Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Remembering Drag Race Stars: Triumphs, Tragedies, and Enduring Legacies
The captivating world of RuPaul’s Drag Race, filled with dynamic and gifted drag artists, has witnessed considerable suffering and health concerns over the years. These queens have faced both incredible triumphs and devastating setbacks, further bonding the community.
When a member of the Drag Race family faces a crisis or passes away, the global community of queens consistently demonstrates remarkable compassion, honoring their peers. This unity underscores the strong bonds forged within the franchise.
Queens can always rely on the fervent support of the franchise’s dedicated fanbase during difficult times. A recent example is the outpouring of affection for Drag Race season 4 contestant and Drag Race Philippines judge, Jiggly Caliente, following the surgical amputation of part of her right leg due to a critical infection. Sadly, Caliente, whose real name was Bianca Castro, passed away from complications in April 2025 at the age of 44.
Below is a tribute to how the Drag Race family and its followers have united in times of hardship:
Remembering Queens Gone Too Soon
Jiggly Caliente
In April 2025, Caliente’s representatives publicly shared the devastating news that she had experienced “the loss of most of her right leg” as a result of a “serious infection.”
The statement revealed that Caliente would need to temporarily step down from her role as a judge on Drag Race Philippines and abstain from any “public engagements” throughout her “lengthy” rehabilitation.
The announcement further expressed: “At this time, we kindly request privacy for Bianca and her family as they navigate this challenging period. While Jiggly focuses on recovering, we encourage friends, fans, and the community to shower her with messages of hope and support on her social media platforms.”
The announcement concluded, “Bianca’s family and drag house are deeply appreciative of the ongoing outpouring of kindness, strength, and prayers.”
Later that month, Caliente’s family shared the heartbreaking news of her passing on Instagram.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Bianca Castro-Arabejo, known to the world and cherished by many as Jiggly Caliente,” the statement conveyed. “Bianca passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at 4:42 am, surrounded by her loving family and close friends.”
“Though her physical presence is gone, the joy she shared and the space she helped create for so many will remain forever,” the statement continued. “She will be deeply missed, always loved, and eternally remembered.”
The Vivienne
Drag Race UK season 1 champion, known as James Lee Williams, tragically passed away at the age of 32 in January 2025 due to cardiac arrest triggered by ketamine use.
The Vivienne openly discussed her struggles with addiction during her time on Drag Race UK. She also dedicated herself to providing support to the Armistead Centre’s rehabilitation program in Liverpool.
Following her devastating passing, The Vivienne’s relatives pledged to collaborate with Adferiad, a substance abuse charity, on a campaign aimed at encouraging more open dialogues about addiction.
“Ketamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.K.,” the Williams family stated. “If we can help raise awareness of the dangers of this drug and help people who may be dealing with ketamine addiction then something positive will come from this complete tragedy.”
RuPaul offered a public tribute to The Vivienne, sharing on Instagram, “With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race community in mourning the demise of The Vivienne — an incredibly gifted queen and a wonderful human being.”
Drag Race panelist Michelle Visage characterized The Vivienne’s passing as “heartbreaking” in her personal announcement.
“I don’t know how to say how I feel,” she posted on Instagram. “My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many.”
Drag Race production company World of Wonder is set to release a documentary about The Vivienne — titled Dear Viv — in 2025. The film will feature testimonials from The Vivienne’s closest contemporaries and admirers impacted by her career.
Morphine Love Dion and Kaos
In July 2024, Drag Race season 16’s Dion, whose real name is Michelle Orozco, and Canada’s Drag Race season 3 participant Kaos, also known as Jesilo Bernard, were injured in a car accident that resulted in one fatality in Los Angeles on the 10 freeway.
Dion and Kaos were riding in an Uber when their transport was involved in a multi-vehicle pileup, which resulted in six individuals being hospitalized, tragically including a passenger’s death.
“Morphine was in a serious car accident while in an Uber,” Dion’s social media wrote via Instagram at the time. “She suffered multiple injuries but is grateful to be alive. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Some space and time is appreciated as she focuses on healing.”
Kaos also provided an update following the dangerous collision, posting via Instagram, “Just so everyone knows I am OK just been on bed rest.”
The queens were visiting Los Angeles to participate in the annual DragCon fan convention. Fortunately, both have healed from their wounds and are now back to performing.
Chi Chi DeVayne
DeVayne, known as Zavion Michael Davenport in season 8 and All Stars 3, will be rememberd as one of the most adored queens in Drag Race history. Widely recognized as the “Dancing Diva of Texas,” DeVayne constantly wowed audiences with her outstanding choreography and amazing lip sync performances.
