Carson Kressley (born November 11, 1969)[1] is an American television personality, actor, and designer. Beginning in 2003, he appeared in the Bravo series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He was also the motivational host of the TV show How to Look Good Naked and OWN's Carson Nation and a contestant on season 13ofDancing with the Stars.
Carson Kressley
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Kressley in 2005
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| Born | (1969-11-11) November 11, 1969 (age 54)
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Gettysburg College |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Board member of | The True Colors Fund The American Saddlebred Museum Thomas Jefferson University |
| Awards | Outstanding Reality Program (Primetime Emmy - 2004) for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy |
Since 2015, Kressley has been a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. Beginning in October 2018, he teamed up with former Queer Eye colleague Thom Filicia for a new series called Get a Room with Carson & Thom on Bravo. The series followed the two as Thom mentored Carson in the interior design business, and featured two clients in each episode. The show lasted one ten-episode season on Bravo, with the final episode broadcast on December 22, 2018.[2]
Kressley was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania,[1] and raised in nearby Orefield, Pennsylvania.[3] His family raised ponies. He competed in equestrian events from an early age and was a member of the U.S. World Cup Saddle Seat equitation team in 1999. He won a world championship in 2009.[4]
He graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High SchoolinNew Tripoli, Pennsylvania in 1987. Kressley earned a bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College in 1991, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity.[3]
Kressley began his career as an independent stylist, then worked for Ralph Lauren from 1994 until 2002, working in menswear and corporate advertising. In 2003, Kressley gained exposure as the fashion savant on Queer Eye when the show debuted on the Bravo cable television network. Kressley appears on Good Morning America, the E! Network, and others. Furthermore, he has critiqued red carpet fashions at the Oscars and the Golden Globes. In 2005, he acted as a judge for the Miss Universe pageant, which aired from Bangkok, Thailand. In 2006, he returned to the Miss Universe pageant as commentator and was a commentator for the 2006 Miss USA pageant.
In February 2007, he was the host of a new Lifetime makeover show, How to Look Good Naked, a U.S. version of a British series.[5] The show's premiere episode on January 4, 2008, drew a record 1.6 million viewers, included significant viewership among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 as well as the network's target demographic of women aged 18–34. In January 2008, the debut episode of How to Look Good Naked was Lifetime's highest-rated premiere in those three demographics.[6]
Kressley appeared as Master of Ceremonies on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008. He was a host on the ABC series True Beauty, along with Vanessa Minnillo and Beth Stern. In 2011, Kressley began a show on the Oprah Winfrey Network titled Carson Nation.[7]
In 2018, Kressley joined with his former Queer Eye teammate Thom Filicia for Get a Room with Carson & Thom on Bravo. The program lasted one season, covering ten episodes that were broadcast from October through December 2018.
In 2005, Kressley made his film debut in The Perfect Man starring Heather Locklear and Hilary Duff, playing Lance, a bartender. He starred in The Year Without a Santa Claus with John Goodman as Santa, which aired December 11, 2006, on NBC. He had a cameo role in his third movie, the independent comedy 16 to Life. The feature film It's Christmas, Carol! premiered December 2012. In 2021, he had a supporting role in holiday film The Bitch Who Stole Christmas, which aired on VH1.[17]
In November 2006, Kressley debuted Perfect, his clothing for men and women, on QVC.[18] He cites his experience as a stylist with Ralph Lauren and on Queer Eye as inspiration for the line, saying he "...realized a lot of people are missing great basics in their wardrobe. I consider my perfect collection for QVC to be 'basics with a twist.'"[19] He debuted a new women's collection for Shop NBC in April 2012. The collection, called "Love, Carson", is built on transformative pieces that provide women with affordable glamour.[20]
In April 2006, Kressley became ordained over the Internet as a minister of the Universal Life Church, in order to be able to perform a wedding ceremony during an episode of Queer Eye.[22]
Kressley is also an owner of American Saddlebred horses and is horse show exhibitor.[23] He won a world title in 2009.[4] Kressley's interest in horses combined with his interest in promoting respect for diversity resulted in his authorship of 'You're Different and That's Super!', illustrated by cartoonist Jared Lee.
Kressley was an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup in 2007, playing a part in the "Fashion On The Field".[24]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2007 | Queer Eye | Himself | 100 episodes |
| 2004-2021 | Live with Kelly and Ryan | Himself | Guest (36 episodes) |
| 2005-2021 | Good Morning America | Himself | Guest (10 episodes) |
| 2006 | Jeopardy! | Contestant | 2nd place (1 episode) |
| 2007-2008 | Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants | Judge | 8 episodes |
| 2008-2021 | The Wendy Williams Show | Himself | Guest (13 episodes) |
| 2008 | Big Brother Australia | Himself | Season 8, Guest, (1 episode)[26] |
| 2011-2022 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Himself | Guest (7 episodes) |
| 2011 | Dancing with the Stars | Contestant | Season 13; Eliminated, 8th place (13 episodes) |
| 2015-present | RuPaul's Drag Race | Judge | Season 7 - present |
| 2016–present | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Judge | Season 2 - present |
| 2017 | The New Celebrity Apprentice | Contestant | Season 15; Eliminated, 5th place (5 episodes) |
| 2017 | Worst Cooks in America | Contestant | Season 11: Celebrity Edition 3; Eliminated, 7th place (3 episodes) |
| 2018 | Get a Room with Carson & Thom | Himself | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Real Housewives of Potomac | Himself | Guest (Season 3, Episode 11) |
| 2019 | Wrap Battle | Judge | Season 1 (6 episodes) |
| 2020–present | RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Judge | Season 1 - present |
| 2021 | BBQ Brawl | Judge | Season 2 (10 episodes) |
| 2022 | Celebrity Big Brother | Contestant | Season 3; Eliminated, 6th place & America's Favorite HouseGuest (13 episodes) |
| 2022 | Beat Bobby Flay | Himself | Guest host (1 episode) |
| 2023 | 25 Words or Less (game show) | Contestant | Celebrity contestant |
| 2023 | Celebrity Name That Tune | Contestant | Season 3, Episode 6 |
