Remembering the incredible Drag Race queens who passed too soon
As the year ends and the holiday season approaches, in comes a time we typically reminisce about family, friends and loved ones.
Since the drag competition show's premiere in 2009, the fandom has experienced the loss of several lovable queens who made such an impact, not only on the show but also on the art of drag as a whole.
Through the short time we were able to experience them through our tv screens and other media, they undoubtedly inspired us to live bold and authentically.
Get to know the queens who's light continues to shine bright, even after their final curtain call.
Sahara Davenport (US Season 2)
Sahara Davenport passed away from heart failure at the age of 27 on October 1, 2012. Davenport was a talented drag artist, singer, and trained dancer. She was the first queen to win a mini challenge, a maxi challenge, and be appointed team captain in the same episode.
Davenport and fellow Drag Race queen Manila Luzon had been in a long-term relationship at the time of his death. Luzon put out a statement reading, “To me, he will always be my best friend, my hero, my Diva, and I have always considered myself more than lucky to have him be forever a part of my life.”
Chi Chi DeVayne (US Season 8, AS 3)
At just 34 years old, Chi Chi DeVayne, a fan fave on the US iterations of Drag Race, died after being hospitalized for suspected kidney failure. At the time, Chi Chi opened up about her recent health struggles and life living with scleroderma, a serious autoimmune disease.
"I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul," RuPaul said in a statement to EW. "She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all."
Cherry Valentine (UK Season 2)
Fans were in shock to hear that UK queen Cherry Valentine was found deceased in her London flat by her friend and roommate in an apparent suicide.
Cherry worked as a nurse and helped counsel those going through mental health challenges. An inquest into Cherry's death on September 18, 2022, suggested she struggled to cope with her newfound fame after appearing on Drag Race UK.
Bandit (Thailand Season 2)
Drag queen and designer Bandit, from Drag Race Thailand season two, died at age 38. The news of her passing on December 26, 2023, hit the Thai drag community hard when program co-host Pangina Heals revealed her death.
No specific details about Bandit’s death have been publicly revealed.
The Vivienne (UK Season 1, AS 7)
Powerhouse queen and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season one, The Vivienne passed away on January 5, 2025. An autopsy report found the 32-year-old passed from cardio-respiratory arrest after using ketamine.
The Liverpool queen was open about her addiction experience while competing on the show.
The UK drag community felt her loss deeply, and the news made headlines across the Drag Race franchise.
Jiggly Caliente (US Season 4, AS 6)
On April 27, 2025, it was announced that US queen Jiggly Caliente died following a hospitalization for a severe infection and leg amputation. Despite this, fans remained hopeful she would recover.
The 44-year-old queen was an integral part of the Drag Race tapestry, appearing as a contestant and judge on various show spin-offs.
Maxi Shield (Down Under Season 1)
Sydney-based queen Maxi Shield passed away on February 21, 2026. She was 51 years old and, just six months before her death, announced a throat cancer diagnosis. She closely documented her cancer fight and treatment via Instagram for her followers.
To honor her legacy, Drag Race Down Under vs The World dedicated their first and last episodes to her.
Misua (Philippines Season 4)
The Drag Race franchise suffered another recent loss this year with the passing of Misua on April 2, 2026. It was even more devastating to learn that the queen died in her sleep while filming Season 4 of Drag Race Philippines. She was just 27 years old.
The queens of Season 4 paid a special tribute to the queen on the main stage with a gorgeous yellow dragon incorporated into the night’s performance.