Carmen Carrera has spent more than a decade breaking barriers and inspiring people along the way.

A Puerto Rican and Peruvian model, transgender activist and entrepreneur, Carrera wanted to make a positive impact.

Through persistence and hard work, she launched her own company to support LGBTQ+ creatives and talent.

“So it’s called CC3 Entertainment and it stands for Carmen Carra Cares,” Carrera told Local 10’s Alexis Frazier. “It started during COVID.”

Her journey started working in cosmetics, studying photography, and eventually photographing drag performances.

“I grew up outside New York of New York City and just as a kid, I was always super creative,” Carrera said. “I knew I was different, of course, but I always had this dream that there was something for me. There was a space for me.”

Carrera worked at a LGBTQ+ club in New York City, where her performances led to national recognition.

She became the first trans model to be signed with Elite Model Management.

Career options were limited for many transgender women at the time, something Carrera knew was important to change.

Now after more than 15 years in the public eye, Carrera tells us her biggest lesson has been learning to embrace herself fully.

“My dream in the beginning was just to be a legendary showgirl,” She said. “That was it.”

“All of these new things that I’m doing now, being an entrepreneur, owning a business, really loving loving myself 100 percent and navigating the world right now with this type of confidence,” Carrera added.

To learn more or connect with Carrera, visit her Instagram page.

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