KaladKaren

In this Philippine name  for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is n/a, the birth surname or paternal family name is Lisaba, and the marital name is Wrightson.

Not to be confused with Karen Davila.

KaladKaren
Kaladkaren in 2025
Born	Jervi Ryan Lisaba (1992-08-09) August 9, 1992 (age 33) [1] Manila, Philippines [ citation needed ]
Other names	Jervi Li KaladKaren Davila Jervi Wrightson
Education	University of the Philippines Diliman (BA)
Occupations	Actor News Anchor TV Host
Years active	2011–present
Agent	Star Magic (2023–present) [2]
Known for	First transgender news presenter in the Philippines
Spouse	Luke Wrightson ​ (m. 2024)​
Website	KaladKaren on Instagram

Jervi Wrightson ^[3] (born Jervi Ryan Lisaba; ^[4] August 9, 1992), also known as Jervi Li ^{[5] [6]} and better known by her stage name KaladKaren, is a Filipino award-winning actress, TV host, writer, endorser, impersonator, LGBT rights advocate, television personality and radio host most known for her queer representation in the mainstream media of the Philippines. She is a trailblazer in the Philippine LGBTQIA+ community; becoming the first transgender woman news anchor in the country and the first transgender woman to win 'Best Supporting Actress' at the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. ^[7]

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. ^[8]

Career

In 2012, Wrightson (credited as Jervi Li) and Saida Diola formed Team Amigas on the series The Amazing Race Philippines 1 on TV5. The team placed 5th after being eliminated in Boracay.^{[ citation needed ]}

TV host and personality career

In 2016, Wrightson impersonated Karen Davila in the Philippine presidential election, as part of a political satire event led by UP Diliman. ^[9] She would be known as KaladKaren due to her portrayal, a humorous pun combining "Karen" and Tagalog kaladkarin (meaning "someone who gets persuaded easily into joining activities", literally "[something] dragged along"). ^[10]

She co-hosted the morning talk show of ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda and presented 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 . ^[11]

In June 2023, she joined Frontline Pilipinas on TV5 as a presenter for the Showbiz and Trivia segment, using the screen name "KaladKaren". ^[3]

Acting career

In 2011, Wrightson (credited as Jervi Li) appeared in the GMA's comedy horror anthology Spooky Nights: Bampirella along with stars Marian Rivera, Mikael Daez, and Gelli de Belen.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2023, Wrightson would act in Here Comes the Groom which premiered at the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. ^[12] 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. ^[13] She won the best supporting actress award in the festival, becoming the first trans woman to win the said award and second to win in an actress category award in the Philippine film industry after Iyah Mina in 2018. ^[14]

After her marriage in September 2024, Wrightson changed her screen name from Kaladkaren to her real name, Jervi Wrightson, during an announcement on Frontline Pilipinas. ^{[15] [3]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

Personal life

Wrightson is an advocate of LGBT rights. ^{[16] [17]} She got engaged to boyfriend Luke Wrightson in 2020. ^[18] On September 8, 2024, the two got married in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. ^[19]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role
2011	Spooky Nights: Bampriella	Megan Pak
2012	The Amazing Race Philippines 1	Herself
2017	Pasada Sais Trenta	Herself / Guest
2017–2019	Gandang Gabi, Vice!	Guest
2018–2020	Umagang Kay Ganda	Co-host
2019	Banana Sundae	Herself
2019–2021	I Can See Your Voice	Herself / SINGvestigator
2022	It's Showtime	Jury
2022–present	Drag Race Philippines	Herself / Judge
	BalitaOneNan	KaladKaren Dadilat
2023	Headstart with Karen Davila	Herself / Guest
	TV Patrol	Herself / Guest Segment Anchor "Star Patrol"
	Family Feud	Herself/Guest
	Drag You & Me	Gerardo Pallan / Miranda Kalaw-Forbes
	Fit Check	Barbie
	Fractured	Herself
	E.A.T.	Herself / Segment Co-Host
2023–present	Frontline Pilipinas	Herself / Segment Anchor "Showbiz Eto Na Nga" and "K-alaman" (as Jervi Wrightson)
2024	It's Showtime	Herself / Guest Performer
2025	Rainbow Rumble	Herself / Contestant
2025	Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale†	Judge

