Meet the Philippines’ first transgender TV presenter

AWARD-WINNING actress, television producer, and comedian KaladKaren continues to blaze the trail for the Filipino LGBTQ+ community as she becomes the first transgender TV presenter in the country. On June 12, she started her new assignment as entertainment news anchor on TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas.

“Mas inklusibo na po ang pagbabalita. Sa wakas, may transgender news anchor na sa Philippine news! (Delivering the news is now more inclusive. At last, there is a transgender news anchor in Philippine news),” KaladKaren, born Jervi Li, said in her June 9 tweet.

On her first segment, “K-alaman,” she thanked her fellow anchors and said it was a meaningful day. “Araw ng Kasarinlan talaga ang launching ko (My launching was on Independence Day),” she said. June is also celebrated as Pride month.

KaladKaren completed her degree in broadcast communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating magna cum laude.

She rose to fame impersonating broadcast journalist Karen Davila. She is a well-known TV personality, having hosted shows such as Umagang Kay Ganda and I Can See Your Voice, and sitting on the panel of judges for Drag Race Philippines. She was also the producer of Amazing Race Philippines and other shows on TV5.

She earlier made history when she was named best supporting actress at the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival, the first transgender woman to receive the award. She had also guested as “Star Patroller” for ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.