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In 2024, actress and model Carmen Electra legally changed her name from Tara Leigh Patrick. Electra, who began her career as a singer and dancer, has been known by her stage name for most of her career. She credits musician Prince with giving her the name in the early '90s, recalling how he told her, You're not a Tara. You're Carmen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of name change request | 29 December 2023 |
| Previous name | Tara Leigh Patrick |
| Reason for name change | Wanted a fresh start in the new year |
| Mentor and name inspiration | Prince |
| Date of birth | 20 April 1972 |
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What You'll Learn
Carmen Electra was born Tara Leigh Patrick
Electra began her career as a singer and dancer after moving to Minneapolis, where she met Prince. She auditioned for an all-girl group that he 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. He produced her self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 1993 and would be her only album release.
During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially became known as Carmen Electra. Prince is credited with giving her the name, recalling how he told her, "You're not a Tara. You're not Tara. You're Carmen." He also wrote a song for her called "Carmen on Top."
Electra initially went by her birth name when she started working in the entertainment industry. However, she soon adopted the stage name "Carmen Electra," which she has used for most of her career. In December 2023, she filed to legally change her name to Carmen Electra, and her request was granted. She cited her desire for a fresh start in the new year as the reason for the change.
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She met Prince in Minneapolis in the early '90s
In 1991, Tara Leigh Patrick moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met singer and songwriter Prince. She began her career 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. He signed her to his record label, Paisley Park Records, and produced her self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 1993.
During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially became known as Carmen Electra. Prince helped her rework her identity for her career, giving her the stage name "Carmen Electra". According to The Hollywood Reporter, he told her, "You're not a Tara. You're not Tara. You're Carmen". In an OWN interview, Electra recalled that Prince wrote a song for her called "Carmen on Top". She was confused about the song title because her name was Tara, but she loved the song. She later elaborated on why "Carmen" and "Electra" became the two names the singer cooked up for her, noting the "men" in her name was for the "men" at the musician's shows.
Electra has been Carmen Electra for the majority of her career. She has said that the name "kind of grew" on her, and she is "Electra now". She started using the name professionally when she began modelling in 1996, appearing in Playboy magazine. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she made her acting debut in the independent comedy horror film American Vampire (1997).
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Prince gave her the name 'Carmen Electra'
In 2024, Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, officially changed her name to her long-known stage name. The name "Carmen Electra" was given to her by the late pop icon, Prince, who produced her self-titled debut studio album, released in 1993.
Electra began her career as a singer and dancer, auditioning for an all-girl group that Prince was creating in the early '90s. She recalled how the artist told her, "You're not a Tara. You're not Tara. You're Carmen." She also remembered him saying, "You look like Electra. That should be your name." At first, she thought it sounded like a superhero name, and while she was hesitant, the name eventually grew on her.
Electra met Prince when she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1991. She soon signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records and made her singing debut. During her time at Paisley Park Records, she officially became known as Carmen Electra. In addition to giving her the name "Electra," Prince also wrote a song for her called "Carmen on Top."
In an OWN interview, Prince told her he thought she had the talent to make it solo in the music industry and that she should change her birth name. Electra has credited Prince with helping her rework her identity for her career. She has said that she is proud that the name came from Prince.
When Prince died in 2016, Electra issued a statement mourning the loss of her "mentor," mentioning how he named her and expressing her love for him.
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She wanted a fresh start in the new year
Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, is an American actress, model, singer, and media personality. She began her career as a singer after moving to Minneapolis, where she met Prince, who produced her self-titled debut studio album, released in 1993. It was Prince who gave her the name "Carmen Electra".
Electra filed to change her name in December 2023, and her request was granted in February 2024. She wanted a fresh start in the new year, and the name change was part of this.
Electra has been known as Carmen Electra for the majority of her career. She started using the name when she was signed to Prince's record label, Paisley Park Records, and made her singing debut in 1993. She officially became known as Carmen Electra during her time at Paisley Park Records.
The name change in 2024 was a way for Electra to legally adopt the name she had been known by for most of her career. She had been using her birth name, Tara Leigh Patrick, when she first began working in the entertainment industry. However, after auditioning for an all-girl group that Prince was assembling in the 1990s, she began to use the name "Carmen Electra".
During an interview with The Yo Show! in 2014, Electra recalled how Prince told her, "You're not Tara. You look like Electra. That should be your name." She also noted that the name ""kind of grew" on her and that she was "Electra now".
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She legally changed her name in 2024
In 2024, Carmen Electra legally changed her name. The former "Baywatch" star was granted her request to change her birth name, Tara Leigh Patrick, to her stage name, which she had used for years.
Electra began her career as a singer and dancer in the early '90s, auditioning for an all-girl group that was being formed by Prince. Although she didn't make the group, Prince took her under his wing and signed her to his record label, Paisley Park Records. He also helped her rework her identity for her career, giving her the name "Carmen Electra."
Initially, Electra was hesitant about the name, thinking it sounded like a superhero. However, she eventually embraced it, and it stuck with her throughout her career. In December 2023, she filed to make the name change official, citing her desire for a fresh start in the new year.
The name change was granted in late February 2024, and Electra shared her gratitude for Prince's influence in shaping her career and giving her the name that would become synonymous with her public persona. The legal name change marked a significant milestone in Electra's life, solidifying her chosen identity and paying homage to her mentor, Prince.
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Frequently asked questions
Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, changed her name because she wanted a fresh start in the new year. She had been going by her birth name when she started working in the entertainment industry.
Carmen Electra has been going by her stage name for years, and it is said that the name was given to her by her mentor and ex-boyfriend, Prince. After his passing in 2016, she released a statement mourning the loss of her mentor and crediting him for her name.
Carmen Electra filed to change her name in December 2023 and her request was granted in February 2024.
