La Carmina
La Carmina
Born
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationColumbia University (BA)
Yale Law School (JD)
Occupation(s)Author, journalist, writer, blogger, TV host
Websitewww.lacarmina.com

La Carmina is a Canadian blogger, author, journalist, and TV host. She specializes in Goth and Harajuku fashion and Japanese pop culture. She has been described by Qantas as "one of the best-known names in the blogging world, having authored three books and hosting travel segments for international television networks."[1] She also appeared in one of the segments on the Tokyo episode of Bizarre Foods on Travel Channel.[2]

Early years

La Carmina was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her parents are from Hong Kong.[3] She attended Columbia University and graduated in three years.[4][5] She then proceeded to Yale Law School, graduating with a JD.[6][7]

Career

Fashion and travel blogging

In September 2007, she began her La Carmina blog about alternative and Gothic fashion, travel and subcultures in Japan and worldwide. [8][9][10][11][7][12] She is a professional blogger, and her blog has been quoted in Boing Boing,[13] Women's Wear Daily,[14] and the New York Times.[15]

La Carmina is a journalist for CNNGo, where she contributes articles about Asian pop culture.[16][17] She is a travel journalist for Business Insider,[18][19] and also writes for AOL/Huffington Post Travel,[20][21] Fodor's Travel,[22] Roadtrippers,[23] as well as The Sunday Times and Hong Kong Express Magazine.[24] [25] In 2020, she won a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award from the Society of American Travel Writers.[26][27]

She was selected as one of the world's top fashion bloggers to attend Luisa Via Roma's Firenze4Ever 2011 and 2012 events in Italy.[28][29][30][31]

La Carmina describes her sense of fashion as "Morticia Addams meets Hello Kitty," drawing from a mix of alternative styles.[32]

She has given speeches at IFB Conference at New York Fashion Week,[33][34] Social Media Week in Hong Kong,[9][35] PRSA Travel & Tourism Conference,[36][37] and PechaKucha Tokyo.[38] In 2020, she gave the first TEDx talk about goths.[39][40]

In 2016, she was invited to the World Tourism Forum in Istanbul as one of the top travel influencers.[41]

She won Auxiliary Magazine's Best Blog of 2016 award.[42][43]

Television

La Carmina appeared in one of several segments on the Tokyo episode of Bizarre Foods, in which she and her friends dined with host Andrew Zimmern in a theme restaurant. According to Zimmern, the footage showcased the "exotic alternative lifestyles" of Tokyo and was originally intended for an episode of Bizarre World, but was later edited for inclusion in a Bizarre Foods episode instead, a process which refocused the segment onto the restaurant itself rather than the diners.[2]

La Carmina's work as a travel and pop culture TV host on international networks includes Norway TV,[44] CNNGo TV[45] and a Canal+ France documentary about Japanese subcultures alongside Antoine de Caunes.[46][47] Among her other hosting work includes shows for Food Network and Discovery Channel.[48] She filmed with Discovery TV's Oddities, and did press trips to Maui, Berlin, Leipzig, and Prague to make travel videos.[12][49] She has also hosted travel videos for the Mexico Tourism Board[50][51] In 2011, she hosted, scripted, arranged, and field produced the show Coolhunting Weird Wisconsin for Huffington Post Travel TV. In the first episode, she gave a tour of Dodgeville theme hotel The Don Q Inn.[52][53][7]

Japanese broadcaster NHK filmed a 20-minute documentary about her work in blogging and cooking.[54] She was also the subject of an episode of NHK Kawaii TV.[48]

She has been interviewed about Japanese and American theme cafes by ABC Nightline.[55]

She has a travel video series published by Business Insider. Locations include Maldives, Israel, Bangkok, Mexico, Abu Dhabi, and more.[25]

Alongside Henry Winkler and William Shatner, she appeared on an episode of NBC's Better Late Than Never.[56][43]

La Carmina and the Pirates

La Carmina has a coolhunting, TV production, and promotion company that provides film fixing services to broadcasters worldwide.[57] She was interviewed and featured in the Spanish book Coolhunting Digital.[58]

La Carmina and the Pirates did the legwork for National Geographic Channel's Taboo episode documenting the body modification known as the bagel head – which she also hosted.[59][60][61] She also hosted, translated, and arranged a show in Tokyo for National Geographic and Fuel TV.[21][62] She appeared on CBS' The Doctors to speak about extreme body mods.[63]

Books

In 2009, Perigee (a division of Penguin Books) published La Carmina's Cute Yummy Time, a cookbook based on Japanese "charaben" ("character bento"), a style of bento in which food is decorated to resemble animals, cartoon characters, and other such figures.[64] She took all the photos and drew illustrations for the book.[65] La Carmina's promotional tour included book signings in US cities[66][67] and an appearance on The Today Show.[68] The Guardian named Cute Yummy Time as one of the oddest book titles of the year,[69] and the Washington Post recommended it in Gift Guide.[70] Sarah DiGregorio of The Village Voice's "Fork in the Road" food blog wrote of Cute Yummy Time that "this kind of cute food (or kawaii food) seems less about eating and more about, well, looking cute and feminine while cutting food into elaborate shapes and not eating".[71]

