A Tribute to Natasha Negovanlis

By: Krista Ann Freego

Earlier this month Natasha Negovanlis announced that she will no longer be the face of KindaTV. This announcement led to me reflecting back on all of the amazing times she gave us on the network. We at Starry Constellation Magazine wish Natasha only the best going forward and will continue to support her in all of her efforts and projects. Natasha Negovanlis is and has always been an unflinching voice for the LGBTQAI+ community. Natasha has used every platform available to her to encourage others to accept and embrace love in all forms and bring kindness to the world, rather than judgment and hate. Negovanlis is a queer icon who humbly serves as an inspiration to all to love yourself, accept yourself and be proud of who you are. In honor of all that she has done for the LGBTQAI+ community, we are dedicating this feature to her and the many wonderful web series she has been a part of. Though Natasha may no longer be the weekly face of KindaTV, there is no doubt that in the two and a half years she was there she left a handprint on all of our hearts.

1. Carmilla:

Not only is this the first web series I ever saw, but it was the first web series I saw that starred Natasha Negovanlis. Set at a college in Europe, Carmilla is the story of a 300+ year old vampire who falls for her unlikely type-A human journalist-wannabe roommate, Laura (Elise Bauman), while trying to save the world. Over the course of three seasons you see these two go from strangers to foes to friends to lovers and soulmates. Carmilla is the perfect mixture of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” meets “Veronica Mars” covered in delicious rainbow sprinkles. The series was so popular that a movie continuing the story was released in 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QzRfvkJZ4&list=PLbvYWjKFvS5rX2yv-k5AJ8oxPoZ9zHcpe

2. Haunters: The Musical

Do you ever wonder what happens to jerks when they die? Where do they go? What do they do? Are they ever punished for being jerks during their life? If you have ever asked these questions, the answers await you. In this musical, if you were a jerk in real life, when you die you become a Haunter. Your job as a Haunter is to spook jerks on Earth. This surprisingly deep and beautifully sung musical will have you laughing, crying, cheering and glued to your seat until the final curtain.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0XGU0Lh0Q&list=PLbvYWjKFvS5opPI5vdJdiGatMNMOxkFL3

3. Barbelle:

Barbelle stars Gwenlyn Cumyn and Karen Xavier Knox as a singing duo who were together, but after their breakup for purposes of contact obligations have to pretend to be together. We have only had one season of this series, but my hope is that we get another season or three. Cumyn and Knox also wrote this series and were able to combine a beautiful, entertaining and complicated love story with fun music and a crazy and endearing supporting cast of characters. Natasha appears as a ghost of things to come and provides valuable and comedic insight to one of the main characters in order to assist her in seeing that she cannot continue on the path she is on without dire consequences.  Come for the pop music and creative pie eating and stay for the heart and serious portrayal of important issues such as eating disorders, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, intolerance and homophobia.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQvThGbWTSo&list=PLbvYWjKFvS5ojbHdj8Z-N2JLwvA0Wlm9w

4. Clairevoyant:

If the aspect you miss most about Natasha’s presence on KindaTV is her playing multiple roles that are interesting and diverse then this is most certainly the web series for you. Negovanlis and Annie Briggs created and star in this series! Natasha not only portrays one of the main characters Claire, but also her “Babba.” It was such a pleasure to see these two enchanting and impressive actresses play roles unlike the ones we have previously seen them in. A further treat is the amazing chemistry these two actresses have with each other. The two play off of one another effortlessly.  If you are looking for a series that is less serious than the ones mentioned above yet still provides excellent representation and offers a fun and entertaining story of two best friends doing their best to not be evicted and discovering fortune telling powers along the way then look up this series on YouTube. A word of advice, NEVER eat Ruby’s cooking. Hopefully, this series will be back for a second season.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdU3IprQaPE&list=PLbvYWjKFvS5ozucpy_X3yIuTVLyfuAh9_

5. Haunted or Hoax:

In this series two of the main characters, Casey (Isabel Kanaan) and Jac (Sydney Kondruss), have a website with the same name as the series. They go from creepy house to creepy structure to investigate claims of the location being haunted. After their full investigation they then report to their audience if it was indeed haunted or a hoax. Natasha plays Ellia Henderson and the newest inquiry for Jac and Casey is a house that belongs to her family. If you like the paranormal with an unexpected and sweet romance this is a web series that you should definitely a chance.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJvCTJP3O9_QheNFGsrPLhA