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Carmen Carrera: Show Girl

The trailblazing performer is dressed to thrill.

by Carmen Carrera

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I’m a Jersey girl. I was raised by my mom—who was the flyest girl ever—my older sister, and my grandmother. My father died of AIDS when I was 2, but I grew up really happy; there were women around me all the time, and a lot of love. My mom is Peruvian and curly-haired and is a big beauty inspiration for me. We’d always be singing the latest hits, and she would enroll me in little plays, but I was shy. I was more into doing things by myself: I’d wrap a T-shirt around my head and put on makeup to try to look like her. I knew that I was different, but my mom never told me I should be any other way. Consequently, I didn’t grow up thinking that I was wrong being who I was—until I got to school. That’s when the actress in me had to come out.

I’d see kids who were gay, and they’d get picked on. So I learned very quickly that I had to keep certain things to myself: I’d try to act like a boy and wear sneakers. It helped that I was friends with all the cool girls. They would hang out with the popular boys, who knew better than to tease me or the girls would get on their case. But straight after finishing high school, I left them all—I went to New York, like, that weekend. I’d gotten a brand-new car, and I started going to the Village and getting to know the scene. I went to my first drag show at a Latin club called Escuelita. The finale starred this stunningly beautiful goddess. She was obviously a transwoman, and she took my breath away. At the time I was studying photography in college, so I would take pictures of the shows, and I got to know all the girls. I also started doing makeup professionally, but surprisingly I discovered that what I really wanted to do was perform. I participated in an amateur show, and the audience loved me—I won! After that, I started touring clubs and acquired a fan base. I also realized that being onstage gave me an escape: I could be feminine, which is what I was on the inside. I never felt like a gay guy—growing up I’d pray that I would wake up a girl.

Eventually, I didn’t want to act like a woman anymore—I wanted to become one. I went to a doctor, and he prescribed what I needed. But I sat on it for a little bit. I kept thinking, What happens if I don’t look nice? That same month, I got a phone call from the producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Literally the day after we finished filming the show, I decided it was time to transition.

It hasn’t been easy—especially when it comes to dating. I tell people I’m transgender, and they bring up all the negative stereotypes that come from ignorance. I don’t have time to play psychologist, so I try to lead by example. I want to leave something behind so people can look back one day and say, “Wow, remember when transpeople were discriminated against the most? This person was like, ‘Screw everybody! I’m going to parade around half-naked and be superproud, because that’s how everyone should be!’ ”

Carmen Carrera: Show Girl

Roberto Cavalli dress; New York Vintage tiara; House of Lavande earrings; CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane bracelets; Giuseppe Zanotti Design sandals.

Gaultier Paris dress; Lynn Ban earrings.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Prada top, bottom, hat, sleeves, and shoes.

Proenza Schouler bustier; Early Halloween, NYC vintage bow tie (in hair); Badgley Mischka earrings; Lynn Ban necklace.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Agent Provocateur playsuit; Siman Tu headpiece; Fenton earrings; CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane rings and bracelets.

Beauty note: Play up your bronze ambitions with Vita Liberata Phenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse in Medium.

Dsquared2 dress; Thorin & Co. for House of Lavande earrings; Lele Sadoughi bracelets; Giuseppe Zanotti Design sandals.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Gillian Gardner for Show-Off Las Vegas bra and briefs; Giambattista Valli cape; Siman Tu tiara; Nicole Romano earrings.

Beauty note: Shoot for a full moon with Talika Paris Backup 3D Serum.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

The Blonds corset; I.D. Sarrieri briefs; Iradj Moini earrings; (from top) Dannijo cuff, R.J. Graziano bracelet; Lynn Ban ring.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Gillian Gardner for Show-Off Las Vegas G-string; Lynn Ban tiara, earrings, and bra (on mirror); Dannijo necklace (in hand); Carrera’s own pasties.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Jason Wu bra and skirt; Ranjana Khan earrings.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

From left: Louis Vuitton playsuit; Thorin & Co. for House of Lavande earrings and necklace; CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane ring; Pologeorgis fur scarf; Lynn Ban bracelets. On Linda Evangelista: Burberry London trenchcoat; New York Vintage headpiece; her own dress and bag.

Beauty note: For lush lashes that keep them guessing, call on Benefit They’re Real Mascara.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Gillian Gardner for Show-Off Las Vegas bra and briefs; Giambattista Valli cape; Siman Tu tiara; Nicole Romano earrings; (right wrist) Lynn Ban bracelet; (left wrist) Bounkit cuff; Christian Louboutin shoes.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful

Thakoon jumpsuit and jeweled body piece; Early Halloween, NYC vintage headpiece; Kenneth Jay Lane earrings; (right wrist) Ben-Amun bracelet; (left wrist) CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane bracelets; CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane ring; Jimmy Choo sandals.

Hair by Oribe for Oribe Hair Care (Oribe Salon Miami Beach); makeup by Pat McGrath for Covergirl; manicure by Jin Soon Choi for JINsoon. Models: Carmen Carrera at Elite Model Management; Bart Grzybowski, Andre Ziehe, Josh Upshaw at Ford Models; RJ King, Brittain Ward at Wilhelmina; Nate Gill, Jae Yoo, Dorian Reeves at Soul Artist Management; Ollie Edwards, Corey Baptiste, Danny Schwarz at VNY Model Management; Diego Miguel, Ryan Kennedy at IMG; Tomas Skoloudik, Cameron Gentry at DNA Model Management. Set design by Stefan Beckman at Exposure NY. Production by Steven Dam for PRODn at Art + Commerce.

Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful
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