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DURHAM -- A Durham woman has won a national photo contest for people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Jacquie Clements had advanced as a finalist and recently was named overall winner.
The official announcement is set to be made Thursday in San Francisco.
The Fight HIV Your Way Contest recognizes the ways people fight HIV every day, according to Hilary Mra, a spokeswoman for Ruder Finn public relations firm in New York City.
"Each photo essay submitted represents a unique expression of what inspires one individual to stand up to HIV day in, day out,'' according to the firm's press release.
The photo exhibit opens Tuesday in Union Square Park in San Francisco.
Winning entries will be on display through Thursday.
People from across the nation submitted photo essays showing what inspires them to live with HIV.
Judges selected finalists based on their impact, creativity, originality and artistic quality. They included Regan Hofmann, editor-in-chief of POZ and poz.com, magazine and Web site for those living with HIV/AIDS; David Martinez, a San Francisco photographer; and Frank Oldham, president and CEO of the National Association of People with AIDS.
The contest was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, maker of the prescription drug Reyataz, used to treat HIV.
