Carmen Leigh

Racquel Kasha Sinclair' (Born 6th of October 1984) professionally known as CARMEN LEIGH a rising entertainment star in the United Kingdom. known in the UK Entertainment Industry for being a Model she is involved in various sectors of the Modelling world, (Glamour, , Fashion, Commercial, Music Video Model, and is also a Promotional Model ), Actress, Host, Radio Presenter, Entertainment interviewer/presenter and Dancer.

Early Life

Carmen Leigh was born, raised and currently resides in the heart of London's East end coming from a Jamaican and Dominican heritage, Carmen showed an interest in singing, dancing, acting, and modelling from a very young age. Her dancing career started at the age of seven years old where she joined a street dancing group called ‘Ruff Stuff’ led by, Choice FM and MTV Base Host, Kat B.
Carmen was a member of “Ruff stuff” for a period of nine years dating from 1991-2000 where she took part in numerous performances around the Newham area. Whilst continuing to dance with “Ruff Stuff” at the age of fourteen Carmen enrolled and studied performing arts for a year at Sylvia Young performing arts school. 1.
At the age of seventeen, Carmen began dancing for “Boy Blue Entertainment”2 for just over a year dating 2001-2002 where she showcased group routines in and around London at community centres and summer fares
Carmen, spent time studying; Media at Sir Georgee Monoux College,3 and continued her studies in Performance arts at Epping forest college 4

Career

Early Career

Carmen completed her studies of Performing Arts, English and Media, and went on to work for the civil service for the Department for environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) for four years (dating 2003-2007) working within science, climate change and global warming.
Carmen worked for minister Lord Rooker and shadowed in offices for Lord Whitty (House of Lords) and Ben Bradshaw (House of Commons)

Entertainment Career

After resigning from the Civil Service, Carmen began spending more time focussing on the Entertainment industry, Carmen self promoted herself as a model using various online Social networking sites (Myspace5, Facebook 6, Model Mayhem7, and Twitter 8). Carmen also networked at events and within the industry circuit. She started to make an impact within the entertainment industry and soon began to do various photo shoots,music videos and features.
On the 10th of July 2009 Carmen Leigh’s official independent website'' launchedwww.carmen-leigh.com''9 and within three months of being published, her website had attracted over 40,000 hits.

Host/Events/Presenting Career

As a newly established entertainer, Carmen Leigh went on to host The Urban Music Awards10 and did so for three consecutive years dating 2007-2009. In 2007 Carmen presented an award for best radio presenter and in both 2008 and 2009 Carmen worked closely with the press and the artists.
In 2008 Carmen presented for Triforce Promotions where she conducted interviews with Aml Ameen (Kidulthood, ITV's The Bill), Jimmy Akingbola (Othello, Holby Blue and The Crouches) and Fraser Ayers (West 10 LDN, The Smoking room)

In 2008/2009 Carmen became very familiar on the club circuit by collaborating with London promoters which then led to Carmen hosting parties for celebrities within the UK and USA such as Ironik, Sway, TQ and Flo rida.

Mid 2009, Carmen Leigh and her team put together a reality show based on the entertainment life of Ms Leigh titled "Carmen's close ups" Carmen is filmed on her travels in and around London attending shoots as well as interviewing established acts from the entertainment industry Carmen gets the inside scoop on the entertainment world as well as opinions from those on how difficult they feel the transition is from the Urban industry to the Commercial industry. Carmen's Close Up's propels Carmen on tours, shows, premieres and more, The show is set for release this year. (Carmen's Close up trailer is available online 11)

In July 2009 Carmen hit the road with US sensation Actor and Comedian “Eddie Griffin” For the Eddie Griffin Undercover Brother tour. Carmen collected exclusive footage for her new show “Carmen’s Closes Ups” (to be realeased in 2010) Carmen interviewed an got up close and personal with “Eddie Griffin” as well as some of the UK’s big names in comedy and acting such as Richard Blackwood “Slim” “Kojo” Eddie Kadi, Femi Oyeniran, Arnold Oceng plus more.

