For Jervi Wrightson (a.k.a. KaladKaren), broadcast media has always been in the cards for her. Ever since she entered the national spotlight thanks to her Karen Davila impersonation, Wrightson has been a consistent presence on our screens as the first trans news anchor in the Philippines, as a resident judge on Drag Race Philippines, and as an MMFF-winning actress. But she once thought that medicine might be her chosen path.
“Inisip ko rin maging doktor,” Wrightson joked in the latest episode of The Rolling Stone Philippines Interview. “Sabi ko nga sayang, kasi ang yaman ni Doktora Aivee at tsaka ni Doktora Belo, diba? Parang puwede rin akong maging Doctor of the Stars!”
When asked if dermatology would have been her specialty, Wrightson immediately agreed. “Siyempre, gusto natin beauty, diyan tayo mahilig,” said Wrightson. “Pero sabi ko, parang hirap naman mag-doktor. May math pa ‘yun, may biology pa. Parang hindi ko kaya. Mag-focus na lang ako doon sa alam kong kaya kong gawin.”
On True Equality
Beyond alternative career paths, Wrightson also spoke candidly about the difficulties she’s faced as a trans woman living in the Philippines.
“Ang hirap maging bakla sa Pilipinas,” said Wrightson. “Ang daming mga taong huhusga sa’yo, ang daming taong kukutya sa’yo… Especially [since] we don’t have a national legislation that will protect everybody against discrimination with regard to their SOGIE [short for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression].” She also pointed out the country’s lack of a same-sex marriage law, a legislation which has already been implemented in Asian countries such as Thailand and Taiwan.
“Kaya naniniwala ako na ang mga taong out, right there, out in the open, being proud of who they are, ay napakatapang na tao,” she said. “And I believe isa ‘yan sa mga responsibilidad namin ng mga LGBTQIA+ actors, hosts, musicians, etc., to represent the community. I hope we inspire other people to not be afraid to be themselves.”
She also noted the importance of being identified as a trans woman, regardless of the challenges that may come with it. “I think importante ‘yung ‘trans’ pa rin,” said Wrightson. “Because that makes us who we are. Marami naman klase ng woman for me, and being a trans woman is just one of them.”
For more on Jervi Wrightson, watch the full The Rolling Stone Philippines Interview episode on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jervi Wrightson, widely known by her moniker KaladKaren, is a Philippine broadcast personality, TV host, award-winning actress, and the country’s first transgender entertainment news anchor.
In an interview on The Rolling Stone Philippines Interview, Wrightson lightheartedly shared that she originally considered becoming a dermatologist or “Doctor of the Stars” like Dr. Vicki Belo or Dr. Aivee Aguilar before pursuing media.
Wrightson advocates for national anti-discrimination legislation protecting SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression) and supports legalizing same-sex relationships, pointing to existing laws in neighboring Asian countries like Thailand and Taiwan.
She became the first trans entertainment news anchor on Philippine television (Frontline Pilipinas) and made history as the first trans woman to win the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Here Comes the Groom.
The full conversation is available on the official Rolling Stone Philippines YouTube channel.
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