Early Life and Background: Dwen Curry was born on March 3, 1968 in Detroit, Michigan. She is the eldest of four siblings and was raised by her mother and grandparents. Growing up in a rough Detroit neighborhood, Curry felt different early on and identified as gay, earning the nickname “GG” (short for “Original Gay Gangster”) as she defended herself on the streets. In her early 20s her mother sent her to live with her uncle in Oakland, California, where Curry sought to overcome substance abuse and find acceptance.
- Detroit roots: Oldest of four children; raised by mother/grandparents.
- Youth struggles: Faced violence and drugs; dealt with an identity crisis as a gay youth.
- Move to Oakland: Around age 21 (late 1980s), relocated to Oakland to start anew.
Career and Rise to Prominence
Curry built a career in fashion and entertainment. In Oakland she opened “Just an Illusion,” a popular beauty salon and hair studio. In the late 1990s she moved to Los Angeles to pursue larger opportunities, quickly becoming a celebrity wardrobe stylist. She worked with high-profile clients – for example, she became the personal stylist for actress LisaRaye McCoy and rapper Treach (of Naughty by Nature) at events like the Billboard Awards. Curry later founded her own styling and costume design company (“Xtreme Measures Incorporated”) and dressed many entertainers, including Eve, Tichina Arnold, Gabrielle Union, Patti LaBelle, Cher, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and others. Her success in fashion led to on-screen roles: in the 2000s she played “Blackberry” on the sitcom Girlfriends and “Romeo” on the series Noah’s Arc. These credits made her known as a celebrity wardrobe stylist, actor, and reality television personality.
- Salon entrepreneur: Owner of the Oakland salon Just an Illusion (1990s).
- Celebrity stylist: Worked on fashion for stars (LisaRaye, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, etc.).
- Television roles: Acted on Girlfriends (as “Blackberry”) and Noah’s Arc (costume designer and cast as “Romeo”).
- Reality TV: Featured as herself on BET+’s crime-documentary series American Gangster: Trap Queens (season 2).
- Biopic subject: Her life inspired the BET+ film Fighting To Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story, which premiered February 27, 2025.
Criminal Activities and Legal Issues
Alongside her fashion career, Curry led a hidden life of fraud. She became the mastermind of a crew nicknamed the “Gay Gangsters” and ran large-scale credit-card and identity theft schemes. According to media accounts, Curry and her crew “amassed an estimated $6 million in identity theft and wire fraud,” defrauding people out of money. In her own words from Trap Queens, “I was flossing with celebs while fleecing trust funds”. Law enforcement eventually caught up with Curry. In 2016 she was arrested on multiple felony charges of identity theft and grand theft, and prosecutors said she had stolen identities to siphon money from others’ bank and retirement accounts. Curry was convicted and served a multi-year prison sentence (approximately three to four years). She has since spoken publicly about this period – in interviews she stresses that the crimes brought personal loss and that she has turned her life around.
- Fraud scheme: Led a $6M identity-theft ring (“Gay Gangsters”).
- Arrest and conviction: Pled guilty to identity theft and fraud; in 2016 was sentenced to jail.
- Prison sentence: Served about 3–4 years behind bars (ending around 2019).
- Media coverage: Her story (including the scams and prison time) was featured on BET+’s American Gangster: Trap Queens and in press articles.
Personal Life and Identity
Curry is a transgender woman and an LGBTQ+ advocate. In interviews and her biopic she candidly discusses her gender identity journey – transitioning from living as a gay man to embracing life as a trans woman. (She came out publicly after her incarceration.) Aside from her advocacy work, little is known about her private life. Her mother (named Cynthia Curry in the biopic) is a figure in her story, but she has otherwise kept family details largely private. Height, dating life, and net worth have not been disclosed; such personal details are not publicly available.
Social Media and Public Presence
Curry maintains an active online presence. She posts frequently on Instagram (handle @dwentheoriginaldiva) where she promotes her projects and shares life updates. As of 2024 she had over 20,000 followers on Instagram, and she also appears in online interviews and podcasts (for example, a full-length VladTV interview in 2025) discussing her life story. However, aside from social media, there are no official websites or public corporate profiles linked to her name.
Public Interest
Interest in Curry’s life has surged due to media coverage of her story. Her experiences have been profiled in outlets like ESSENCE and GO Magazine, and her nickname “Original Gay Gangster” has been referenced in LGBTQ press interviews. Searches about Dwen Curry often relate to her TV appearances (especially American Gangster: Trap Queens), her upcoming biopic, her gender identity, and the circumstances of her fraud conviction. In general, readers look for factual background: her age (born 1968), career highlights, and details of her legal case. Because she is a somewhat recent public figure, many basic details (like net worth or relationships) remain undisclosed. Writers emphasize the facts that are confirmed – for example, Curry’s professional credits and the release of her biopic – while noting that other personal info is unknown or private.
FAQ
Below are answers to common questions about Dwen Curry, based on available sources.
- Q: Who is Dwen Curry? A: Dwen Curry is an American fashion stylist, wardrobe designer and reality TV figure. Born in Detroit in 1968, she rose to prominence as a celebrity stylist (working with stars like LisaRaye McCoy and Mariah Carey) and as an actress on shows like Girlfriends and Noah’s Arc. She later became known for her true-crime story (featured on BET+) and as the subject of the BET+ biopic Fighting To Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story.
- Q: Why is she famous? A: Curry first gained notice in entertainment as a celebrity wardrobe stylist and TV actress. She became more widely known through American Gangster: Trap Queens (BET+) where her past as a $6 million fraudster was documented. In 2025, a film about her life premiered on BET+, telling her story of identity, fashion, and crime.
- Q: Is Dwen Curry transgender? A: Yes. Dwen Curry is a transgender woman. She publicly embraced her trans identity after earlier living as a gay man. Media reports note that she was the first transgender person featured on American Gangster: Trap Queens, and she speaks openly about her transition.
- Q: What TV shows and movies has she appeared in? A: Curry’s acting credits include the TV sitcom Girlfriends (she played “Blackberry”) and the drama Noah’s Arc (she was costume designer and played “Romeo”). She also appeared as herself on BET+’s American Gangster: Trap Queens (Season 2). In film, she is portrayed (by actor Dyllón Burnside) in the BET+ biopic Fighting To Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story (2025).
- Q: What crimes was she involved in? A: Curry was involved in identity theft and credit-card fraud. She led a gang dubbed the “Gay Gangsters” that stole millions from bank and retirement accounts. She was arrested and convicted (in 2016) for identity theft/grand theft charges and served a several-year prison sentence.
- Q: When did the biopic come out? A: Fighting To Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story premiered on February 27, 2025, exclusively on BET+. (It is also available to stream for subscribers.)
- Q: How old is Dwen Curry? A: She was born in 1968. As of 2026 she is 57 years old.
- Q: Where can I find her online? A: Curry is active on Instagram under @dwentheoriginaldiva. She posts about her projects there and on other social media. (No official personal website is known.)
Conclusion
Dwen Curry’s life story is one of dramatic highs and lows – from styling celebrities to running afoul of the law, then finding new purpose. Today she continues to work in fashion and media and has become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Readers interested in her story can follow updates on BET+ news, LGBTQ media, and Curry’s own Instagram account. Her biopic and interviews offer insight into her experiences, and she remains active sharing her journey publicly.
Sources
This biography is based on published interviews and news releases (for example, Authority Magazine, Essence, GO Magazine, and BET+ press materials) that document Dwen Curry’s life and career. Wherever factual details are not confirmed in public sources, they are noted as unknown.