Carmen Carrera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carmen Carrera
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Carmen Carrera at New York Fashion Week in September 2011
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| Born | April 13, 1985 Elmwood Park, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Other names | Gabriella Carrera |
| Occupation | Model, actress, showgirl |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Adrian Torres
(m. 2015–2021) |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Agency | Wilhelmina Models |
Carmen Carrera (born April 13, 1985) is an American reality television personality, model, burlesque performer, and actress, known for appearing on the third season of the Logo reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as its spin-off series RuPaul's Drag U. Carrera is a transgender woman and transgender rights activist.
Life and career
Carrera was born in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. In 2011, she appeared in the third 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 with Raja, Manila Luzon, and Delta Work, was part of the clique known as the "Heathers", which took its name from the 1988 film, Heathers. In episode 10, "RuPaul-a-Palooza", Carrera was eliminated for her performance while lip-syncing to a reggae-inspired cover of RuPaul's song "Superstar". Judges Michelle 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.
The November 2011 issue of W 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. In 2011, Carrera, along with third season Drag Race contestants Manila Luzon and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, appeared in a television commercial for the travel-related website Orbitz.
Carrera has also been active in AIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellow Drag Race co-stars Manila Luzon, Delta Work, Shangela Laquifa Wadley, and Alexis Mateo, the dress she wore was auctioned by Logo in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.
Carrera appeared as a "drag professor" in two episodes of the second season of RuPaul's Drag U. In the episode "80s Ladies", she gave singer Stacey Q a confidence-boosting makeover. Carrera appeared in recording artist Lovari's music video for "Take My Pain Away".
In an episode of the ABC news program Primetime: 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.
On June 11, 2012, Carrera appeared in an episode of the TLC series Cake 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.
Valastro subsequently apologized for the incident, saying that:
I owe an apology to the entire LGBT community. It was absolutely not my intention to upset or offend her, or anyone within the community, and I was wrong to use the words I did. I am a supporter of gay rights and equality, and while I regret this situation and my choice of words, I am thankful to have received this feedback and the opportunity to learn from this mistake. I hope that Carmen accepts my sincere regrets.
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.
A petition started requesting that Carrera serve as a model during the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but despite media coverage and approximately 45,000 signatures, the petition was unsuccessful.
Carrera was featured in the work of photographer David LaChapelle.
In 2014, Carrera was included as part of the Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list and made a cameo appearance on Jane the Virgin's premiere episode.
Also in 2014, Carrera was featured on the fifth anniversary cover of C☆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, and Yasmine Petty.
In 2023, Carrera was a part of AT&T's "Turn Up The Love" Pride Month campaign in Dallas, Texas alongside musicians Years & Years and Wrabel. The same year, she walked in the Nike, Natalia Fedner, Lila Nikole Rivera, and Michael Costello's fashion shows at Miami Swim Week.
Personal life
Carrera was in a domestic partnership with Adrian Torres from 2009, but she announced in 2013 that they had separated. By 2015, the two had reunited, receiving relationship counseling while being filmed for the Couples Therapy television show. They wed on June 10, 2015 during filming for the show, which aired as the season finale on December 9, 2015. They later divorced in 2021.
Carrera had publicly identified as a gay man, and continued to present as such during filming of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, but began her gender transition when she concluded filming. She is of Puerto Rican-Peruvian ancestry.
See also
In Spanish: Carmen Carrera para niños