DeVayne revealed in 2018 that she had received a diagnosis of Scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder that can impair the functionality of the skin, muscles, and blood vessels. The physical demands of DeVayne’s sickness gradually decreased her capacity to dance at the peak.
The Drag Race community mourned DeVayne when she died at the age of 34 in 2020 following pneumonia while receiving treatment for renal failure.
“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne,” RuPaul told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all. On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy — from our family to hers.”
Drag Race season 10 winner Aquaria praised DeVayne as “a symbol of kindness.” Trixie Mattel remembered her as “an iconic queen literally everyone in our industry will always love.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race dedicated its season 13 finale to DeVayne in April 2021.
Bandit
The Drag Race Thailand participant, known as Bandit Janthawan, placed fifth in season two, with her legacy strengthened when she designed some of host Pangina Heals’ outfits.
Beyond her time on TV, Bandit launched a unique fashion collection in 2011 and gave design lectures at many universities.
Heals, whose real name is Pan Pan Narkprasert, confirmed to Entertainment Weekly in December 2023 that Bandit had passed away at the age of 38, but further details about her death were not shared.
“We’re all completely lost because Bandit has been a light.,” Heals said. “He has taught me. I would not be the same person I am today without Bandit teaching me about fashion.”
Heals went on, “He’s been such a visionary, such a giver. He’s always telling other people, ‘You can do this’ or, ‘Do that to be better,’ in terms of making sure other people have their fashion game on. He was such a funny person, such charisma, such magnetism, and without him, all of us don’t know what to do.”
Cynthia Lee Fontaine
One of Drag Race’s most inspiring comeback testimonials was Fontaine’s, also known as Carlos Díaz Hernández, participation in season 9 subsequent to her cancer prognosis.
Fontaine initially participated in Drag Race season 8 and was chosen Miss Congeniality by her fellow participants. She discovered she had stage 1 liver cancer two weeks after filming finished and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy before entering remission.
Drag Race welcomed Fontaine, nicknamed “Cucu,” back to participate in season 9, where she came in tenth. She confided in Hey Qween in 2017 about how much she loved the chance to share her cancer experience with Drag Race fans.
“How happy I am to be in recovery and healthier than ever,” she told host Jonny McGovern. “[I’m] still entertaining and sharing my ‘Cucu’ everywhere.”
Fontaine will have another opportunity for recognition in 2025 as part of the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Tournament of All Stars.
Sahara Davenport
Davenport (Antoine Ashley) garnered memorable recognition in Drag Race season 2 for his grace and vast training in classical dance. She was a member of the well-known Davenport drag family, with relatives Kennedy Davenport and Honey Davenport following in her footsteps to participate in later seasons of Drag Race.
The artist and performer sadly died at the age of 27 due to congestive heart failure in October 2012, only two years after her season of Drag Race broadcast. Sahara was survived by her partner and fellow Drag Race star Manila Luzon, who was quoted as saying at the time that she was “cherishing [Sahara’s] memories and carrying out his legacy.”
“I was lucky enough to have time with him,” Luzon (Karl Philip Michael Westerberg) shared in 2012.
“Shocked and heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport,” RuPaul wrote on X at the time. “Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of our girls. I see them as immortal.”
Cherry Valentine
Valentine (George Ward) came in 12th place on Drag Race UK season 2, with his greatest legacy extending beyond the competition. She established history as the first queen of Romani origin to show up on any Drag Race program.
She later presented the 2022 BBC documentary Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, where she explored her background as being part of the English Traveller group. Valentine was a qualified mental health nurse away from the spotlight and spoke publicly about the significance of self-care.
Her loved ones delivered the heartbreaking news in September 2022 that Valentine had passed away at the age of 28. As reported by BBC News, a coroner determined that she had committed suicide.
“It is with the most heart wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically passed away,” Valentine’s family said in a statement. “This will come as a profound shock to most people [and] we understand there is no easy way for this to be announced.”
A statement from Drag Race UK read, “We are heartbroken that Cherry has passed away. She was a kind soul who brought joy and a distinctive laugh to everyone she met. She brought flair, verve and charm to #DragRaceUK, we will miss her so deeply.”
“At a loss for words. One of those souls so pure, so raw, so real,” Valentine’s season two costar Bimini shared on X. “I’m incredibly lucky to have known George and witnessed their infectious spirit. Their patience and kindness was their superpower. They saw you for you and not many people have that empathetic trait. My heart.”
Another Drag Race UK season 2 participant, Tia Kofi, honored her friend by donning an outfit inspired by Valentine’s iconic “Meet the Queens” style on RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World in 2024.
“I just thought it was really important that when I got the call to be here, I wanted to do something for [Cherry],” Kofi (Lawrence John Bolton) clarified in the Werk Room.
Resources for Support
- If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
- If you or someone you know struggles with compound abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).