Molly Ayala
Tara Leigh Patrick, professionally known as Carmen Electra, is an American actress, model, singer, and media personality. In February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name to her stage name, which she has used since her breakthrough role as Lani McKenzie in Baywatch. Prince, the famous singer, gave her the name in the 90s, derived from the 1954 film Carmen Jones, with Electra added after the Greek goddess.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tara Leigh Patrick |
| Date of birth | 20 April 1972 |
| Birthplace | Sharonville, Ohio |
| Parents | Patricia Rose (Kincade), Harry Stanley Patrick |
| Ethnicity | English, German, Irish |
| Singer | Yes |
| Album | Self-titled debut studio album |
| Year of album release | 1993 |
| Record label | Paisley Park Records |
| Modelling debut | Playboy magazine, 1996 |
| Acting debut | American Vampire, 1997 |
| Name giver | Prince |
| Year of name change | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Tara Leigh Patrick was her birth name
Tara Leigh Patrick was the birth name of the actress, model, singer, and media personality Carmen Electra. Born on April 20, 1972, in Sharonville, Ohio, she is the daughter of Patricia Rose (Kincade), a singer, and Harry Stanley Patrick, an entertainer and guitarist. She is mostly of English, German, and Irish descent.
Electra began her career as a singer after moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met the musician Prince. Prince produced her self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 1993. She then toured Europe as Prince's opening act on his 1992 Diamonds and Pearls Tour.
Electra began modelling in 1996, appearing in Playboy magazine. She then relocated to Los Angeles, where she made her acting debut in the independent comedy horror film American Vampire (1997). She also portrayed Lani McKenzie in the action drama series Baywatch (1997–1998), which became her breakthrough role.
In February 2024, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra. She had been using the name since the 1990s, when Prince gave it to her. The name "Carmen" was taken from the 1954 film "Carmen Jones," while "Electra" was likely added after the Greek goddess.
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She legally changed her name to Carmen Electra
The famous American actress, model, singer, and media personality, Carmen Electra, was born Tara Leigh Patrick on 20 April 1972 in Sharonville, Ohio. In February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from her birth name, Tara Leigh Patrick, to her stage name, Carmen Electra.
Electra started her professional career in 1990 as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. In 1991, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met singer and songwriter Prince. Soon after, Electra signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and made her singing debut with her self-titled debut studio album in 1993. During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially became known as Carmen Electra.
Electra has used her famous stage name since her breakthrough role as Lani McKenzie in "Baywatch". She credits her stage name to the late pop icon, recalling how the artist told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen." In a 2014 interview with "The Yo Show", Electra shared that after she auditioned for the group, "He said, 'You look like Electra. That should be your name.' At first, I thought it sounded like a superhero type of name, which actually it is. But it just sorta grew on me and that's it."
Prince gave her the name in the 90s, taking inspiration from the 1954 film "Carmen Jones" for "Carmen", and the Greek goddess for "Electra".
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Prince gave her the name in the 90s
The famous singer Prince gave Carmen Electra her name in the 1990s. Born Tara Leigh Patrick, Carmen Electra is the legal name of the American actress, model, singer, and media personality.
Electra met Prince in 1991 when she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and began her professional career as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. She soon signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and released her self-titled debut studio album in 1993. During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially adopted the stage name Carmen Electra.
Electra has credited Prince with giving her the name, recalling how he told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen." In a 2014 interview with "The Yo Show," Electra shared that after she auditioned for Prince's all-girl group, he said, "'You look like Electra. That should be your name.'"
Electra has described Prince as "mysterious" and recalled how he took her under his wing and made her one of his protégés. When Prince died in 2016, Electra said, "He gave me my name, he believed in me, and he has inspired an entire generation. I will always love him."
In February 2024, Electra legally changed her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra, after using her famous stage name for over 30 years.
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She was born in Sharonville, Ohio
The famous actress, model, singer, and media personality Carmen Electra was born in Sharonville, Ohio, on April 20, 1972. Her birth name was Tara Leigh Patrick, and she is the daughter of Patricia Rose (Kincade), a singer, and Harry Stanley Patrick, an entertainer and guitarist. She is mostly of English, German, and Irish descent.
Electra grew up near Cincinnati, Ohio. Her career began in 1990 when she worked as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, performing in the popular show "It's Magic". In 1991, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met singer and songwriter Prince, who gave her the famous name, "Carmen Electra". Prince told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen". He added "Electra" after the Greek goddess.
Electra signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and made her singing debut with a self-titled album in 1993. She toured Europe as Prince's opening act on his 1992 Diamonds and Pearls Tour. She later returned to work for Prince at his Los Angeles nightclub, "Glam Slam", where she performed every weekend with the Erotic City dancers.
In February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra.
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She is of mostly English, German, and Irish descent
Tara Leigh Patrick, professionally known as Carmen Electra, was born on April 20, 1972, in Sharonville, Ohio. Her parents, Patricia Rose (Kincade) and Harry Stanley Patrick, were an entertainer and guitarist. Electra is of mostly English, German, and Irish descent.
Electra began her career in the entertainment industry in 1990 as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. She performed in the popular show "It's Magic". A year later, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met singer and songwriter Prince. Soon after, Electra signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and made her singing debut with a self-titled album in 1993. This would be her only album release.
During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially adopted the stage name Carmen Electra. The name was derived from the 1954 film "Carmen Jones," with Electra added after the Greek goddess. In May 1996, Electra posed for a nude pictorial in Playboy magazine, the first of several appearances in the publication.
Electra moved to Los Angeles, where she made her acting debut in the 1997 independent comedy horror film "American Vampire." She also portrayed Lani McKenzie in the action drama series "Baywatch" from 1997 to 1998, a role that brought her widespread recognition. In addition to her acting career, Electra has continued to pursue music and modelling endeavours.
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Frequently asked questions
Carmen Electra's birth name is Tara Leigh Patrick.
Yes, in February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra.
The famous singer, Prince, gave her the name in the 90s. "Electra" is said to have been inspired by the Greek goddess.
She started using the name "Carmen Electra" in the 90s when she stepped into the spotlight with her breakthrough role in "Baywatch".
