In a departure from her usual dating history, actress and model Carmen Electra has officially stepped out with her new partner, a regular person outside the celebrity sphere.
A Hollywood Romance Blossoms
The sighting occurred on Wednesday evening, when the Playboy cover girl was spotted sharing an intimate moment with tattoo artist Franco Vescovi. The pair were seen kissing by a car in Los Angeles, with Electra gazing into his eyes while holding his arm.
Vescovi, 50, works out of the renowned ink shop Hollywood Vatican Studios in Los Angeles. For their evening out, he opted for a casual look that doubled as promotion for his business, wearing a black T-shirt representing his studio. He completed his outfit with grey camouflage cargo slacks, black sneakers, and an assortment of silver necklaces and bracelets.
Electra, the 53-year-old brunette born Tara Leigh Patrick, proved her style icon status remains intact. She modelled a striking skintight black-and-gold chevron-print sequined dress, wearing her hair down. Her ensemble was accessorised with pointy black patent leather kinky boots and a furry black jacket.
A Departure From High-Profile Relationships
This new relationship marks a significant shift for the Baywatch actress, who has historically been linked to major stars. Her romantic past includes a connection with her mentor, the music icon Prince, who famously coined her stage name after they met in 1991.
Electra has also been married twice: first to flamboyant basketball player Dennis Rodman from 1998 until 1999, and later to musician Dave Navarro from 2003 until 2007.
Her new beau, Franco Vescovi, is an established figure in the tattoo world. He owns Hollywood Vatican in Los Angeles and has another store, Bishop Rotary Tattoo Supply, in Orange County, California. With over 20 years of experience, he is known for his black-and-gray tattoo work, a technique created by diluting black ink with distilled water to produce lighter shades.
Vescovi's clientele includes several celebrities, such as Travis Barker, Britney Spears, and Pink and her husband Cary Hart. On his website, he recounted his journey into the profession, stating, "I used to draw on people all the time with markers... ever since I saw those first tattoos in the San Gabriel area, I fell in love with the idea of making tattoos."
Reflecting on Baywatch Stardom
This new romantic chapter comes as Electra has recently been reflecting on her time as a global sex symbol on the hit show Baywatch. Last year, she revealed she was once advised to lose weight while playing lifeguard Lani McKenzie.
"I never had a weigh-in, but I was told sometimes that I was too heavy, and I've looked back now, and I don't think I was," she told Extra. "[Producers would] come up to you and just say, 'You need to lose some pounds.'"
She also detailed the physical demands of the role, explaining that the cast was "constantly" pushed to perform their own stunts. This involved a rigorous "rookie school" where they had to master everything from diving to long swims.
"I remember when we would have scenes running, sometimes I had these guys, obviously these strong guys, that are passing me up," she recalled to People. Directors would sometimes have to intervene, asking the male co-stars to "run a little bit slower" so her character could keep up.
Electra's career began with glamour modelling in 1996, including multiple appearances in Playboy magazine, before her breakthrough on Baywatch. She later starred in films like Scary Movie, Good Burger, and the remake of Starsky & Hutch.
