Ava Daza underscores the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding sexual wellness, saying open conversations, education, and inclusivity are essential in promoting healthier attitudes toward intimacy and sexual health.
In celebration of Pride Month this June, entrepreneur Ava Daza is reaffirming her commitment to fostering more inclusive and open conversations about sexual wellness while continuing to advocate for the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
As the founder of Jellytime, Daza said inclusivity has always been at the heart of the brand’s mission, particularly for communities that have long been overlooked in conversations surrounding sexual health and intimacy.
“When I began thinking about what a Filipino sexual wellness brand could look like, I knew it had to be for everyone,” she shared. “The LGBTQIA+ community has always been vocal, loyal, and underserved when it comes to products made with their specific needs in mind.”
That commitment recently inspired the launch of Jellytime Silk, which Daza described as the brand’s most advanced product to date. Developed after listening to feedback from consumers, particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the product was designed to address specific needs that were previously underserved in the local market.
“People loved our original water-based lube, but we kept hearing the same thing: it dries up too fast, especially during anal sex. So we listened,” Daza explained.
According to her, the new formula combines the benefits of silicone and water-based lubricants while remaining vegan, pH-balanced, paraben-free, glycerin-free, hypoallergenic, and infused with aloe vera.
Beyond product innovation, Daza believes breaking the stigma surrounding sexual wellness remains one of the biggest challenges facing public health today.
“The data is sobering and I think what it tells us is that access alone isn’t enough,” she said, referring to the continued rise in HIV cases despite greater access to information and safer-sex resources. “If there’s still shame attached to buying them, talking about them, or even admitting you need them, the behavior doesn’t change.”
For Daza, creating a culture where discussions about intimacy, pleasure, and sexual health are normalized can encourage people to make more informed decisions about their well-being.
“Destigmatization is a public health tool. We want to be part of that,” she stressed.
She also acknowledged the progress she has witnessed since launching the brand, noting how attitudes toward sexual wellness have gradually become more open.
“When we first launched, even getting people to tag us in posts was a whole thing. People were nervous to be publicly associated with a lube brand,” she recalled. “Now, people are gifting our products for birthdays, posting unboxings, cracking jokes about us in their group chats.”
Despite the shift, Daza believes misconceptions about safer sex still persist.
“The big one: that safer sex is only a concern if you’re being ‘risky,’” she said. “Another one I hear a lot: that lubricant is only for people who have a ‘problem.’ No! Lube is for everyone.”
As Pride Month shines a spotlight on equality, visibility, and acceptance, Daza hopes conversations about sexual wellness will continue moving into the mainstream.
“Sexual wellness is self-care. It’s health. It’s connection,” she said. “If Jellytime can make even one person feel more comfortable in their own skin, more confident in their relationships, or just more willing to have an honest conversation with their partner, then that’s the win for us. The products are just how we start the conversation.”
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