Cara Melle
{{Short description|American drag performer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cara Melle
| image = Cara Melle at DragCon 2024 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Cara Melle at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2024
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|26|2023|09|13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/meet-the-queens-ru-pauls-drag-race-uk-series-5/|title=Meet RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 Queens|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2023-09-30|archive-date=2023-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925175518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/meet-the-queens-ru-pauls-drag-race-uk-series-5|url-status=live}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names = Sterling Theodora Butler{{cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/these-are-the-14-queens-we-need-to-see-on-drag-race-uk/amp/ |title=14 queens we need to see on RuPaul's Drag Race UK |last=Damshenas |first=Sam |website=gaytimes.co.uk |date=10 June 2019 |publisher=GAY TIMES Group |access-date=September 30, 2023}}{{Cite instagram |user=tastemycaramelle |postid=C8uS_IKK0du |title=Can we just take a moment to talk about this TRANSformation? 🏳️⚧️🙀 |date=June 27, 2024}}
| occupation = Drag queen
| years_active =
| known_for =
| television = Karaoke Club: Drag Edition
RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5)
| notable_works =
}}
Cara Melle is the stage name of Sterling Theodora Butler, an American drag performer. Since moving to London, England, she has appeared on the ITV reality series Karaoke Club: Drag Edition and competed on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, placing 6th.
Early life
Cara Melle was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to London after finishing university to pursue her career in drag.{{Cite web |last=Damshenas |first=Sam |date=2019-12-17 |title=Drag queen goes viral after pushing customer off stage |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-queen-goes-viral-after-pushing-customer-off-stage/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819054039/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-queen-goes-viral-after-pushing-customer-off-stage/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://instinctmagazine.com/drag-queen-cara-melle-is-being-criticized-for-her-shoving-ways/|title=Drag Queen Cara Melle Is Being Criticized • Instinct Magazine|date=December 18, 2019|website=Instinct Magazine|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=August 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819161135/https://instinctmagazine.com/drag-queen-cara-melle-is-being-criticized-for-her-shoving-ways/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/cara-melle-drag-race-uk-interview/|title="I'm that woman": Cara Melle on making Black trans history on Drag Race UK|first=Alice|last=Morey|date=September 27, 2023|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929152807/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/cara-melle-drag-race-uk-interview/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/these-are-the-14-queens-we-need-to-see-on-drag-race-uk/|title=These are the 14 gag-worthy queens we need to see on Drag Race UK|first=Sam|last=Damshenas|date=June 10, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917224102/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/these-are-the-14-queens-we-need-to-see-on-drag-race-uk/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/drag-queens-transform-into-female-pop-icons-from-britney-to-rihanna-303936/|title=Drag queens transform into female pop icons from Britney to Rihanna|first=Will|last=Stroude|date=October 15, 2021|website=Attitude|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722153316/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/drag-queens-transform-into-female-pop-icons-from-britney-to-rihanna-303936/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/05/26/epsom-derby-drag-queens/|title=GB News slagging off Epsom Derby for drag show 'misses the point', says queen|first=Patrick|last=Kelleher|date=May 26, 2023|website=PinkNews |access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=June 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624184731/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/05/26/epsom-derby-drag-queens/|url-status=live}}
Career
In 2021, Cara Melle was a contestant on the ITV2 reality series Karaoke Club: Drag Edition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/itv2-orders-drag-edition-of-celebrity-karaoke-club/|title=ITV2 orders drag edition of Celebrity Karaoke Club|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=March 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325081418/https://www.televisual.com/news/itv2-orders-drag-edition-of-celebrity-karaoke-club/|url-status=live}} She entered the club on the first day, however was forced to withdraw from the competition due to illness prior to the fifth episode.{{Cite web|url=https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/573450-celebrity-karaoke-club-returns-for-second-series-on-itv2.html|title=Celebrity Karaoke Club 2021 start date confirmed for series two|website=TellyMix|date=September 30, 2023|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202170142/https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/573450-celebrity-karaoke-club-returns-for-second-series-on-itv2.html|url-status=live |last1=Darvill |first1=Josh }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-stars-to-compete-in-ludicrous-new-itv-show-celebrity-karaoke-club/|title=Drag Race stars to compete in "ludicrous" new ITV show Celebrity Karaoke Club|website=Gay Times|date=September 30, 2023|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701004613/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-stars-to-compete-in-ludicrous-new-itv-show-celebrity-karaoke-club/|url-status=live}} In 2023, Cara Melle was announced was one of the contestants competing in series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a45079070/drag-race-uk-season-5-cast/|title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 cast – meet the new queens|date=September 11, 2023|website=Digital Spy|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929075940/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a45079070/drag-race-uk-season-5-cast/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/meet-the-queens-of-rupauls-drag-race-uk-season-five-446268/|title=Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season five|first=Alastair|last=James|date=September 11, 2023|website=Attitude|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929143833/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/meet-the-queens-of-rupauls-drag-race-uk-season-five-446268/|url-status=live}} She impersonated Dionne Warwick for the Snatch Game challenge.{{Cite web |last=Wratten |first=Marcus |date=2023-11-03 |title=Drag Race UK fans divided over Snatch Game winner: 'They are rigging' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/03/drag-race-uk-fans-divided-snatch-game-kate-butch-ginger-johnson/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}
In 2024 Cara Melle starred as Olive Wood in the Tubi horror comedy film Slay, alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Crystal Methyd, Heidi N Closet and Trinity the Tuck.{{cite magazine |last1=Nolfi |first1=Joey |title=Drag Race queens' new horror movie Slay led to bloody on-set injury: 'Acting challenge on steroids' |url=https://ew.com/drag-race-queens-new-movie-slay-bloody-injury-8619251 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=7 April 2024}}
Personal life
Cara Melle is a trans woman and uses she/her pronouns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/29/drag-race-uk-season-5-trans-drag-queen-cara-melle-fan-reaction/|title=Drag Race UK's Cara Melle becomes an instant trans icon and fan favourite|first=Marcus|last=Wratten|date=September 29, 2023|website=PinkNews |access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930054739/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/29/drag-race-uk-season-5-trans-drag-queen-cara-melle-fan-reaction/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-66933535|title=Drag Race UK queens on being accepted in Britain|date=September 27, 2023|website=BBC News|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928232004/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-66933535|url-status=live}}
Discography
= Featured singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:2em;" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:6em;" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Don't Ick My Yum (Fierce Force Five Version)"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dont-ick-my-yum-fierce-force-five-version-single/1711637853|title=Don't Ick My Yum (Fierce Force Five Version) - Single|work=music.apple.com}} (RuPaul featuring Tomara Thomas, Vicki Vivacious, Michael Marouli, & DeDeLicious) | 2023 | {{n/a|non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/pant-oh-she-better-dont-the-rusical/1713763130|title=Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical|work=music.apple.com}}
| 2023 | Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical Album |
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2021
| Herself | Guest; Series 3, episode 3 | |
| 2021
| Herself | Contestant (8th place) |
| 2023
| Herself | Contestant (6th place) |
| 2024
| Slay | Olive Wood | Tubi original film | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline| Cara Melle}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race UK}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cara Melle}}
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:American emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:American transgender women
Category:American transgender entertainers
Category:LGBTQ people from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestants
Category:Transgender drag performers
Category:Transgender women entertainers
Category:Drag performers from London