When Celeste DeShields returned to Bermuda seven years ago after living abroad, she could have had no idea what her future would hold.

She would never have predicted that just three months later, she would be drugged and raped by a man who knowingly passed the AIDS virus on to her.

That experience would be enough to drive many people into hiding, but Ms DeShields, who has HIV, refuses to be ashamed.

She believes that more Bermudians with AIDS or HIV need to come forward and admit they have the disease in order to put an end to misconceptions about it.

"Come out and show your face. That's what's wrong...'' she said. "That's the problem. People don't know what's going on.'' She added that she would not be surprised if there was a population on the Island living in denial that they had the virus.

"People are running around doing things far worse than I did,'' she said.

"What I did was my own responsibility. Today we always want to blame everyone. People need to stand up and take responsibility for what they have done.

"You get high, You get stupid. You get AIDS. The only person who can heal me is me.

She said facing the man who attacked her has led to her becoming a stronger person.

"It was the right thing for me to do and all the other people he did it to,'' she said. "I had to do this so that I could get on with my life.'' Celeste: I'm HIV positive -- and unashamed But she said parents need to keep a watchful eye on the disease and on their children because this was one disease that did not discriminate.

"What happened to me could happen to their child.'' This knowledge came home to Ms DeShields when a friend's mother did not want to let them associate.

She explained: "The daughter did not know how to tell her mother she had the virus.'' Telling her story has not forced Ms Deshields into hiding. In fact, she has done the opposite, and it appears that many have taken notice.

"When I came out and showed my face, a lot of people were proud,'' she said.

"After that, life changed for the better. I'm thankful because a lot more people opened up their eyes.'' To those who are living with AIDS she offered these words: "Always being positive, being strong no matter what, and feeling good is important. It could have been worse.

She joked: "Taking my medication is like taking vitamins.

"People are dying from a stupidity,'' she said. "I feel good about myself.

Don't let your downs get you down.'' She warned young women and men of Bermuda to be responsible when dealing with sexual partners.

"There are a lot of young girls and women who don't know they have it,'' she said.

Since finding out, Ms Deshields said she has had little interaction with her family.

"My family doesn't come around, they have not accepted the fact that I have AIDS.'' She added: "People need togetherness as a family.'' While she holds no bitterness toward her family, she knows it is their decision to stay away.

"I know there are people out there who love and care about me,'' she said.

"For the family, you need to hold your head up and be strong. We are all God's children, the living as well as the dead.''