Nina West

Nina West is the stage name of Andrew Robert Levitt, who is an American drag queen, queer activist, actor, and singer-songwriter based in Columbus, Ohio. He rose to national prominence with his appearance on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where he placed sixth and won Miss Congeniality. He was named the Top Local Artist of 2019 by Columbus Underground. Levitt has also created three EPs—Drag Is Magic, John Goodman, and The West Christmas Ever, which were all released in 2019.
Education
Levitt was raised in Greentown, Ohio. He graduated from Denison University with a degree in theater. He planned to pursue acting, but he decided not to move to New York City, due to the September 11 attacks.
Career
Levitt began dabbling in drag in 2001. His drag mother is Virginia West. He hosts the annual "Heels of Horror" show at Axis Nightclub, and has also hosted the competition "So You Think You Can Drag?" In 2008, he won the Entertainer of the Year award; his ensemble later inspired the singer Sia's outfit at the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Levitt was included in Columbus Business First "40 Under 40" list in 2018. Levitt worked as a social media strategist for Axis Nightclub as of 2018 and has done social media and marketing for Union Cafe since 2013.
Levitt competed in the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. He had previously auditioned for the show nine times, but failed to make the final cast selection. He won the third episode for his performance in the 'Diva Worship' challenge, and impersonated Sarah Sanders on the fourth episode, "Trump: The Rusical". In the "Snatch Game" challenge, he became the first queen in the show's history to impersonate someone from the actual original Match Game, with his impersonation of Jo Anne Worley. He then won the "Dragracadabra" challenge in episode ten. He was eliminated in the following episode, losing a lip sync to Silky Nutmeg Ganache. He was subsequently crowned Miss Congeniality in the series finale.
After his elimination, a number of celebrities and public figures took to social media to voice their support for Nina West, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Scott Hoying. Levitt reported that Rihanna sent him a private message following his elimination.
A street in Columbus was named after Levitt, called "The Nina West Way". He was interviewed with Adore Delano and Monet X Change for an episode of The View in June 2019. He starred in Coaster, an animated short film directed and produced by Amos Sussigan and Dan Lund. He attended the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, where he became the first person to walk the purple carpet in full drag. Levitt was announced as part of the cast for the first ever season of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, a spin-off where Drag Race alumni transform celebrities into drag queens, premiering in 2020.
Since Drag Race, Levitt has starred in several commercials, with some of the brands including Pantene, Pepsi, and OraQuick, as well as being involved in campaigns for films such as Trolls World Tour and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. In 2019, World of Wonder announced that West was to host a children’s-oriented program featuring "songs and comedy bits inspired by youth programming of the ’90s" entitled Drag Is Magic. However, as of 2023, the series is yet to be released. On June 5, 2021, children's television channel Nickelodeon released an advertisement featuring Levitt to explain to children the meaning of Pride as a part of their Pride month celebration.
Levitt plays Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray for the 2021-2022 national tour.
Music
After his elimination, Levitt announced that he would release a children's music album, Drag Is Magic, and a comedy EP, John Goodman, by May 17, 2019. He released a music video for his first single "Hucks" on May 10, 2019.
Personal life and philanthropy
Levitt lives in Columbus, Ohio. He is gay and an advocate and fundraiser for the LGBTQIA community. His focuses have included HIV/AIDS testing and safe sex, marriage equality, trans rights, and childhood education. The Nina West Fund, established at The Columbus Foundation , is thought to be the only "drag-queen-supported fund of its kind" in the U.S. The fund has raised more than $2 million, supporting charities such as the ACLU of Ohio (fundamental rights), Dress for Success Columbus (career development for women), Equitas Health (focused on HIV/AIDS treatment), and Kaleidoscope Youth Center (the largest LGBTQIA youth center in Ohio).
In 2017, he received the Create Columbus Commission Visionary Award from the Columbus City Council and an equality award from the Human Rights Campaign Columbus chapter.
Discography
Extended plays
Singles
Filmography
Film
Television
Theatre
Music videos
Web series
References
External links
Columbus Makes Art
1977 births
Living people
Activists from Ohio
American drag queens
American LGBT rights activists
Denison University alumni
Gay entertainers
LGBT people from Ohio
National Entertainer of the Year winners
People from Columbus, Ohio
Nina West