Jervi Wrightson[2] (born Jervi Ryan Lisaba;[3] August 9, 1992), also known as Jervi Li[4][5] and better known by her stage name KaladKaren, is a Filipino award-winning actress, TV host, writer, endorser, impersonator, LGBT rights advocate, television personality and radio host most known for her queer representation in the mainstream media of the Philippines. She is a trailblazer in the Philippine LGBTQIA+ community; becoming the first transgender woman news anchor in the country and the first transgender woman to win 'Best Supporting Actress' at the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.[6]
KaladKaren | |
|---|---|
 KaladKaren in 2023 | |
| Born | Jervi Ryan Lisaba August 9, 1992 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names |
|
| Education | University of the Philippines Diliman(BA Broadcast Communication magna cum laude) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Agent | Star Magic (2023–present)[1] |
| Known for | Trailblazer in the Philippine LGBTQIA+ community, Transgender woman in the mainstream media, Award-winning actress |
| Spouse |
Luke Wrightson (m. 2024) |
| Website | KaladKaren on Instagram |
Education
Jervi graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City with magna cum laude honors and obtained a bachelor's degree in broadcast communication.[7]
Career
In 2012, KaladKaren (credited as Jervi Li) and Saida Diola formed Team Amigas on the series The Amazing Race Philippines 1 on TV5. The team placed 5th after being eliminated in Boracay.
TV host and personality career
In 2016, Jervi impersonated Karen Davila in the Philippine presidential election, as part of a political satire event led by the University of the Philippines.[8] She would be known as KaladKaren due to her portrayal.
She co-hosted the morning talk show of ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda and presented Pilipinas Got Talent Exclusives, The Voice Kids Digi TV, The Voice Teens Digi TV and Trabahanap. She was also a mainstay of the program I Can See Your Voice and served as a resident judge on Drag Race Philippines.[9]
In June 2023, she joined Frontline Pilipinas on TV5 as a presenter for the Showbiz and Trivia segment.
Acting career
In 2011, KaladKaren (credited as Jervi Li) appeared in the GMA's comedy horror anthology Spooky Nights: Bampirella along with stars Marian Rivera, Mikael Daez, and Gelli de Belen.
In 2023, KaladKaren would act in Here Comes the Groom which premiered at the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.[10] In the film, she portrayed Wilhelmina who was also a trans woman like herself. Her character switched bodies with Junior, the protagonist which was portrayed by Enchong Dee hence she had to act like a man for parts of the film to fulfill the role.[11] She won the best supporting actress award in the festival, becoming the first trans woman to win the said award and second to win in an actress category award in the Philippine film industry after Iyah Mina in 2018.[12] She appeared in the iWantTFC miniseries such as Drag You & Me and Fit Check and is played by herself to make a supporting character was denoted by a cameo appearance in the drama-suspense thriller miniseries, Fractured, along with co-stars by Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Jeremiah Lisbo, Kaori Oinuma, Raven Rigor, Sean Tristan, and Daniela Stranner.
Personal life
KaladKaren identifies as a transgender woman and advocate of LGBT rights.[13][14] She has been engaged to boyfriend Luke Wrightson since 2020.[15] On September 8, 2024, she and Wrightson got married in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.[16]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Spooky Nights: Bampriella | Megan Pak | GMA Network |
| 2012 | The Amazing Race Philippines 1 | Herself | TV5 |
| 2017 | Pasada Sais Trenta | Herself / Guest | DZMM TeleRadyo |
| 2017–2019 | Gandang Gabi, Vice! | Guest | ABS-CBN |
| 2018–2020 | Umagang Kay Ganda | Co-host | |
| 2019 | Banana Sundae | Herself | |
| 2019–2021 | I Can See Your Voice | Herself / SINGvestigator | ABS-CBN Kapamilya Channel A2Z |
| 2022 | It's Showtime | Jury | Kapamilya Channel A2Z TV5 |
| 2022–present | Drag Race Philippines | Herself / Judge | Discovery+ and HBO Go (Philippines) |
| BalitaOneNan | KaladKaren Dadilat | BuKo | |
| 2023 | Headstart with Karen Davila | Herself / Guest | ABS-CBN News Channel |
| TV Patrol | Herself / Guest Segment Anchor "Star Patrol" | Kapamilya Channel A2Z ABS-CBN News Channel TeleRadyo | |
| Family Feud | Herself/Guest | GMA Network | |
| Drag You & Me | Gerardo Pallan / Miranda Kalaw-Forbes | iWantTFC | |
| Fit Check | Barbie | Amazon Prime Video | |
| 2023 | Fractured | Herself | iWantTFC |
| E.A.T. | Herself / Segment Co-Host | TV5 RPTV One PH | |
| 2023–present | Frontline Pilipinas | Herself / Segment Anchor "Showbiz Eto Na Nga" and "K-alaman" | |
| 2024 | It's Showtime | Herself / Guest Performer | Kapamilya Channel A2Z ALLTV GMA Network GTV |
Radio
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad | KaladKaren Davila (reporter) |
| 2018 | The Girl in the Orange Dress | Ogie |
| 2023 | Here Comes the Groom | Wilhelmina |
Other credits
- Eat Bulaga (GMA, 2009–2012) - Writer[a][17]
- The Amazing Race Philippines 2 (TV5, 2014) - Writer[a]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Here Comes the Groom | 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Won | [12] |
Notes
References
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