Name: Mauro Aragón

Age: Less

Self definition: Modern Bohemian

Where were you at 9 a.m. last Sunday morning?

Sleeping

What person has influenced you more than any other, and how?

Tina Turner, for many reasons. First, she’s a survivor. Tina has endured physical and verbal abuse in the past and has transformed herself into a champion. Her personal Buddhist mantra magically came to me while in Italy and “saved my life.” Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I compare my problems to Tina’s past and I get over myself. Aside from all this and her being my unofficial fairy Godmother, she’s a dynamic performer and a beautiful person, inside and out. Oh, and we share the same birth date too – Nov. 11.

When don’t you feel equal?

It’s not that I don’t feel “equal,” because I have good self-esteem now, but gay culture often makes me feel uncomfortable. It gets old when everything has to feature a shirtless, muscle-bound guy to sell something that has nothing to do with physical fitness. I don’t mind brawn but intelligence is underrated.

Where were you last Wednesday at noon?

I was probably doing homework for my graphic design portfolio class.

When was the last time you felt proud?

I was DJing at the San Diego Eagle one Friday night and someone came up and thanked me for my great taste in music. Personal plug: I DJ at the Eagle every Friday night.

If there was a defining moment in your life, what was it?

OK, this is going to sound very Mommy Dearest, but … My defining moment was when I realized that all the crap that my mother was dumping onto me since I was a baby had nothing to do with me. She would have treated any child in the same detrimental manner in which she treated me. It was very liberating and cathartic and I was actually able to forgive my mother for her ignorance.

Where were you at 10 p.m. last Friday night?

Starting my DJ set at the San Diego Eagle

What is your most immediate goal?

Completing my graphic design portfolio (in time for the portfolio review in late May) and being proud of the result

When do you feel total joy?

When listening to my favorite music