She was born Tara Leigh Patrick, but the world knows her as Carmen Electra – and now, so does the legal system.

The model, singer and TV personality was something of an “It girl” of the late ’90s and noughties, thanks to her appearances in Playboy and a stint on Baywatch,

This week, Electra was reportedly granted a legal name change by a US judge, meaning her world-famous stage name will now replace her birth name.

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She had made the filing in December 2023, supposedly seeking a “fresh” start to 2024.

Read on to find out how Tara Leigh Patrick became Carmen Electra, and how she made that name world-famous.

‘You look like Electra’

Electra’s alias was suggested to her by none other than Prince, who imparted four words of wisdom that shaped her career to come: “You look like Electra.”

The music legend discovered her in the early ’90s when she auditioned for girl group set to be signed by his label.

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She was just 18 at the time.

“(Prince) said, ‘You look like Electra. That should be your name,'” she explained in a 2014 interview.

“At first I thought it sounded kinda like a superhero type of name, which actually it is. So I was hesitant, but it just sorta grew on me and that’s it.”

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Before her career-shaping encounter with Prince – who became her mentor and, at one point, lover – Electra started out as a dancer at an amusement park.

She didn’t make the cut for the girl group being assembled by the kiss singer, but her big break was just around the corner.

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Baywatch to the big screen

Electra was cast as lifeguard Lani Mackenzie on Baywatchappearing on the hit show for two seasons.

She soon earned similar fame and notoriety as her co-star Pamela Anderson, having been touted as Anderson’s replacement as the actress looked to retire for the show.

“I knew that she was leaving, so I think a big cast was brought in because it was like, ‘Wow, Pam’s leaving. How are we going to make up for it? She is Baywatch,'” Electra told. Vanity Fair,

After winning fans for donning the iconic red swimsuit, Electra became a frequent guest star on spoof and comedy movies.

Her film credits include Scary Movie, epic movie, Disaster Movie and Starsky & Hutch,

The parody films became her bread and butter. Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2023, Electra said it transformed her image.

“What? Scary Movie did was on another level,” she said.

“It changed something for (people who thought) maybe I was stuck up. We never knew it would be a number one movie.”

Life after the red swimsuit

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Electra’s Playboy appearances are also something of a legend. She was featured in the magazine around the world no less than 44 times after becoming a global superstar.

She worked just as hard on her movies, with the actress being credited in over 40 films.

During her time in the spotlight, Electra was known for a handful of famous romances: including a brief fling with Prince, a relationship with Simon Cowell and an engagement to Korn guitarist Rob Patterson.

Baywatch cast: Then and now

Over the past two decades, Electra made the move from films to TV shows and has guest starred in the likes of Jane the Virgin, 90210, Subuthatory and the short-lived Joey,

Now 51, Electra is still making appearances in films (her last credit was in the 2023 film Good Burger) and has pivoted to modeling.

She featured in a campaign for Kim Kardashian’s brand Skims and collaborated on a collection with an Aussie clothing brand.

Reflecting on her new era and continued popularity, the actress-turned-model told Vanity Fair: “It’s so very sweet.”

“My philosophy has been, Let’s stay here in a balanced place of gratitude because not everything works,” she added.

“You have an ego, and it will kill you.”