KaladKaren
Filipino comedian, television personality, impersonator most known for her impression of news anchor Karen Davila

KaladKaren

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Filipino comedian, television personality, impersonator most known for her impression of news anchor Karen Davila
A.K.A.
KaladKaren Davila, Jervi Ryan Li, Jervi Ryan E. Li
Gender:
Transgender female
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Jervi Ryan Lisaba (born August 9, 1992), also known as Jervi Li and better known by her stage name KaladKaren, is a Filipino actress, TV host, writer, endorser, impersonator, LGBT rights advocate, television personality and radio host most known for her impression of ABS-CBN News personality Karen Davila. She became the first transgender woman to win 'Best Supporting Actress' at the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.

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.

Career

In 2012, KaladKaren (credited by Jervi Li) was part of contestants as Team Amigas (with Saida Diola) and was the first transgender contestant to compete on the series The Amazing Race Philippines 1 on TV5. Still, she was 7th eliminated in Boracay, Aklan.

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. She would be known as KaladKaren due to her portrayal.

She co-hosted the morning talk show of ABS-CBN Umagang Kay Ganda, and pioneered digital shows as presenter for 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.

Acting career

In 2011, KaladKaren (credited by 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 both 2023, KaladKaren would act in Here Comes the Groom which premiered at the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. 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. She won the best supporting actress award for her role as Wilhelmina, becoming the second trans woman to win a best actress award in the Philippine film industry after Iyah Mina in 2018. 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. She has been engaged to boyfriend Luke Wrightson since 2020.

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 TV5
Drag Race Philippines Herself /Judge Discovery+ and HBO Go (Philippines)
2022–present 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
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
One PH
2023–present Frontline Pilipinas Herself / Segment Anchor "Showbiz Eto Na Nga" and "K-alaman" TV5
One PH

Radio

Year Title Role Station
2017 Pasada Sais Trenta Herself / Guest DZMM
2023 Ang Tinig N'yo Guest Co-host DWPM

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
  • The Amazing Race Philippines 2 (TV5, 2014) - Writer

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Source
2023 Here Comes the Groom 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Won