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Becoming Miss Gay North Carolina America: Meet Justin Natvig, aka Vivian Vaughn

WUNC | By Anita Rao,
Frank Stasio
Published August 1, 2016 at 11:55 AM EDT

Justin Natvig has had a flair for performance most of his life. As a young kid, he often snuck into his grandparents’ attic and dug through his grandmother’s things: vintage dresses, hats, wigs, shoes and makeup. He would put it all on, play Diana Ross records and lip sync in front of the mirror. For many years, he kept this passion a secret as he struggled with a family that would not accept his identity. 

He eventually dropped out of high school and ran away from home, but despite the tumultuous circumstances, he found a community of support within the drag scene. TodayNatvigis 34 and holds the title “Miss Gay North Carolina America,” making him the state champion of female impersonation with the persona,Vivian Vaughn. 

Meet Justin Natvig, aka Vivian Vaughn

Host FrankStasiotalks with JustinNatvigabout his life and career as he prepares to hand over the title at theMiss Gay North Carolina Americapageant next week.

 

Justin as a young boy at his family's home in Woodbourne, New York in 1987.
Justin Natvig /
Justin as a young boy at his family's home in Woodbourne, New York in 1987.
As a kid Justin spent many summers at his grandparents' bungalow colony in Thompsonville, NY. Here he is in 1993.
Justin Natvig /
As a kid Justin spent many summers at his grandparents' bungalow colony in Thompsonville, NY. Here he is in 1993.
Justin Natvig's senior photo from his 2010 graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Justin Natvig /
Justin Natvig's senior photo from his 2010 graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Justin (L) with Emily Scott and Kurt Hurlebrink, co-chairs of the Crape Myrtle Festival, a nonprofit supporting people living with HIV/AIDS.
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Justin (L) with Emily Scott and Kurt Hurlebrink, co-chairs of the Crape Myrtle Festival, a nonprofit supporting people living with HIV/AIDS.
Justin Natvig, aka Vivian Vaughn, with the winning trophy.
D.j. Bonet V'lentino & After Six Photography Studios /
Justin Natvig, aka Vivian Vaughn, with the winning trophy.

Copyright 2016 North Carolina Public Radio
Anita Rao
Anita Rao is the host and creator of "Embodied," a live, weekly radio show and seasonal podcast about sex, relationships & health. She's also the managing editor of WUNC's on-demand content. She has traveled the country recording interviews for the Peabody Award-winning StoryCorps production department, founded and launched a podcast about millennial feminism in the South, and served as the managing editor and regular host of "The State of Things," North Carolina Public Radio's flagship daily, live talk show. Anita was born in a small coal-mining town in Northeast England but spent most of her life growing up in Iowa and has a fond affection for the Midwest.
See stories by Anita Rao
Frank Stasio
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
See stories by Frank Stasio