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Biography: Rupe, Carmen Tione

Performing the hula, 1953

Performing the hula, 1953

Carmen Rupe performing a hula at a party in Dunedin. On the back of the photo Carmen refers to herself as ‘Gay Trevor Rupe’. Hula paved the way for her later performances in drag.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PA1-q-1051-034-102

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

How to cite this page

Lynette Townsend. 'Rupe, Carmen Tione', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2020. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47030/performing-the-hula-1953 (accessed 20 June 2026).