Natalie Pierce, Switched at Birth

Natalie Pierce (Stephanie Nogueras)

Natalie Pierce was introduced in season 2 episode 2 “The Awakening Conscience” as a rebellious Carlton student who initially did not like one of the lead characters, Bay, but eventually became her friend. She was deaf, and the show had multiple deaf and hard-of-hearing characters and scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language.

In season 2 episode 6 “Human/Need/Desire”, Natalie revealed that she was interested in girls. In season 3 she had a girlfriend, Hilary, who got kicked out from prom because she wanted to wear a tuxedo instead of a dress. Hilary only had a brief 2 episode guest appearance in Season 3, and did not appear in season 4.

Natalie did not appear in season 5, which was the show’s final season.

Appearances:

• 21 episodes. (credited for 22)

Female love interests:

• Hilary (Abby Walla, lesbian, guest, 2 episodes)

Relationship story arc with a woman: No

No male love interests

Relationship story arc with a man: No

Male love interest after being identified as a lesbian? No

Filter Relationship Arc:

• None

Storyline during sweeps? No

[1] A relationship story arc is defined as explicit, developed on screen, and lasting more than 3 episodes. It is listed as questionable or subtext if romance is only implied, mentioned instead of shown on screen, part of a dream sequence, or otherwise not explicit for the viewer.
[2] Sweeps episodes air in February, May, July and November, the periods when advertising rates are set. A character is marked as "sweeps" when there is a very limited number of episodes that address their sexuality, all air during sweeps period, and the storyline is otherwise ignore/dropped.