Who Was Jiggly Caliente? RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Passes Away at 44

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On April 27th, it was confirmed that RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Jiggly Caliente (whose real name was Bianca Castro-Arebejo), passed away at the age of 44. Known for her lively spirit and dedicated advocacy efforts, Jiggly left an indelible mark on the drag and LGBTQ+ community.

42 am, Bianca left this world peacefully, with her family and friends by her side.

The family lauded her as a radiant figure in both the entertainment industry and advocacy, admiring her contagious enthusiasm, sharp humor, and unwavering sincerity. They noted, “Her influence is marked by love, bravery, and illumination. Even though her physical self is absent, the happiness she bestowed and the room she opened up for many will endure eternally.

Recently, it came to light that Bianca Castro, commonly known as the cherished drag artist Jiggly Caliente, has been grappling with significant health problems. This is what her family shared in a statement.

Sadly, due to a serious infection, Jiggly needed to be hospitalized and underwent an amputation of most of her right leg. Her family mentioned that her recovery process will be extensive, preventing her from participating in the upcoming season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines, as well as other public events.

I’ve been asked to maintain some privacy as I focus on my healing. In this time, I warmly invite all my friends, admirers, and supporters to share words of encouragement and love on my social media platforms.

Initially, Jiggly Caliente became well-known in 2011 when she competed in Season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, eventually placing eighth overall. Since then, she has repeatedly returned to the series, with a notable appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Season 6 in 2021, as reported by The Sun.

Outside of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jiggly has left her mark in the acting and television world. For instance, she starred in the season finale of Broad City back in 2015, and was among the 30 drag queens who performed alongside Miley Cyrus during the 2015 VMAs. More recently, Jiggly has taken on a role as a judge for Drag Race Philippines, which made its debut in August 2022.

2016 saw Jiggly Caliente making a public announcement about identifying as transgender, which made her a significant figure in both the transgender and drag communities. Later on, she shared co-hosting duties on Translation, the first talk show of its kind on a main network, featuring an all-trans cast. Throughout her career, Jiggly garnered widespread acclaim for her honesty, courage, and the affection she displayed towards her followers.

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2025-04-27 16:07