Three Abbotsford women who want to promote the value of sexual abstinence are appearing on two U.S. television shows this week.
One of the women, Lisa Marziali, 30, said the trio want to debunk the stereotype that virgins are socially awkward or undesirable.
"We want to show people there are beautiful, successful, talented women that are following this lifestyle," she said.
Marziali, a photographer, appears with her roommates Danielle Michaud, 30, a nurse, and Tamara Larson, 29, an outreach worker, on the Dr. Drew show this Friday on the HLN network (formerly known as CNN Headline News), airing at 9 p.m. They will appear live, via satellite, from a studio in Surrey.
Then, on Sunday, Dec. 4, they are featured in the pilot program for a show called Virgin Diaries, airing at 9 p.m. on the TLC network. They are one of three featured storylines.
Marziali, Michaud and Larson drew the attention of TV producers because of an Internet blog they started four months ago called Confessions of a 29 Year Old Virgin: Talking Purity.
Joining them on the blog is a fourth friend, Amy Schmidt, 30, a teacher who is currently in Uganda on a missions trip.
The four all bonded about a year ago after meeting through their church, The River, in Abbotsford and discovering they had something in common – they were single, 29 years old and abstaining from sex.
Not all of them were virgins – one had sex at a younger age – but all were now committed to waiting for marriage.
Marziali said the four live fun, full lifestyles and are comfortable talking about abstinence in a society bombarded with sexual images, messages, and the pressure to conform.
They wanted to connect with others who were either reveling in their choice or struggling with their convictions – not to preach at them, but to show them that they are not alone.
At first, the four thought about writing a book, but they instead settled on the blog (http://www.confessionsofa29yearoldvirgin.com/). There, they each share their experiences with relationships, spirituality, redemption and waiting for "the one."
Marziali said the blog has garnered much feedback – most of it positive.
"People have said, 'This is the kind of thing I've been looking for.' "
Marziali, who is a virgin, said the four believe that sex is something of value – with emotional and spiritual connections – that should not be freely given away."
The women have also been approached by an Abbotsford private school to make a presentation to students about abstinence as a viable choice.
Marziali said they are surprised with the attention they have drawn, but are happy to encourage people who are have made the same choice and not push their morals on those who haven't.
"This is our view ... We don't expect people to adopt it as their own ... We just feel this is an option," she said.