Mark Batty Publisher released Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo in 2009, a hardcover book with full color photos.[72][73] In a review, The Vancouver Sun wrote, "Think of it less as a guidebook and more as a ghost train ride where whimsical, madcap and absurd images of some 30 theme restaurants materialize at every turn [...] Her tales flow effortlessly, with erudite explanations of what she sees in Tokyo's many subcultures [...] Brace yourself for a kitsch fix."[74][7]

Released on October 25, 2022, she has written The Little Book of Satanism, published by Ulysses Press and Simon & Schuster. [75][76] It is said to "[examine] the history and culture of Satanism, including “lurid conspiracy theories about serial killers and ritual abuse", and showing "why many Satanists today stand up for free inquiry and personal liberty,” according to the publisher. The book contains a foreword written by Lucien Greaves, co-founder of The Satanic Temple.[77][78] [79] According to Fodor's, "With the open-minded curiosity of any good traveler, La Carmina explores the history, culture, and practices of greatly misunderstood modern-day Satanists [...] the little volume packs a mighty punch, examining Satan’s mighty and often affirmative influence throughout the ages and across the world."[80]

La Carmina with her Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow

Personal life

Part of La Carmina's branding includes incorporating her Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow, into her promotion and media appearances.[81]

Works

  • Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo (2009) ISBN 0-9820754-1-3
  • Cute Yummy Time (2009) ISBN 0-399-53532-2
  • The Little Book of Satanism (2022) ISBN 1646044223

