Profiling the Life and Mysterious Death of Transgender Entertainer Alana Kela

 


Alana Kela was an American transgender model, performer, and pageant competitor known for her Tahitian dance style. Born on November 9th (1954 or 1955) in Honolulu, Hawaii, with roots in Kauai, Alana moved to the U.S. mainland in the 1980’s. She was a regular performer at The Baton in Chicago, Illinois, a model for Starra (Chicago-based clothing boutique), and Miss Gay Polynesia 1977. In addition to modeling and performing, Alana also made a few television appearances on talk shows during the 1980’s such as: Donahue, Geraldo, and Sally Jesse Raphael. One year before Kela’s murder, she appeared on an episode of Jenny Jones; discussing her life as a transgender woman, dealings with plastic surgery, and her work as an escort for high-profile clients (rumored to be the likes of Eddie Murphy). She did however disclose that her clients names would remain private and that she frequently turned down offers to tabloids for a tell-all interview regarding the names of actors and musicians that she escorted for.

Sometime in 1993 (reports vary) Alana was found dead on the second floor landing of her Manhattan apartment building. She died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest and torso. Fully clothed and clad in expensive jewelry (which was later allegedly stolen from her by a morgue worker), Alana was found clutching blood-soaked unpaid bills to a press agency up against her chest. Could she have been in talks to do a tell-all book about her celebrity escort encounters after all? And somebody wanted to keep her quiet? Kela also was found with two sets of keys in her hand that did not belong to her. One being to a storage locker and the other to another apartment. Who did the keys belong to? Another unanswered question in this unsolved mystery. Alana was cremated with her ashes being spread in the Wailua River in Kauai by her family in Hawaii. A devout Christian, Alana is remembered by peers as a “very spiritual” woman who gave great advice, was very sophisticated and educated with her speech, and a brilliant entertainer.

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