of them?
They were very nice, real, everyday people. These women have such spirit and
such stories. You couldn’t spend time with them and not find yourself
humbled and inspired by their strength and positivity.
Why did you choose to focus on HIV positive women?
I am basically documenting our times and wanted to portray the idea that a
lot of these women could be your mother or your cousin or someone that you
work with.
How and why did Fashion Fights Aids come about?
The idea for the campaign and book came from two global sexual health charities:
Marie Stopes International and Interact Worldwide. Fashion Fights Aids
seeks to dispel the stigma and confront
misconceptions that persist around HIV and Aids. In the west, HIV is still
often seen as a problem affecting minority interests like gay men and
IV drug users. The reality is that it should concern us all.
How do you think it has helped HIV positive people?
I hope my positive presentation of the women taking part encouraged people
to reassess their views. Before the campaign, the two charities commissioned
some independent research into public
attitudes to HIV and Aids that made depressing reading. There’s still
a lot of unfounded prejudice, ignorance and fear. We will never make real
progress until attitudes like these are changed.
And the impact?
I hope the book is creating awareness, as women represent about
52-55 per cent of people living with HIV/Aids, proving you do not have to
be a prostitute or drug addict to get this disease, especially if you are
a woman. Many are infected having done nothing to put themselves at risk.
How much has Fashion Fights Aids raised so far?
We are well on the way to meeting our first fundraising milestone of £50,000. The
main aim is to raise awareness; fundraising was always secondary. The book
launch generated huge amounts of media coverage.
How is the money being spent?
Both charities work in some of the world’s worst affected regions. Funds
will support initiatives in developing countries to encourage safer sex education,
distribute condoms and provide voluntary counselling and confidential testing.
How big do you think the impact of HIV has been on the fashion world?
It has been huge. It has had an impact on everyone and this is what I was
trying to show through my photographs.
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope for a better world for all, and that there will be no racism, either
by creed, colour, nationality or sexuality.
• For more details about Women to Women: Positively Speaking or Fashion
Fights Aids, check out www.fashionfightsaids.org
