Actress, Emmy-nominated television personality and independent filmmaker Ricki Lake will be crowned “Queen of the Carnaval” at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval set for Saturday, October 31, 2009 between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. The Coronation of the Queen of the Carnaval will begin at 8:30 p.m. on the “Arcade Stage” located at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard. The honorary title of “Queen of the Carnaval” is a highlight at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, with the coronation taking place in front of more than 250,000 anticipated revelers this year.

Ricki Lake is an entertainer who has successfully reinvented herself at every stage of her career, always connecting with her audience through her talent and endearing spirit. Ricki made her acting debut as the heroine of the original John Waters film “Hairspray.” Later, with a surprise turn as a talk show host, she met with unprecedented success, garnering several honors and accolades both nationally and internationally including a Daytime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Talk Show Host” and Sweden’s Aftonbladet TV Prize for “Best Foreign TV Personality” as well as earning a place as a pop culture icon whose voice has remained relevant and relatable for nearly two decades.

Ricki’s latest role – that of an independent filmmaker, family advocate and author has kept her uniquely charming perspective firmly in the public’s consciousness. In 2008, Ricki executive produced the critically acclaimed documentary “The Business of Being Born.” The film, which debuted at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, examined natural childbirth in the United States and studied the high rate of medical interventions in low-risk pregnancies. Since the film’s theatrical and DVD releases, the project has generated a grassroots movement, encouraging many parents-to-be to become informed about their birthing options - including homebirths and hospital births. In May 2009, Lake and the director of “The Business of Being Born,” Abby Epstein, released their first book “Your Best Birth.” The guide is an invaluable tool for expecting parents, designed to educate families about their birthing options.

For more information about the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, call Liz Tran at 323-848-6307 or visit the website at www.weho.org/halloween