Condom Week turns fashionable

Condoms and fashion might not seem like a compatible combination, but Southern Miss' Student Health Services is combining those two elements in an effort to promote sexual health awareness.

Student Health Services is planning a Condom Fashion Show in which all attire must be made mostly of condoms. The showcase of condom couture will be held on Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Union Lobby.

The fashion show is being held in celebration of National Condom Week, Feb. 11-15.

"We celebrate National Condom Week every year, and we wanted to do something a little different this year to get student's attention," said Jodi Tate, health promotions coordinator at Student Health Services.

Tate said the idea behind the fashion show is the promotion of sexual health awareness. Abstinence is the only 100 percent way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, Tate said, but attention should be brought to the fact that many college-age people have sex.

"It's such a taboo topic, but it needs to be talked about," Tate said.

Ashley Wreay, health promotions coordinator, said there will be a sexual health presentation held before the fashion show begins.

"We'll try to have a little bit of education and a lot of fun," Wreay said. "We're trying to promote healthier lifestyle choices in terms of sexual health."

Wreay said the college-age demographic has the highest number of diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections.

"Mississippi is way up there in chlamydia and gonorrhea diagnoses per capita," Wreay said.

Prizes will be awarded for several categories, including Most Creative, Most Colorful, Most Protected (the entry with the largest amount of condoms), a first runner-up and a Best Overall. Tate said the winners will receive prizes of candy and blown-up condom balloons.

Wreay said Student Health Services will give free expired condoms to people who want to participate in the contest. Although the expired condoms cannot be used for sexual purposes, they can be used to make the outfits, Wreay said.

Wreay said that the idea of a condom fashion show is not new, and that she and Tate got the idea from other universities around the country.

"I've actually been in contact with someone from Colorado State about their show," Wreay said.

Student Health Services has received several entries so far, Tate said Monday night.

Student Health Services will be taking entries until Feb. 1, but the costumes do not have to be made at that time.

Representatives from each campus department, sorority, fraternity, residence hall or student organization are eligible to enter.

Callista Coleman, a sophomore biological science major from Louisville, said that although she did not think she was creative enough to make an outfit, she would definitely attend the fashion show.

"That would be interesting," Coleman said. "It's something I've never heard of."

For more information regarding the fashion show, contact the Office of Health Promotion at 601-266-5266 or 601-266-6006.