Carmen Carrera | |
|---|---|
 Carmen Carrera atNew York Fashion Week in September 2011 | |
| Born | (1985-04-13)April 13, 1985 (age 40) Elmwood Park, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Other names | Gabriella Carrera[3] |
| Occupations | Model, actress, showgirl |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Spouse | |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] |
| Agency | Wilhelmina Models[2] |
| Website | carmencarrera.com |
Carmen Carrera (born April 13, 1985)[4] is an Americanreality television personality, model,burlesque performer, and actress, known for appearing on thethird season of theLogoreality television seriesRuPaul's Drag Race, as well as itsspin-off seriesRuPaul's Drag U. Carrera is atransgender woman andtransgender rights activist.[5]
Carrera was born inElmwood Park, New Jersey.[6][7][8] In 2011, she appeared in thethird season of the reality television competition show,RuPaul's Drag Race. Carrera is the second contestant in the history of the show (after season three castmate,Shangela) to rejoin the cast after being eliminated, and along withRaja,Manila Luzon, andDelta Work, was part of the clique known as the "Heathers", which took its name from the 1988 film,Heathers.[9] In episode 10, "RuPaul-a-Palooza", Carrera was eliminated for her performance whilelip-syncing to areggae-inspired cover ofRuPaul's song "Superstar".[10] JudgesMichelle Visage,Santino Rice, and Billy Brasfield voted to re-invite Carrera to the competition in episode 12, "Jocks in Frocks". Subsequently, Carrera was eliminated in that episode after styling a muscular male athlete in her own signature "nude"-style of drag.
The November 2011 issue ofW featured a series of fictional products in realistically styled advertisements as part of an issue-wide art project. Carrera was featured in the series as the face for the fictional fragrance La Femme.[11] In 2011, Carrera, along with third seasonDrag Race contestants Manila Luzon and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, appeared in a television commercial for the travel-related websiteOrbitz.[12]
Carrera has also been active inAIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in aGilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellowDrag Race co-stars Manila Luzon, Delta Work, Shangela Laquifa Wadley, andAlexis Mateo,[13] the dress she wore was auctioned by Logo in commemoration ofWorld AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.[14]
Carrera appeared as a "drag professor" in two episodes of the second season ofRuPaul's Drag U. In the episode "80s Ladies", she gave singerStacey Q a confidence-boosting makeover.[15] Carrera appeared in recording artist Lovari's music video for "Take My Pain Away".[16]
In an episode of theABC news programPrimetime: What Would You Do? that aired on May 4, 2012, Carrera portrayed the role of a transgender server working in a New Jersey diner. An actor playing a customer berates Carrera's character regarding his past experience of being served by her when she had presented as male, prompting other customers to come to Carrera's defense. This program also marked the first occasion in which Carrera publicly revealed herself to be transgender.[17]
On June 11, 2012, Carrera appeared in an episode of theTLC seriesCake Boss, "Bar Mitzvah, Beads & Oh Baby!", in which she unknowingly participated in a prank involving "Cousin Anthony" Bellifemine, the cousin of "Cake Boss"Buddy Valastro, who was set up with a date with Carrera. The punchline of the joke had Valastro tell Bellifemine that "... that's a man, baby!" Carrera, however, originally agreed to appear on the program to promote equality for the transgender community, not aware that she would be involved in a joke. Following the airing of the program, Carrera rebuked the situation onFacebook.[18][19] Valastro subsequently apologized for the incident.[18][20] The following day, on June 12, 2012, TLC announced that "Bar Mitzvah, Beads & Oh Baby!" had been pulled from rotation indefinitely, with the network planning to re-edit the episode for future broadcasts.[21]
A petition started requesting that Carrera serve as a model during the 2013Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but despite media coverage and approximately 45,000 signatures, the petition was unsuccessful.[22]
In March 2014, Carrera openly criticizedRuPaul for use of thepejorative "she-male" on aRuPaul's Drag Race episode.[23] She continued to be critical of RuPaul when the issue arose again in 2015, after Logo pulled the "Female or SheMale"[24] game fromDrag Race, which prompted RuPaul to defend the use of the word "tranny".[25] Carrera's continued protests led to accusations by others that she wasbiting the hand that fed her.[25] Carrera responded that, while she appreciates the opportunity to compete onDrag Race, she ultimately earned her status through her efforts and those of her agent, friends, fans, and family, and that she was not beholden to support RuPaul's use oftransphobic language.[25]
Carrera was featured in the work of photographerDavid LaChapelle. She posed for a poster forLife Ball, which has two versions; each depicts her with different genitalia to represent the blurring of gender identity.[26]
In 2014, Carrera was included as part ofthe Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list[27] and made acameo appearance onJane the Virgin's premiere episode.[28]
Also in 2014, Carrera was featured on the fifth anniversary cover ofC☆NDY magazine along with thirteen other transgender women:Janet Mock,Laverne Cox,Geena Rocero,Isis King, Gisele Alicea,Leyna Ramous, Dina Marie,Nina Poon,Juliana Huxtable, Niki M'nray, Pêche Di,Carmen Xtravaganza, andYasmine Petty.[29]
In 2023, Carrera was a part ofAT&T's "Turn Up The Love"Pride Month campaign inDallas, Texas alongside musiciansYears & Years andWrabel.[30][31] The same year, she walked in theNike,Natalia Fedner,Lila Nikole Rivera, andMichael Costello's fashion shows atMiami Swim Week.[32][33][34]
Carrera was in a domestic partnership with Adrian Torres from 2009, but she announced in 2013 that they had separated.[35] By 2015, the two had reunited, receiving relationship counseling while being filmed for theCouples Therapy television show. They wed on June 10, 2015, during filming for the show, which aired as the season finale on December 9, 2015.[36] They later divorced in 2021.[37]
Carrera had publicly identified as agay man,[35] and continued to present as such during filming of thethird season ofRuPaul's Drag Race, but began her gendertransition when she concluded filming.[38] She is ofPuerto Rican-Peruvian ancestry.[38][39]
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