All people want for Christmas is this Mariah Carey lookalike.
The holiday season has become a boon for Suellen Carey, who spends the month of December performing as the pop superstar.
Carey, who has the same last name as the “Fantasy” singer, was first told she looks like Mariah when she began her gender transition over a decade ago at 23 years old.
Now, the Brazilian-born diva said her bookings have soared nearly 150% over the holiday season thanks to her striking resemblance to the famed singer.
“People have always said that I look like Mariah but I never imagined that I could make a career from that resemblance,” joked the 35-year-old. “It’s been over 12 years since I started my transition. A lot of people said that I looked like Mariah Carey.”
While the London resident now spends her days performing at shows or doing “many VIP appearances,” Carey said she was initially fearful of people calling out similarities because she felt like people were calling her a “diva” with a negative connotation.
“At first I thought people were even bullying me because Mariah is a diva but then I realized that was not the case,” she said.
Carey said she really only started cashing in on her talents in 2019 after she was invited to perform at a lookalike party.
Carey, who transitioned around the age of 23, was told that she shared several similarities with the famed singer. Kennedy News/Suellen CareyNow, the lookalike says that during the holiday season, she does “four to five events a week until Christmas” and manages to pocket nearly $18,000 by Dec. 25.
“Christmas is definitely the time I work the most due to Mariah’s Christmas music and of course my appearance,” said Carey.
“Everyone knows Mariah — she’s really become the owner of Christmas. Everyone sings or at least knows ‘All I Want For Christmas.'”
“People have always said that I look like Mariah but I never imagined that I could make a career from that resemblance,” joked the 35-year-old. Kennedy News/Press Office COThe road to becoming the Queen of Christmas’ doppelgänger was not a cheap one, though. According to the Brazilian model, she underwent several surgeries that cost a whopping $10,000.
“I did the breasts twice, I also had rhinoplasty, liposuction and a brachioplasty — I removed excess skin to give a more youthful and athletic contour to my arms,” recalled the model.
“I changed my implants twice,” she said. “The first time because I didn’t have any breasts I put [in] 450ml and after a few years I wanted bigger so I have 750ml [implants] today.”
Carey recalled one hilarious moment when a security guard was convinced that she was actually the “Hero” singer.Kennedy News/Press Office CO
“At one of her shows, the venue’s security guards protected me when I arrived as if I were her until I explained. It was very confusing,” recalled Carey.Kennedy News/Press Office CO“After I had the rhinoplasty and face fillers I think I looked a lot like her. If I do makeup and hair like her, I look very similar to her,” she added.
Along the way, she’s had some funny reactions to the uncanny resemblance. Carey recalled one hilarious moment when a security guard was convinced that she was actually the “Hero” singer when she was attending a Mariah performance.
“At one of her shows, the venue’s security guards protected me when I arrived as if I were her until I explained. It was very confusing,” recalled Carey. “They thought I was her because I [looked] identical to her on the day.”
“They thought I was her because I [looked] identical to her on the day.”Kennedy News/Press Office COBut Carey said that she’s often stopped in the street by those who think she’s the “Always Be My Baby” singer — and has a witty response.
“People are very surprised by how I look. Many scream, ‘My god it’s Mariah Carey, are you twins?'” she said.
“I usually joke and answer ‘yes’ but I don’t have all those dollars in the account.”
