Born in Taumarunui , Rupe had twelve siblings. After doing drag performances while doing compulsory military training and periods working as a nurse and waiter, Rupe moved to Sydney's Kings Cross in the late s.
A whole range of work followed, including snake-work, hula dancing and prostitution. Carmen never formally worked at Les Girls but over the years did some guest spots. She described how local police treated her: "I was locked up in Long Bay about a dozen times.
But it made me a stronger person today. In , Rupe was arrested while waiting for a taxi after a night out, charged by the police for 'frequenting with felonious intent' because she was wearing women's clothing.
Despite misgendering Rupe, the case was a landmark one for the trans community, as Judge McCarthy ruled that he was "unable to find anything in our law which says that it is unlawful for a male to attire himself in female clothing.
In an autobiography was published, outlining her escapades "from school boy to successful business woman". Despite the law criminalising homosexual acts, Carmen challenged the overt discrimination and prejudice against people in the gay and transgender communities. In she ran for the Wellington mayoralty , with the support of local businessman Sir Bob Jones , with the slogans get in behind and Carmen for mayor [ 14 ] and a platform of gay marriage and legalised brothels, though neither of these are local-government matters in New Zealand.
