Princess Jauan Taylor Durbin: Leading with Love, Living Without Apology
Garrett Mason I April, 2025
Princess Jauan Taylor Durbin
Princess Jauan Taylor Durbin (she/they) is a youth advocate, ballroom icon, and community strategist whose leadership reflects a powerful truth: there is strength in showing up fully, fearlessly, and with love.
Raised by her mother and grandmother, Princess learned early that self-advocacy was not optional — it was essential. Inspired by personal experiences and the influence of mentors like Guy Anthony and George Johnson, she developed her voice and transformed it into a tool for collective empowerment. Neurodivergent and nonbinary, Princess discovered that understanding who you are — and being able to vocalize it — is the cornerstone of authentic leadership.
Her leadership journey began in high school student government and exploded on the national stage through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) royal court system. After assisting peers in building their performance and confidence for Miss Maroon and White at Morehouse, Princess ran and won as Mr. Sophomore, Mr. Spelman, and ultimately Mr. HBCU. These victories were not about crowns, but community. Without the unconditional love and support of her community, such accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible. “Leadership is unconditional love,” she affirms — a principle that continues to guide her path.
Princess’s move from home in Washington, D.C. to Atlanta marked a period of personal transformation. It was in Atlanta that she found the ballroom scene — a space of unapologetic freedom and expression, where gender norms bend and chosen family thrives. For Princess, ballroom became a sanctuary for divine femininity and self-exploration, where “Ms. Thing” and “sis” are terms of empowerment and connection. As Princess found her pathway and voice in ballroom, she found purpose in being a mother — not by blood, but by intention. As a chosen parent, Princess nurtures, affirms, and mentors youth with a maturity shaped by the care she wished and had received.
At the heart of her leadership is a deep understanding of pacing, resilience, and the importance of failure. “Look forward to failure,” she says. “It teaches you the best lessons. Pressure makes diamonds.” She credits her grandmother not only for sending her to Morehouse, but for investing in her destiny. Princess now pays that love forward through mentorship, advocacy, and intentional care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth — particularly those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Professionally, Princess has led impactful initiatives with ViiV Healthcare, served as a surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign, and earned national recognition as a Forbes Under 30 Scholar. Yet it’s her personal mission — to be a light, build new tables, and center youth voice — that defines her legacy. “I don’t dream of power,” she says. “I dream of peace — a world where we are safe to be our full selves.”
Princess urges youth leaders to protect their peace, stay grounded, love themselves unapologetically, and lead with intention — not ego. “It’s hard to lie,” she reflects. “Both ways are a struggle — you might as well be fighting for the real you.” Her life is a masterclass in that fight — and proof that when you lead with love and love yourself, you will never live alone. To know Princess is to witness what leadership looks like when rooted in radical love and lived without apology.
– Garrett Mason
Princess Jauan Taylor Durbin
Princess Jauan Taylor Durbin (she/they) is a youth advocate, ballroom icon, and community strategist whose leadership reflects a powerful truth: there is strength in showing up fully, fearlessly, and with love.
Raised by her mother and grandmother, Princess learned early that self-advocacy was not optional — it was essential. Inspired by personal experiences and the influence of mentors like Guy Anthony and George Johnson, she developed her voice and transformed it into a tool for collective empowerment. Neurodivergent and nonbinary, Princess discovered that understanding who you are — and being able to vocalize it — is the cornerstone of authentic leadership.
Garrett Mason
In a world where systemic challenges often seem insurmountable, Garrett Mason, a 23-year-old multi-hyphenated artist and advocate for youth homelessness prevention, reminds us of the transformative power of love and community. Through his work with Point Source Youth and involvement in Atlanta’s ballroom scene, Garrett offers valuable insights into addressing youth homelessness and supporting marginalized communities.
Her leadership journey began in high school student government and exploded on the national stage through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) royal court system. After assisting peers in building their performance and confidence for Miss Maroon and White at Morehouse, Princess ran and won as Mr. Sophomore, Mr. Spelman, and ultimately Mr. HBCU. These victories were not about crowns, but community. Without the unconditional love and support of her community, such accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible. “Leadership is unconditional love,” she affirms — a principle that continues to guide her path.
Princess’s move from home in Washington, D.C. to Atlanta marked a period of personal transformation. It was in Atlanta that she found the ballroom scene — a space of unapologetic freedom and expression, where gender norms bend and chosen family thrives. For Princess, ballroom became a sanctuary for divine femininity and self-exploration, where “Ms. Thing” and “sis” are terms of empowerment and connection. As Princess found her pathway and voice in ballroom, she found purpose in being a mother — not by blood, but by intention. As a chosen parent, Princess nurtures, affirms, and mentors youth with a maturity shaped by the care she wished and had received.
At the heart of her leadership is a deep understanding of pacing, resilience, and the importance of failure. “Look forward to failure,” she says. “It teaches you the best lessons. Pressure makes diamonds.” She credits her grandmother not only for sending her to Morehouse, but for investing in her destiny. Princess now pays that love forward through mentorship, advocacy, and intentional care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth — particularly those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Professionally, Princess has led impactful initiatives with ViiV Healthcare, served as a surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign, and earned national recognition as a Forbes Under 30 Scholar. Yet it’s her personal mission — to be a light, build new tables, and center youth voice — that defines her legacy. “I don’t dream of power,” she says. “I dream of peace — a world where we are safe to be our full selves.”
Princess urges youth leaders to protect their peace, stay grounded, love themselves unapologetically, and lead with intention — not ego. “It’s hard to lie,” she reflects. “Both ways are a struggle — you might as well be fighting for the real you.” Her life is a masterclass in that fight — and proof that when you lead with love and love yourself, you will never live alone. To know Princess is to witness what leadership looks like when rooted in radical love and lived without apology.
– Garrett Mason