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Carmen Electra is the famous stage name of American actress, model, singer, and media personality Tara Leigh Patrick. 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 name was given to her by the late pop icon Prince, who said: You're not a Tara. You're Carmen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tara Leigh Patrick |
| Date of birth | 20 April 1972 |
| Place of birth | Sharonville, Ohio |
| Parents | Patricia Rose (Kincade), Harry Stanley Patrick |
| Breakthrough role | Lani McKenzie in Baywatch |
| Stage name | Carmen Electra |
| Name giver | Prince |
| Year of name change | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Tara Leigh Patrick was Carmen Electra's birth name
Electra credits her stage name to the late pop icon, Prince. She recalled how the artist told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen." She shared in a 2014 interview with "The Yo Show" that after she auditioned for one of Prince's groups, "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. I'm Electra now."
Electra began as a singer and dancer, auditioning for an all-girl group that Prince was creating in the early '90s. Although she didn't make the group, Prince took her under his wing and made her one of his protégés. When Prince died in 2016, Electra told a magazine, "He gave me my name, he believed in me, and he has inspired an entire generation. I will always love him."
In addition to her career in music and dance, Electra is also known for her acting roles. She made her acting debut in the 1997 independent comedy horror film "American Vampire." She also gained recognition for her work in parody films, including Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 4 (2006), Date Movie (2006), Epic Movie (2007), Meet the Spartans (2008), and Disaster Movie (2008).
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She legally changed her name to her stage name in 2024
The famous American actress, model, singer, and media personality Carmen Electra was born Tara Leigh Patrick on April 20, 1972, in Sharonville, Ohio. She 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. She signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and made her singing debut with her self-titled debut studio album in 1993. It was during this time that Prince gave her the name "Carmen Electra."
In February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra. She had filed the petition on January 9, 2024, according to documents obtained by TODAY.com. This came after she had used the famous stage name since her breakthrough role as Lani McKenzie in "Baywatch." Electra credits her stage name to the late pop icon Prince, recalling how the artist told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen."
Electra shared in a 2014 interview with "The Yo Show" that after she auditioned for one of Prince's groups, "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. I'm Electra now."
Before her name change in 2024, Electra had already been known by her stage name for over 30 years. She first began using the name "Carmen Electra" in the 1990s, and it stuck with her as she rose to fame. The name "Carmen" was inspired by the 1954 film "Carmen Jones," while "Electra" is said to have been derived from the Greek goddess.
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Prince gave her the name in the 90s
In the early 1990s, Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, auditioned for an all-girl group that was being created by the late pop icon, Prince. Although she didn't make the group, she became one of his protégés. Prince gave her the name "Carmen" when he told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen". He then added "Electra" to it, which was inspired by the Greek goddess and the 1954 film "Carmen Jones".
Electra recalled that at first, she thought the name sounded like a "superhero type of name" and that she was hesitant about it. However, she eventually grew to like it, saying, "But it just sorta grew on me and that’s it. I’m Electra now".
In 1991, after signing a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records, she officially adopted the stage name "Carmen Electra". She released her self-titled debut studio album in 1993 and went on to tour Europe as Prince's opening act on his 1992 Diamonds and Pearls Tour.
In 1996, Electra began modelling and appeared in a nude pictorial in Playboy magazine. She also moved to Los Angeles, where she made her acting debut in the independent comedy horror film "American Vampire" in 1997. She gained further recognition for her role as Lani McKenzie in the action drama series "Baywatch" from 1997 to 1998.
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She was born in Sharonville, Ohio
Sharonville is a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, where Carmen Electra—born Tara Leigh Patrick—was born and raised. She grew up near Cincinnati and was scouted by a representative of the singer Prince while performing with a rap group in Los Angeles, California.
Electra met Prince in 1991 and was the singer's muse. He gave her the stage name "Carmen Electra", inspired by the 1954 film "Carmen Jones" and the Greek goddess. In a 2014 interview with "The Yo Show", Electra shared that after she auditioned for one of Prince's groups, he said, "You look like Electra. That should be your name".
Electra has said that she initially thought the name sounded like that of a superhero, and while she was hesitant about it at first, it eventually grew on her. In February 2024, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Electra's petition to legally change her name from Tara Leigh Patrick to Carmen Electra.
Electra started her professional career in 1990 as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, performing in the show "It's Magic", one of the more popular shows in the park's history. 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.
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She began her career as a singer and dancer
Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, began her career as a singer and dancer. She started her professional career in 1990 as a dancer at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, performing in the show "It's Magic", one of the more popular shows in the park's history.
In 1991, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met singer and songwriter Prince. She began as a singer, auditioning for an all-girl group that Prince was creating in the early '90s. She credits Prince with giving her the name "Carmen Electra". According to Electra, Prince told her, "You're not a Tara. You look like Electra. That should be your name".
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. She then toured Europe as Prince's opening act on his 1992 Diamonds and Pearls Tour.
In March 1997, she appeared in cartoon form as the model for a character who is a singer and a vampire in a comic book series called "Embrace". She returned to work for Prince at his Los Angeles nightclub "Glam Slam", where she performed every weekend with the Erotic City dancers, led by choreographer and director Jamie King.
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Frequently asked questions
Carmen Electra was born Tara Leigh Patrick. In 2024, she legally changed her name to her famous stage name, which was given to her by the singer, Prince.
She was born on April 20, 1972, in Sharonville, Ohio.
Carmen Electra is an actress, model, singer, and media personality. She began her career as a singer and dancer, and later moved into modelling and acting. She is well-known for her role as Lani McKenzie in the series Baywatch.
The singer, Prince, gave Carmen Electra her stage name. In a 2014 interview, she recalled how he told her, "You're not a Tara. You're Carmen".
She started using the name when she stepped into the spotlight with her breakthrough role in Baywatch.
