Actress Sunny Leone will be in Ranchi on May 27 to make people aware of HIV/AIDS.

Leone's visit will be a part of Mr and Miss Attitude, a fashion pageant at Morabadi to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS in India's eastern states.

Organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a 38-nation non-profit organisation focusing to seek and mould public opinion on the disease through collaborations with fashion designers, musicians, film celebrities and other artistes, and Glamworld Events, a private event management firm committed to social causes, the event will seek to make the sombre topic relatable.

AHF country programme director Dr V. Sam Prasad said the idea behind the pageant was to draw attention to HIV/AIDS. Some 2.1 million Indians were HIV-positive and only awareness would reduce the stigma and discrimination they face, he said.

"It is amazing and gratifying to recognise that more of young people are getting involved in community development and fashion is a medium to unite them to contribute to social changes. Bringing youth together is the first step in making our communities better. Let's continue to strive for richer and more empowered communities and use the medium of fashion to make it possible," Dr Prasad said.

"HIV is a tough subject to talk about and this in an opportunity to engage women, girls, celebrities and community leaders in an open discussion on the importance of HIV testing," Dr Prasad added. "Mr and Miss Attitude is an attempt to bring citizens together to adopt safer sex practices, advocate use of condoms, encourage HIV testing and reduce stigma and discrimination against HIV-infected communities."

Before Leone reaches Morabadi on May 27, free counselling on HIV/AIDS will be held from 2pm to 8pm at the same venue, directors of Glamworld Events Mukesh Mishra and Nirma Kumari said.