Yes, Virginia, There Is a PittGirl

The 'Burgh's favorite anonymous wit reveals her secret identity.

by Jonathan Wander

For four years she's anonymously delivered gifts of snark and sarcasm, wit and wisdom, to all the good (and bad) little boys and girls of Pittsburgh. But as of today, our beloved PittGirl, the immensely popular writer for her very own theburghblog.com and, as of this past June, a columnist for Pittsburgh magazine, has decided to reveal her true identity.

She's Virginia Montanez, and as she writes about in her column in September's Pittsburgh magazine and on her site today, she's the 35-year-old mother of two young children, happily married for nine years, and the director of marketing and communications for NEED, a downtown-based nonprofit organization.

So why, after writing anonymously for four years, has PittGirl, um, Virginia, decided to step out from behind the curtain? "Because four years is a long time to hide, and I can't write in the shadows anymore," she says. "There's a lot of pressure in hiding. I knew the secret would come out one day, and I felt it was only fair that the people I know find out directly from me." Those people included her boss, whom she just had "the talk" with. "He was shocked when I told him because I'm one of the quietest people in the office," Montanez says. "I'm basically very shy, so lots of people who know me are going to be really surprised."

Another reason for the timing of the revelation was the Great Facebook Account Mix-Up, in which Virginia very briefly, and very accidentally, revealed her true identity. She writes about this in September's Pittsburgh magazine. Julie Talerico, the magazine's editor-in-chief, says, "PittGirl is the It-Girl in the 'Burgh. Her decision to reveal her identity is brave. We're thrilled to have Virginia as a columnist in Pittsburgh magazine, where her love affair with Pittsburgh can be read each month. We also look forward to launching her new blog on pittsburghmagazine.com later this year."

According to Virginia, the feeling is mutual. "Pittsburgh magazine was the first legitimate publication to give me a chance to do what I love—to write. I enjoy writing for them; I'm grateful to them, and look forward to writing for the magazine as long as they'll have me."

And what now for PittGirl? "When readers go to theburghblog.com, they'll be automatically redirected to my new site, thatschurch.com," she says. "My butler, the genius Mike Woycheck, is helping me set everything up, and we're still deciding how to handle the transitions with Facebook and Twitter. The important thing is, I'll still be writing my thoughts, my words, it's just that now they'll be next to my name and face."

And what would she ask of her readers and fans? "Be patient with me; wait to see what happens," she says, explaining that this new writing road is as unknown for her as it is for them. "Please respect my privacy; don't call my employer or family. Just continue to direct your thoughts to me as always." Then she adds any writer's most important request: "Keep reading, and keep letting me know what you think!"

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