Today we’d like to introduce you to Vancie Vega
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Interview
In many ways my career feels like it began yesterday but my body never hesitates to remind me I’m 54 and I have relentlessly abused it onstage for almost 40 years in.
In 1986 (at 15) a friend did my makeup, loaned me a beautiful blue flowing, off the shoulder silk dress and a long blonde wig. I performed Anne Murray’s “Snowbird”. (Hey, it was the 80s) It was thrilling.
For about a year I was able to perform and mingle throughout the Galveston island bars before being found out. So I performed in Houston.
I found a family there. It changed my life and gave me a career. I actually continue to perform in the same building I did then. What once was Cousins is now, after many reinventions, Barcode.
The Houston community shaped me as an entertainer. It was there I was introduced via telephone to Norbert Aleman of Las Vegas’ An Evening At LaCage. I auditioned for the role of Madonna and landed the part making me there first Madonna impersonator in Las Vegas circa 1990.
My Las Vegas residency lasted four years. There I developed the inclination for impersonation and was mentored by the legendary Kenny Kerr. When I left I was performing the likes of Cher, Barbra and Dolly Parton. Today my one person concert The NOT Dolly Show has international residencies and garners praise and official approval from the Parton Family.
After Las Vegas I entered and won many state and national pageant titles such as a three time Miss Texas and Miss Continental Elite respectively. Pageants are a great way to hone your interview and personnel skills. It teaches you how to be a professional should you so choose. I highly recommend it!
For at least a decade I was an emcee and hostess to a variety of shows at Houston’s own JR’s Bar and Grill. In fact, Kofi and I had the number one show for years. They would pack the house to see us go at it’. “It” being the audience and/or one another while laughing until we cried. It was magic.
Recently I’ve written and directed to critical acclaim another one person show entitled Legends which debuted in Puerto Vallarta. It’s an all live show featuring performances and trivia of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford & Cher (with alternate Karen Carpenter). I’m incredibly excited to take this one back in the road!
These days I’m residing in the Big Thicket outside Northeast of Houston to be closer to my family. You can find me regularly in Houston at Barcode, Rich’s & Michael’s Outpost.
Find me on socials!
@TheNOTDollyShow
FB/VancieVega
FB/VancieVegan
YouTube/notdolly5508
#vancievega #notdolly
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It is most definitely not been a smooth road. After winning Miss Texas USofA in 2001 I developed a severe cocaine addiction fourmonths into my Reign.
You see, everyone wants to be around Miss Texas. Everyone wants to have fun with Miss Texas. Everyone wants to give Miss Texas free alcohol and drugs. However, when Miss Texas can no longer handle alcohol and drugs and cannot make decisions in her best interest these lovely individuals chose to step away and watch me flounder alone. It was very public and a quite humiliating devastation to my career and reputation.
I struggled with this addiction for a long time. Finally, on June 9, 2012 I, kicking and screaming, let go of cocaine and alcohol. I just celebrated 12 years. It’s a miracle.
Took me a long time to forgive myself, and to also forgive those who had a hand in it. I did, finally.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I covered this briefly before. I’ve been known internationally for quite some time now for my virtually spot on impersonations of furious famous people. Primarily women.
I have a knack for finding their subtle nuances and invoking a feeling from audience members of actually being at a performance of the star. In no particular order I bring Madonna, Dolly, Cher, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Barbra, Amy Winehouse. While Boy George, Taylor Dayne, Chita Rivera and others are in the developmental stages.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was incredibly feminine growing up. In fact, before puberty, I told the entire neighborhood I was a girl. You can imagine the turmoil it caused when in fact, I was not a girl. It was very scary. I grew up in Southeast Texas in a very conservative town. Sure there were other LGBT kids around but they were incredibly fearful of being found out. So, they avoided me like the plague.
I had to other option than to be myself. There was no denying I was different and because of this I had to become like a ninja with regard to my safety. Outside of my addiction, this time in my life was the scariest often feeling like I wouldn’t survive.
I suffered a lot of abuse as a child. At home and at school. So I had few safe places. It made me a little more reserved in some respects, but I never really lost the sight of who I was. I always tried to remain true to myself, no matter how scared I was in certain places.
Time passed, recovery was made and family healing happened. I’m happy to say I had a great role model in my mother. So, I was able to remain kind and calm and loving. Even to those who abused me.
I’ve learned no one person has the perfect life. I have accepted not only my passed but the incredible blessings my life and experiences have afforded me. I am now surrounded by love and sisterhood. The support from my community is phenomenal and my family are my biggest cheerleaders. Luck may have something to do with it but talent and LOVE definitely does.
Aunt Vancie’s final thought to your readers is my simple tag line: Today Deserves A Great You!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenotdollyshow
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vancievega
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@notdolly5508?feature=shared
Image Credits
@ModernAperture (Rob Lucas Horst)
@TheEventsPhotographer (Davide Lafee)