Carmen began her Radio career in November 2009, when she landed her own breakfast midweek show as a presenter on London's number one Urban radio station Deja Vu Fm. Carmen currently still presents on Deja Vu FM Every Thursday Morning between 10am -12pm alongside her resident DJ "Oblique" 12

Modelling career

In March 2009 Carmen Leigh joined “The funhouse crew” as an entertainer and promotional model for UK/US Comedian Kojo on his hit show Kojo’s comedy funhouse13 which was filmed and broadcasted on MTV Base.Following the success of the show, Carmen, Kojo and other members of the Fun House crew were invited down for an interview at the BBC Radio, BBC 1XTRA studio with host Twin B where they discussed the elements of the show and were tested on their spontaneity Throughout 2009 Carmen Leigh has been a feature model in the following UK magazines; iCandy Magazine, (August 2009 issue) 14 Urban world (September 2009 issue) 15 Flavour magazine16 (September 2009 issue) Carmen also featured in USA magazine Yo Raps! (October 2009 issue)17
On the 29th of September 2009 Carmen Leigh went on to feature in one of UK’s leading tabloids “The Daily Sport” As one of Sarah Jane’s Stunners Carmen made her second appearance in The Daily Sport on 22nd of December 2009 as one of Sarah Jane’s Christmas Stunners 18

Carmen Leigh has been a featured model in Music videos for Donaeo's Funky house track19, Midas ft David B Track MIDAS, Goodfellaz ft Young Juvee Track UK and Rain ft Mayhem Track Oh Sweet Money Sway ft Akon Track Silver and Gold.

Carmen Leigh is currently a featured model for up and coming urban brand Exclusive Clothing.20 Carmen also assists with PR and model management. Carmen began modelling for the clothing brand in late 2008 after meeting founder and brand designer SJ Trotter on social networking site, facebook. Carmen took part in a London fashion show for the brand at Embassy Night club in 2009 alongside other aspiring models. The brand is currently being worn and represented by many UK acts such as Carmen leigh herself, UK rapper Kano, DJ Mista Jam (BBC 1XTRA Radio); DJ Scottie B (Choice FM); Tim Westwood (BBC Radio 1xtra); Mega Man (So Solid crew).

In November 2009, Carmen relased her first ever independent glamour calendar for 2010 which she named "Get Close". Due to high demand from Carmen's fan base, Carmen and her team put together the poster calendar, working with photographers "Keith Curtis" and "Emerzy Corbin aka Koax" Carmendid a variety of shoots on location in both London and Bournemouth area.
"Get Close" was sold online via Carmen's website (www.carmen-leigh.com), the calendar also went on sale in record stores across London. Carmen self promoted the calender using social network sites online as well as attending signing parties around London. By March 2010 Carmen's "Get Close" calendar was sold out.

Acting Career

In October 2009 Carmen had a featured acting role in the Theatre production of The Real McCoy which is taken from the 90's Hit Comedy TV Show.., at the Hackney Empire London. Carmen played character Gwen the blind slightly deaf new love interest of Mr Fraiser (Actor Leo Muhammad). In November 2009 Carmen Leigh made another special guest appearence in two more shows of The Real McCoy at The Broadway Theatre Catford. Other featured actors in the production included Robbie Gee, Eddie Nestor,Dibby, Felix Dexter, Judith Jacob, Mr Cee

Credits

Features

• Daily Sport 21
• Flavour Magazine 22
• iCandy Magazine 23
• Urban World 24
• Yo Raps! 25
• PDC Entertainment 26
• Ragggs Urban Entertainment (Carmen Close up) 27

Music Videography

• Donaeo - Party Hard (2009)28
• Midas ft David B - MIDAS (2009) 29
• Goodfellaz ft Young Juvee - UK (2009) 30
• Rain ft Mayhem - Oh Sweet Money (2009)
• Sway ft Akon -Silver & Gold (2009)

Carmens Close up interviews

• Jimmy Akingbola (Actor)
• Fraser Ayers (Actor)
• Aml Ameen (Actor)
• Arnold Oceng (Actor)
• Femi Oyeniran (Actor)
• Duane Henry (Actor)
• Eddie Griffin (Actor/Comedian)
• Eddie Kadi (Comedian)
• Richard Blackwood (Comedian)
• Slim (Comedian)
• Kojo (Comedian)
• Donaeo (Artist)
• Princess Nyah (Artist)

Gallery

External links

• Official Website 31
• Twitter page[ http://www.twitter.com/MsLeighBaby]
• Myspace Page 32
• Model Mayhem page 33
• YouTube Channel 34
• Facebook page 35

Sources

• Racquel Sinclair via interviews
• Daily sport Newspaper
• Google.com
• www.carmen-leigh.com
• Flavour Magazine interview
• Social network sites
• iCandy Magazine
• Urban World
• Yo Raps!
• PDC Entertainment
• Ragggs Urban Entertainment
• Youtube
• search engines

Katie Pink, 'N' Black 02:24, 12 March 2010 (UTC)