Drag Star Ongina Shares Her Powerful Story of Living with HIV

Professional drag artist Ongina, known for competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, has accumulated fame and experience ever since his appearance in the show.

Ongina, born Ryan Ong Palao, was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. with his family in search of a promising future in 1994. After years of hard work, he’s now able to share his passion for life with others, while living with HIV since being diagnosed in 2006. 

“As an advocate for HIV/AIDS and someone who is HIV positive, I hope that my story helps others find meaning in their life whether they are newly diagnosed or someone who’s been living with the virus a long time.” Ongina

A family person who was always the life of the party in the neighborhood and school, shared with LATV’s Living Y Ready some of his biggest struggles and the things in life that ignite his soul.

Tell us a bit about your upbringing and coming out story.

 I was always a little flamboyant and although I was teased about it growing up, my family and friends were always supportive.  Which wasn’t the same treatment when I moved to Seattle and when I eventually came out of the closet in junior year of school.  Thankfully, at this time, I had met others like me outside of my high school and everyday surroundings that helped me come to terms with my identity.  Though, I remember telling my mom and the rest of my family and the response was really positive.  They wanted the best for me in life and to always be smart with the decisions I make.  They supported me and was there because I think they knew the journey would be challenging.  But once I came out, I was able to be free and be who I am and I started to tell more and more people and it really showed who my true friends were.  And when I moved to NYC after High School, that’s when I really soared and became comfortable with myself and learned so much from living there.  

What about some defining moments in your career?

I think the most defining moment in my life is when I revealed to the world my positive HIV status on RuPaul’s Drag Race.  It was when I first told people that were outside my family and friends.  I had just won the challenge on Episode 4, where we had to create a MAC Viva Glam campaign, and because of the work the campaign does to help people living with HIV/AIDS, I was overcome with emotions and shared my status. 

“It was such a defining moment in my life because once the words came out of my mouth, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I felt free to live my life without holding back to letting people know who I am entirely.”

How did you fall into the drag artist career? 

Drag was a happy accident!  I was living in New York City and I became friends with people in the scene that included artists from all walks of life. I met club kids, drag queens and kings, trans icons and what I would consider my chosen family!  I would go out and dress up and be immersed in the culture and energy of it all!  And one day I was dining at Lucky Chengs, in drag, and I remember chatting it up with one of the girls that worked there, this beautiful trans woman named Gretchen, and before I knew it, I was speaking to the owner about maybe doing a night or two there hosting karaoke in drag!  It was the beginning of the rest of my life!  

Being a minority and a person of color what would you like to share now that you have a platform?

My message has always stayed the same.  I show people that no matter your skin color, where you come from or your HIV status, with determination and hard work – dreams can turn into reality. I didn’t dream of being a Drag Artist, but I dreamt of being successful and not for anyone else but for myself.  I wanted to make my family proud and I wanted to make myself proud.

Can you share about the biggest struggles/obstacles in your career or personal life, and how you have overcome them?

The biggest struggle was finding out my HIV positive status in 2006.  It was one of the hardest time in my life.  I was living my life to the fullest. I was successful at work, I had the best of friends and living in New York City!  And all that happiness came crushing down when I found out.  I was depressed, sad and wanted to be alone for at least 7 months.  I was also terrified because I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and I didn’t have anyone I could talk to.  But i got up one day after all those months and realized that I was in control of my life and no one else!  So I asked all the questions I needed to I can continue to go after my dreams and truly live my life!  I followed the orders of my doctors and try to make the best of every situation because I only have this one life to live.  

What makes you most proud of the work you do? 

I love my work as a drag artist because I get to share my art with the world and beyond… that I get to bring joy to so many people!  I love being able to be part of someone’s experience of drag that, hopefully, that experience will help them in my life.  

To live freely, be open and accept people for who they are because we are all just human beings trying to fit in this world.  As an advocate for HIV/AIDS and someone who is HIV positive, I hope that my story helps others find meaning in their life whether they are newly diagnosed or someone who’s been living with the virus a long time.  I get so many inspirational stories from other people and also ignites my passion to live and be open about my status in hopes that one day it will help eliminate the stigma associated with the virus.  

Do you have a mantra, piece of art, person or ritual that has helped you in a proud way that you would like to share?

I’m always thankful to my family and friends for their support and always challenging me to be better and do better.  Without my parents, my siblings, my partner, my chosen family, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. 

Stay tuned for a full feature Living Y Ready: A Day in the Life with Ongina soon on LATV.com