Carson Lee Kressley is an American television personality, actor, and designer. He was also the motivational host of the TV showHow to Look Good Naked and OWN's Carson Nation, as well as a contestant on season 13 of Dancing with the Stars. Since 2015, Kressley has been a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. Beginning in October, 2018, he teamed up with his old Queer Eye alum Thom Filicia for a new series called Get a Room on Bravo. The series follows the two as Thom mentors Carson in the interior design business, and features two clients in each episode.
Kressley began as an independent stylist, then worked for Ralph Lauren from 1994 until 2002, working in several areas including 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 frequently appears on Good Morning America and for the E! Network, among others, and has critiqued red carpet fashions at high-profile events such as the Oscars and the Golden Globes. In 2005, he acted as a judge for the Miss Universe pageant, which aired live from Bangkok, Thailand. In 2006, he returned to the Miss Universepageant, but as commentator, and was also commentator for the 2006 Miss USA pageant. In February 2007, he was announced as the host of new Lifetime makeover show, How to Look Good Naked. The show's premiere episode on January 4, 2008 drew record numbers for Lifetime—1.6 million viewers, which included significant numbers in the adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 demographics, as well as the network's target demographics of women 18-34. In January 2008, the debut episode of How to Look Good Naked was Lifetime's highest-rated premiere in those three demographics. Kressley appeared as the 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.
Contestant
In November 2006, Kressley competed on a celebrity edition of Jeopardy against Regis Philbin and Nancy Grace. Carson took second place, losing by one dollar.
In September 2011, Kressley was a participant on the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Anna Trebunskaya. Kressley proved to be a fan favorite, but was voted off week five of the competition.
In August 2016, Kressley appeared on Celebrity Family Feud with members of his family.
In January 2017, Kressley appeared as a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice.
In February 2017, Kressley became a celebrity contestant on the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
In August 2017, Carson Kressley started as a contestant on season 11 of Worst Cooks in America.
In December 2017, Kressley appeared as a contestant on The Chase.
Judge
In May 2007, he acted as a judge on reality series where mother and daughter teams compete in a beauty pageant.
In 2015, Kressley and Ross Matthews were named as new regular judges for the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
In December 2019, he appeared as a judge on the Freeform gift wrap competition, Wrap Battle.
Since the success of Queer Eye he has pursued various acting opportunities. In 2005, Kressley made his film debut in the movie 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 filmIt's Christmas, Carol premiered December 2012.
Fashion design
In November 2006, Kressley debuted Perfect, his own clothing for men and women, on QVC. He cites his experience as a stylist with Ralph Lauren and on Queer Eye as inspiration for the line, and says 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.'" 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.
Books
Author of the 2004 book Off The Cuff: The essential style guide for men and the women who love them.
Author of You're Different and That's Super, a 2005 children's story deriving inspiration from the classic tale "The Ugly Duckling," featuring a unicorn who grows up among a herd of horses from foalhood to maturity.
Co-author, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab Five's Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better, with the four other cast members.
Author of the 2016 book Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big?: A Cheeky Guide to Feeling Sexier in Your Own Skin and Unleashing Your Personal Style.
Other vocations
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. Kressley is also known as an owner of American Saddlebred horses and respected for his success as a horse show exhibitor. He won a world title in 2009. 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 is an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup, in 2007 playing a part in the 'Fashion On The Field'.
Honors, awards, distinctions
In 2004 Queer Eye won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Reality Program". It was nominated again for that category in 2005.
After interviewing him on WMAL-FM's "Mornings on the Mall", co-host Mary Walter was "shocked to find out that Carson is crazy smart — I'm talking Mensa smart!"