References

  1. ↑ "Trending". www.qantas.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Zimmern, Andrew. "Tokyo: It's All About the Food « Bizarre Foods". Bizarre-blog.travelchannel.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  3. ↑ "La Carmina: An Interview with a Canadian Travel Blogger". Canadian Traveller. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Pacifist's Guide to Satanism". Columbia Magazine. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bookshelf | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Walker, Andrea (January 7, 2009). "The Book Bench: Dept. of Unusual Things". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 http://www.where.ca/british-columbia/vancouver/globetrotting-with-la-carmina/
  8. ↑ "Meet the Fashion Bloggers: La Carmina | MyStyle Giglio EN". Giglio.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Where in the World is la Carmina? | Mochi Magazine". Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ "La Carmina". Mookychick.co.uk. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Our Gothic Lolita Is La Carmina: A Famous Harajuku Girl". Tokyotopia.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  12. 1 2 "La Carmina: My blog led to a TV presenter job - List for Life". Archived from the original on November 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ Katayama, Lisa (December 14, 2009). "Why it's time to lighten up about "weird" Japan – Boing Boing". Boingboing.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Fall '09 Japanese Goth Trend: Good Mourning – Trends – Fashion". WWD.com. May 6, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  15. ↑ "The Best White Sneakers". The New York Times. August 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ "La Carmina". CNNGo.com. August 31, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Interview with LaCarmina - MyFatPocket - Because You're Smart & Beautiful. From Top to Toe. | MyFatPocket - Because You're". July 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Anime Evolution » Guest Announcement: La Carmina". Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  19. ↑ "INTERVIEW: La Carmina, TV host, blogger, author and journalist". July 21, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Travel Writers: La Carmina". Rolfpotts.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  21. 1 2 "AArisings – Alternative Fashion Blogger La Carmina A-Profiled". Archived from the original on September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Salem's Satanic Temple Has a Satanic Chef. And We Talked to Him".
  23. ↑ "La Carmina".
  24. ↑ "Niseko Accommodation". Niseko Central. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  25. 1 2 "La Carmina Interview". A World to Travel. May 29, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  26. ↑ "2019-2020 List of Winners". Archived from the original on October 25, 2020.
  27. ↑ "BetterBNC".
  28. ↑ vogue.it (November 15, 2010). "Firenze4Ever Chapter III". Vogue.it. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Luxury Shopping Worldwide Shipping". Luisaviaroma. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  30. ↑ modaonline.it (2011). "Luisa Via Roma. Torna lo Style Lab di Firenze4Ever". modaonline.it. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  31. ↑ "LUISAVIAROMA - LUXURY SHOPPING WORLDWIDE SHIPPING". Archived from the original on January 8, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Blogger Inspiration: La Carmina". collegefashion.net. August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011./
  33. ↑ www.girafficthemes.com, Giraffic Themes. "Back in the Day: A Special Collaboration with La Carmina". THE FASHION POET. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  34. ↑ "IFB - Independent Fashion Bloggers".
  35. ↑ "La Carmina » Social Media Week". Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  36. ↑ "404 | Prsa". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  37. ↑ "Frequency".
  38. ↑ "PechaKucha 20x20 - La Carmina's Underworld Trips and Offbeat Travels". PechaKucha 20x20. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  39. ↑ Meikee, Magnetic (February 16, 2021). "La Carmina". Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Theme: Unravel". Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Unusual Travel Jobs: Travel blogger and TV host | Travel Jobs". Archived from the original on February 16, 2017.
  42. ↑ "The Best of Alternative and Subculture of 2016". February 11, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  43. 1 2 Magazine, Auxiliary (March 18, 2017). "La Carmina winner of Best Blog of 2016". Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Professional Blogger Spotlight: La Carmina | Independent Fashion Bloggers". Heartifb.com. November 30, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  45. ↑ "CNNGo TV: Tokyo part 2". CNNGo.com. June 15, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  46. ↑ "ANTOINE DE CAUNES, FRENCH TV HOST OF EUROTRASH & CANAL PLUS DOCUMENTARY. ODAIBA DINNER BOAT CRUISE & KARAOKE, TOKYO BAY. | LA CARMINA. Gothic Lolita Punk † Cute Girls Japanese fashion † Tokyo Japan street style † Visual Kei Jrock bands". Lacarmina.com. June 18, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Deathrayweekly.Com". Deathrayweekly.Com. July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  48. 1 2 "Host & blogger La Carmina | Asiance Magazine". Archived from the original on October 19, 2011.
  49. ↑ "A travel blogger interview with @lacarmina". September 2, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  50. ↑ Carmina, La (March 5, 2012). "WATCH: Mazatlan's Day Of The Dead". Huffington Post.
  51. ↑ "The Fabulous La Carmina: Adventurer, Alt. Style Queen, Coolhunter & Philanthropist – conversations with bianca". Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  52. ↑ "La Carmina's Super Cute Birthday @ Mr. Black LA – Los Angeles – Slideshows". Laweekly.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  53. ↑ Anderson, Chris C. (August 21, 2011). "Coolhunting Weird Wisconsin Ep 1: Bondage Beds at the Don Q Inn". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Interview with La Carmina". the Whiskey Dregs. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  55. ↑ "What It's Like Inside Tokyo's Bizarre-Themed Cafes". ABC News. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  56. ↑ "I'm La Carmina, And This Is My Dharma". Sivana East. December 13, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Professional Blogger Spotlight: La Carmina | Independent Fashion Bloggers". Heartifb.com. November 30, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  58. ↑ Anna María López López (2011). Coolhunting digital, a la caza de las últimas tendencias. Spain: ANAYA Multimedia. pp. 29–32. ISBN 978-84-415-2934-2.
  59. ↑ Milner, Rebecca (September 29, 2012). "Bagel head trend is a big distortion". Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via Japan Times Online.
  60. ↑ "Bagel Head Trend: Japanese Claim Western Media 'Distorts' and 'Glorifies' a Nonexistent Fashion Fad". MStarsNews. September 29, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Ke Alaka'i – BYU-Hawaii Student News Lab – "Bagel Heads" become Japanese beauty trend". Kealakai.byuh.edu. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  62. ↑ "Blogger Inspiration: La Carmina – College Fashion". Collegefashion.net. August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  63. ↑ Furniss, Tracey. "Goth Queen". South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  64. ↑ "Metro – It's as cute as a button mushroom". Archived from the original on October 24, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  65. ↑ Penguin Blog (USA) – Penguin Group (USA) (February 22, 1999). "Cute Yummy Time, La Carmina | Penguin Blog (USA) – Penguin Group (USA)". Us.penguingroup.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  66. ↑ "Cute Yummy Time: Go ahead, play with your food - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. November 27, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  67. ↑ "Photos from La Carmina's L.A. Book Signings at Giant Robot & Kinokuniya!". Mark Batty Publisher. December 3, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  68. ↑ "La Carmina". CNNGo.com. August 31, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  69. ↑ Alison Flood (February 5, 2010). "Bondage for Beginners vies with Origin of Faeces as contenders line up for oddest title prize | Books | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  70. ↑ "Holiday Guide 2009: Gifts – Cookbooks for 2009". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  71. ↑ Sarah DiGregorio (September 18, 2011). "The Cute Food Movement: Cute Yummy Time". blogs.villagefoice.com/forkintheroad/. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  72. ↑ "Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants Tokyo". Weirdnews.about.com. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  73. ↑ "La Carmina Tours Astonishing Japanese Eateries in "Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo"". Mark Batty Publisher. August 13, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  74. ↑ Hyslop, Lucy (August 1, 2009). "Tour the bizarre eateries of Tokyo with La Carmina". Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  75. ↑ Carmina, La (October 25, 2022). The Little Book of Satanism. Ulysses Press. ISBN 978-1646044221.
  76. ↑ "Religion Book Deals: February 9, 2022". Publishers Weekly. February 9, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  77. ↑ "The Little Book of Satanism | Book by La Carmina | Official Publisher Page". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  78. ↑ "Book Deal Announcement: "The Little Book of Satanism" by La Carmina! Ulysses / Simon & Schuster, Oct 2022, Lucien Greaves foreword". La Carmina. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  79. ↑ "La Carmina - Blogger, Author, Journalist and TV Host - Dave's Travel Corner".
  80. ↑ "Fodor's Holiday Gift Guide 2022: The Best Travel Gifts for Everyone on Your List". December 8, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  81. ↑ "Cute Yummy Time: Go ahead, play with your food". November 27, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2019.

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