Honing his signature flair for transforming lives with style and humor, Kressley hosted the make-over show Carson-Nation on OWN Network, in which he travels to small towns throughout the U.S., making viewers’ lives better one person at a time. As a fashion and beauty industry expert, Kressley teaches women of all shapes and sizes to go from self-loathing to self-loving without resorting to interventions like extreme dieting or cosmetic surgery. “It’s easy to change your outfit and easy to change your hairstyle. What’s really hard—and what makes for an amazing transformation—is changing how you feel about yourself,” says Kressley.
At the podium, Kressley’s impact as a fashion guru transcends style tips and fashion trends. His signature “wit with a heart” approach inspires audiences to embrace their individuality and look inward without fear. With a deep understanding of self-image issues and an empathetic approach to building confidence, Kressley’s enlightening perspective resonates with men and women alike. His charming wit and positive outlook offers insight into how to become a better person, from the inside out.
Kressley burst on the scene as one of the stars of the hit Emmy award winning series Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, where his sharp wit and undeniable sense of style resonated with audiences internationally. Also a renowned fashion designer, Kressley launched a collection of men’s and women’s wear exclusive to the QVC network, Perfect by Carson Kressley. As a fashion industry veteran, Kressley is known for his modern and sophisticated approach to fashion: “classics with a twist.”
His New York Times best-seller Off the Cuff is an essential style guide for men and for the women who love them, and his illustrated children’s book You’re Different and That’s Super builds confidence at an early age. Kressley has been a judge on The CW’s Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, a reality series about mothers and daughters competing together in beauty pageants, and his film credits include The Perfect Man and The Year without a Santa Claus. He also has starred in Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked and Co-Hosted OWN’s Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star.
In 2011 he was a contestant on the 13th season of ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. A clear fan favorite, Kressley was invited back for multiple guest appearances even after he was voted off.
Kressley is an avid philanthropist, championing a wide array of charities and nonprofit organizations from gay rights activism to mental health causes. He is an active voice on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club, the 2004 AIDS Walk in New York City, The Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation (GLAAD), Heritage of Pride, Inc., The Trevor Project and Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Kressley hosted the 2008 True Colors Tour to raise public awareness about the issues that face the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “I shared the stage with people I’ve idolized like Cyndi Lauper and the B-52s—it was a perfect blend of celebration and activism.”
Kressley is also an active member of the Lay Advisory Board for the NYU Medical Center’s Mental Illness Prevention Center. As a strong advocate of medical interests and mental health causes, he has worked with Katie Couric’s annual fund raiser for The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health and donated his time as a style expert for the Dream Foundation, enhancing the quality of life for those battling terminal illnesses by granting dreams and wishes. Kressley was a major donor in establishing the first college scholarship program for gay youth in his hometown of Allentown, Penn.
Kressley began his career as an independent stylist which led to a long tenure with Polo Ralph Lauren. Kressley worked on the design team of the men’s sportswear division, then moved to the corporate advertising group. He has worked extensively styling catalogs, editorial and film shoots for Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s. Kressley graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Gettysburg College with degrees in Finance and Fine Art. He is also an avid nationally ranked equestrian and a former member of the U.S. World Cup Equestrian Team. He resides in New York City.
