Carissa Liana Phelps (born September 12, 1976)[1] is an American author, attorney, and advocate for sexually exploited runaway children and homeless youth.
She is known as the subject of the award-winning documentary, Carissa, directed by David Sauvage and produced by Davis Guggenheim, Chad Troutwine, and Jamie McCourt.
Having been involved in various petty crimes and probation violations, as well as grand theft auto,[2] she was incarcerated at the CK Wakefield Home for Boys during a pilot program to voluntarily integrate girls into the facility by the California Youth Authority.
Teaching herself mathematics and working to overcome numerous rapes, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse and addictions, she eventually graduated with an MBA and a J.D.
After her mother remarried, the blended family began celebrating birthdays, Christmas, and Easter together, as was customary in the life of Phelps' new stepfather and step-siblings.
While their father had plans to remarry and looked forward to starting a new family, his girlfriend turned down his proposal, which caused him to spiral into drinking and depression.
The summer following eighth grade, Phelps began wearing makeup and dressing in the style that was popular for young girls of Mexican descent.
The style, known as chola, included wearing thick black eyeliner, bright red lipstick, large hooped earrings, and lots of hairspray.
Phelps' story caught the attention of Davis Guggenheim, the Academy Award-winning director of An Inconvenient Truth; and Jamie McCourt, former owner and president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, both of whom served as executive producers of Carissa.