Tributes pour for Drag Race star after shock death

Drag’s biggest stars have paid tribute to Jiggly Caliente, the RuPaul’s Drag Race star who helped champion Asian representation on the reality television show.

The Filipina-American transwoman, whose real name is Bianca Castro-Arabejo, died early Saturday after suffering from a “severe infection” that caused the amputation of her right leg two days prior. She was 44.

Caliente had served as a judge on the show’s Philippines spin-off, and also appeared in the hit US TV series Pose.

“Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay – always,” the official RuPaul’s Drag Race account said on X.

Born in the Philippines in 1980, Caliente moved to the Queens neighbourhood of New York City with her family when she was a child.

She quickly became a fan favourite on RuPaul’s Drag Race for her sense of humour and memorable interactions with other queens, when she appeared on the show in 2012.

She also appeared on TV sitcoms like Broad City and Search Party, and played the role of Veronica in the TV drama Pose.

In 2021, she returned for the show’s All Stars season looking more polished and confident. “Did someone order a GLOW UP?” she said in an Instagram post at that time, with Tagalog hashtags declaring her Philippine pride.

Fellow Filipina-American Drag Race Star Manila Luzon said she was heartbroken to have lost her best friend of 25 years.

“Rest in peace, little sis. Your mug is still flawless,” said Luzon, who was a runner up on the US series’ third season.

Season 3 winner Raja, who is Indonesian, also posted a picture of Caliente on Instagram, saying she was at a loss for words.

“I trust I will have words soon. I’m at a loss.”

Drag Race judge Michelle Visage said: “My jiggles…. The laughter was endless, our talks were special, your energy was contagious. You were and remain so very loved.”

“Jiggly was so much person in one little body. She lived her life exactly how she wanted to— never taking a moment of it for granted,” said Jinkx Monsoon, who won Season 5 and the all-winners All Stars season.

Caliente had said that she got her name form Jigglypuff, a pink and cuddly Pokemon character. Caliente means hot in Spanish.

On Drag Race Philippines, Caliente is billed as “RuGirl from Laguna,” in a nod to her roots in Laguna, an industrial province south of Manila.

“Ate Bianca, Jiggly, I hope you know that you are loved,” said the franchise’s breakout star, Marina Summers, using a term of endearmeant in Tagalog.

“I just lost my favourite seatmate. Drag Race Philippines will never be the same without you,” said fellow Drag Race Philippines judge Jervi Wrightson, also known as Kaladkaren.

Caliente’s death comes as Drag Race Philippines is set to air its first All Stars season dubbed Slaysian Royale. It will pit Filipina queens from the last three seasons against Asian queens from the shows many international editions.