Wellington Museum has launched a new exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Carmen Rupe, a pioneering transgender figure and influential drag queen, marking what would have been her 90th birthday. The exhibit, titled *Arohanui, Carmen xx*, offers the public a rare glimpse into the celebrated entertainer and activist’s personal and professional world through a collection of never-before-seen items.

Carmen Rupe was a prominent figure in Wellington’s cultural landscape and the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement. Known as the city’s first celebrity drag queen, Rupe also made her mark as a business and brothel owner, and even ran for mayor at one point. Her impact continues to resonate in the city, symbolized, for example, by the green drag queen figure installed on Cuba Street as a pedestrian crossing signal.

Curated over the course of a year by Wellington Museum’s Dr. Jamie Metzger, the exhibition draws viewers into Rupe’s story using her own words and artifacts. The display includes annotated portraits, personal writings, and memorabilia from Rupe’s estate, the museum’s own archives, and loans from Te Papa. Visitors can engage with a recreation of Rupe’s coffee house, where an interactive installation allows them to pick up a vintage telephone and hear her voice.

The exhibit’s design carefully reflects elements of Rupe’s personality and history. Visitors enter through an area adorned with jungle leaves, evoking Rupe’s childhood in Taumarunui and her imaginative play as a young girl. The interiors feature a distinctive shade of red on the walls and a musical playlist that mirror Rupe’s vibrant energy.

An advisory group that included family and close associates of Rupe contributed to the exhibition’s development, ensuring an authentic and sensitive presentation. Curators aimed to honor Rupe’s multifaceted identity and legacy, incorporating her handwritten notes on display panels and artworks.

*Arohanui, Carmen xx* officially opened on October 4 and will remain on show through February 18. The exhibition offers a comprehensive tribute to a figure who shaped Wellington’s social fabric and advanced transgender visibility and rights in New Zealand.