[1][2] Known as Miguel de Mairena until 1993, Carmen came out as a trans woman in 1978, which led to a decline in her artistic career and her working as a prostitute for years.

[3][4] In the 1990s, she gained national popularity for her comedic television appearances alongside presenter Javier Cárdenas, who has linked her to the self-described "freaky" world.

[3] She began presenting as a woman and received liquid silicone injections (done clandestinely) in her face, chest and hips, and she appeared in cross-dressing shows under the name Carmen de Mairena, in which she impersonated Sara Montiel and Marujita Díaz.

[3][9] During the 1990s, she met then-interviewer Javier Cárdenas and she started a television career with him on shows such as Al ataque and Crónicas marcianas.

[10] In November 2006 and October 2008, she was detained in two macro-operations in El Raval against procuring networks that forced Romanian women to practice prostitution.