Carmen Electra, From “Worst Dressed” to Fashion Pioneer
Carmen Electra is synonymous with the glitzed-up skimpy looks of the late ’90s and 2000s. While perhaps best known today for her roles in Baywatch and blockbuster hits like Scary Movie (2000), the perpetually smoky-eyed bombshell left her hometown in Ohio for Los Angeles with few expectations. “I just came here to be a dancer,” says Electra via phone. “Not even in front, just a backup dancer.” She went on to meet Prince, who promoted her solo singing career, leading to her 1993 self-titled album. A television and film career, along with celebrity, followed quickly behind. While she had legions of fans, Electra’s bold, barely-there clothes made her a perennial presence on “Worst Dressed” lists. Twenty years later, Electra’s style has come full circle. Celebrities ranging from Nicki Minaj to Kendall Jenner are delving into the glammed-out noughties barely-there looks. “I once wore a dress that had little metal pieces going all they way down the side so you couldn’t really wear panti