Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Castrillo
Hi Natasha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started doing makeup when I was 12 years old. Using dollar store makeup and some paint brushes I followed youtube makeup tutorials until I gathered all the techniques I needed to create original makeup looks. My friend in middle school (shout out to Shania) knew I had a love for makeup and told me about this amazing show that had just finished it’s 8th season called “Rupaul’s Drag Race”. I binge watched every episode, every youtube video, every makeup tutorial until I could finally watch their 9th season as it was airing. My freshman year of high school is when I started trying my drag makeup looks. It was a very very rough period for my makeup journey for sure. Eventually I got noticed on Instagram by a show host at Southern Nights that encouraged me to keep up the good work, giving me the hope that someday I’d be a cast member in his show.
Fast forward to my 18th birthday in 2021, my drag mother at the time told me she would take me out to Stonewall Orlando for my first ever drag performance at the Off The Record: Ariana Grande party. We show up way too late for signups and miss the window of opportunity to be on that night’s lineup, but I had finally seen my first ever drag show and knew that I was where I was supposed to be. After showing up week after week, not making the list, watching everyone else have their moments. For the Off The Record: Neon party I put on an orange plaid skirt, neon green panties and bra, my mom’s Jlo wig and performed to Doja Cat’s 2020 BBMA’s performance. From there I got to compete in the now defunct Twisted Tuesdays, So You ThinkYou Can Drag Tampa and Orlando, won the first ever MX OTR pageant, and even was a cast member for the Unity Nite showcase, Playhaus, and the Wigs Waffles and Attitudes brunch. Now, Im a rotating cast member for the Freshman lineup and a frequent performer at the Renaissance Theatre Company, consistently elevating my craft and exploring new creative endeavors.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think any creative’s journey is without struggles. I was raised by latinx New Yorkers. Hot headed, strong willed, unafraid to speak their mind. In an industry thats overrun by bone collectors and gossip, I was definitely their entertainment for my first year or two of performing. You had something shady to say about me? EVERYONE knew about it within minutes. You looked at me the wrong way? Im posting about all of it on my story. I was just extremely unprofessional and didn’t know how to publicly handle situations like that without resulting to verbal or physical violence. The consequences from those moments early in my career definitely have carried on into my current professional life. I’m certainly proud of how I’ve handled my more recent “scandals” and public fallouts considering the circumstances I was forcibly put in, but being young and living life is all about growth for sure.
Ive gained so many friends in this journey, I’ve certainly lost plenty as well. Im forever grateful for the people that have gotten me to where I am today & even more to the people that currently support me. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do know that no matter what I have in store, my future will be a bright one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think I’m good at most things. I definitely specialize in comedy/theatrical performances but I can dance, I make all of my own mixes, I can ALTER costumes, and Im currently going to beauty school to learn how to style hair. I eventually would like to be an expert at everything, self sufficient in every way. Drag is EXPENSIVE when you don’t know how to do anything but twirl around on stage. So I’m definitely most proud of my willingness to challenge myself and learn everything about my craft whereas I think most people just find their niche and stick to it. Queens like Myki Meeks, Shontelle Sparkles, Lulu Cavalli all inspire me to not stick with just one specialty and I hope to be in a position of expertise as them someday.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I don’t have a great track record with keeping drag parents HOWEVER I do have several drag aunties that I go to whenever I need guidance. Myki Meeks and Cara Cavalli are definitely the two people I’ve been going to more recently for professional and even personal advice. From what I’ve learned though, you cant really go looking for a mentor. Your drag parent, mentor, whatever you want to call it should be like your best friend. Then from there, you develop a drag parental/mentor relationship. Where I have gone wrong is actively looking for someone to help and take care of me and my situations instead of just learning how to do things myself. Yes, its always great to have help, thats what those mentors are there for, but YOU are in control of your art, not them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/missvgina
- Twitter: https://X.com/missvgina
- Other: https://Tiktok.com/@missvgina
Image Credits
Hales
Aaron Rey
Ashleigh Kutryb