Radio

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

Film

Year	Title	Role
2017	Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad	KaladKaren Davila (reporter)
2018	The Girl in the Orange Dress	Ogie
2019	The Mall, the Merrier!	Reporter
2023	Here Comes the Groom	Wilhelmina
2025	Flower Girl	Trans Fairy

Other credits

• Eat Bulaga (GMA, 2009–2012) - Writer ^{[a] [20]}
• The Amazing Race Philippines 2 (TV5, 2014) - Writer ^[a]

Awards and nominations

Year	Work	Award	Category	Result	Source
2023	Here Comes the Groom	1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Supporting Actress	Won	[14]

Notes

1. Credited as Jervi Lisaba.

References

1. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/8/13/here-s-what-jervi-kaladkaren-wrightson-prayed-for-on-her-birthday-1547
2. "KaladKaren inks contract with ABS-CBN's Star Magic". ABS-CBN News. June 26, 2023. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
3. Adina, Armin P. (October 1, 2024). "Kaladkaren no more? Anchor debuts married name in post-wedding news duty". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
4. Vice Ganda (host), KaledKaren; Cipriano, Kean; Kiray, Wacky; Bayani Agbayani (guests). SING-vestigators reveal their real names. Gandang Gabi, Vice! (TV broadcast) (in Filipino). ABS-CBN. Event occurs at 2:05–2:10. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023– via YouTube. Vice: Anong real name mo? / KaladKaren: Jervi Ryan / Vice: Taray! Last name mo Ryan? / KaladKaren: Hindi... Lisaba [Vice: What is your real name? KaladKaren: Jervi Ryan / Vice: Sassy! So your Last name is Ryan? / KaladKaren: No... Lisaba]
5. "'My new family': KaladKaren is now part of Star Magic". ABS-CBN News. May 24, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
6. "KaladKaren signs with Star Magic, to go beyond impersonation". Philstar.com. June 29, 2023. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
7. Inocencio, Syrah Vivien (April 11, 2023). "KaladKaren first trans woman to win MMFF best supporting actress". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
8. "Kaladkaren turns emotional while showing Karen Davila her new home". ABS-CBN . May 15, 2022 [May 14, 2022]. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
9. "KaladKaren shares before and after weight loss photos". Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
10. Manipon, Roel Hoang (July 25, 2022). "KaladKaren is 'Drag Race Philippines' Judge". Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
11. "Judge KaladKaren completes the 'Drag Race Philippines' trinity". Preen.ph. July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
12. Pasajol, Anne (April 12, 2023). "KaladKaren makes history as first transwoman to win MMFF best supporting actress award". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
13. "Enchong Dee on gender-swapping role in 'Here Comes The Groom': "Ang hirap maging babae!"" [Enchong Dee on gender-swapping role in 'Here Comes The Groom': "It's hard to be a woman!"]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
14. "Kaladkaren, ikalawang trans woman na nanalo ng acting award sa Pilipinas" [Kaladkaren, second trans woman to win acting award in the Pilipinas]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
15. Sarmiento, Kate (October 4, 2024). "KaladKaren Proudly Introduces Jervi Wrightson To The World". Cosmopolitan Philippines. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
16. Cruz, Dana (August 27, 2022). "KaladKaren to fiance on their 10th anniversary: 'You're indeed the love of my life'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
17. Cruz, Dana (November 9, 2022). "KaladKaren on 'heterosexual rights' bill: 'It's not a pie, they aren't oppressed'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
18. Bernardino, Stephanie (September 10, 2020). "#LoveWins: Kaladkaren announces engagement to British boyfriend". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
19. "In Photos: Kaladkaren's wedding with fiancé Luke Wrightson". ABS-CBN News. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
20. Anarcon, James Patrick (October 28, 2017). "Will KaladKaren sign an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN?". PEP.ph. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.