Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 23, 2025 · Entertainment

From Baywatch to Glamour: Inside Carmen Electra's Iconic Journey

Carmen Electra was the 'it' pinup girl of the 1990s. Not only was she on the Baywatch series after she was pretty much discovered by her boyfriend Prince, but she was also a nude model.. Seen in 1997

Carmen Electra: The Queen of Pin-Ups Still Sizzling After All These Years!

The 53-year-old bombshell, born Tara Leigh Patrick, has been a household name since the 1990s, and it's no surprise why. With her stunning looks, sultry performances, and a string of high-profile romances, Carmen Electra has cemented her status as an icon in the entertainment industry.

From her early days as Prince's protégée to her Playboy magazine covers and sizzling movie roles, Electra has been the epitome of sex appeal. And it seems like she's still got it going on! At a recent premiere for Freakier Friday at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Electra stunned the crowd with her ruby red sparkly mini dress and black platform heels.

The brunette bombshell also was friends with Hugh Hefner and posed for the cover of Playboy magazine several times

But before we get to the latest developments, let's take a trip down memory lane. Remember when Electra was the 'it' girl of the 1990s? She rose to fame after Prince discovered her at his Paisley Park Records in the early 90s. And it was he who coined her famous moniker, Carmen Electra! Who could forget that iconic Baywatch role as sexy lifeguard Lani McKenzie in 1997?

As we all know, life is full of twists and turns. In a shocking turn of events, Electra filed legal documents to formally change her name to Carmen Electra (per thescholarlynote.com). The star, who has been holding hands with Godsmack lead singer Sully Erna, 55, since last year, has been going by the moniker since the early '90s.

The request was made on December 29, 2023, but it's unclear why Electra wants to make the change official. After all, she's already a household name! It's possible that she wants to solidify her legacy as Carmen Electra or perhaps create a new chapter in her life.

And she went on to have a successful acting career which included roles in films like American Vampire, Good Burger, Scary Movie, and various parody films such as Date Movie and Epic Movie; seen in 2009

But what about her romantic life? Well, Electra has been married twice – first to NBA star Dennis Rodman from 1998-1999 and then to musician Dave Navarro from 2003-2007. Interestingly, she never took the last name of either of her husbands! Talk about independence!

Before becoming a household name, Electra was just another face in the crowd. She started singing in the early 90s with Prince's backing, releasing her self-titled debut studio album in 1993. Although it was her only album to date, it marked the beginning of her illustrious career.

As she navigated the highs and lows of showbiz, Electra became a fixture on television screens, starring in films like American Vampire, Good Burger, Scary Movie, Date Movie, Epic Movie, and even the remake of Starsky & Hutch. And let's not forget those infamous Playboy magazine covers!

She has been married twice, but has never taken the last name of either of her husband. Electra was married to musician Dave Navarro from 2003 until 2007 (They are seen in 2004)

In 2014, Electra revealed to The Yo Show that Prince was the one who gave her the nickname Carmen Electra. "I auditioned for an all-girl group that he was putting together, and he ended up signing me to his label Paisley Park," she shared. "After I danced for him, he said, 'You look like Electra. That should be your name.'"

So, what's next for the Queen of Pin-Ups? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Carmen Electra will always be a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry!

**Stay tuned for more updates on Carmen Electra and other celebrity news only on thescholarlynote.com!

Carmen previously reveled that music icon Prince (pictured in 1958) was the one who coined her moniker, after they met in 1991, telling her 'You look like Electra. That should be your name'

On Tuesday the actress looked incredible at the Freakier Friday premiere held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood

Electra wore a strapless ruby red sparkly mini dress with a train as she added black platform heels