The Drag and LGBTQ+ World Mourns: Jiggly Caliente Dies at 44
The drag world is heartbroken today. Jiggly Caliente, the beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race star, actress, singer, and activist, has passed away at just 44 years old. Known offstage as Bianca Castro, Jiggly’s sudden death comes only days after her family revealed she had suffered a severe infection that led to the amputation of her right leg. Now, this procedure ends with Caliente’s passing.
Her passing, confirmed by her family through a statement on Instagram, has left fans, fellow queens, and the LGBTQ+ community in deep mourning. The vibrancy, humor, and authenticity she brought to everything she touched are being celebrated. This comes even as the shock of her loss ripples around the world. Fans are now uniting to honor her memory.
A Battle Few Knew Was Happening
Just three days before her death, Jiggly’s family revealed that she had been hospitalized for a “severe infection” that had required the amputation of most of her right leg. They described the ordeal as serious but had expressed cautious optimism about her recovery. However, they noted that her road back would be “extensive.”
Tragically, she passed away peacefully early in the morning on April 27, 2025. She was surrounded by loved ones. Though the family did not release an official cause of death, multiple outlets link her passing to complications from the infection and subsequent surgery. As a result, that’s the leading assumption.
“Though her physical presence is gone, the joy she shared and the space she helped create for so many will remain forever,” her family said in their emotional statement. Meanwhile, fans are expressing shock and sympathies. All morning, tributes have come in.
A Star Who Shined Bright and Broke Barriers
Jiggly Caliente was never just a reality TV star — she was a force of nature.
Born Bianca Castro in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines, she moved to Queens, New York, as a child. She first caught national attention competing on Season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2012. There, her humor, infectious energy, and vulnerability made her an instant fan favorite.
Later, she returned for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 6 in 2021, proving her staying power. But her impact went far beyond the Werk Room.
In 2022, she joined the judging panel for Drag Race Philippines, becoming a crucial figure in celebrating and uplifting Filipino drag culture. She brought legitimacy, love, and a fierce critical eye to the show. Thus, serving on the panel until her health forced her to step away.
As an actress, she brought raw heart to her role as Veronica Ferocity on FX’s Pose, a series that centered the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ people of color in 1980s ballroom culture. She made appearances in Broad City, Search Party, and even Saturday Night Live.
In 2018, she launched a music career with the release of “F Boi” and the album T.H.O.T. Process, collaborating with other Drag Race stars.
And in 2016, Jiggly came out as a transgender woman, becoming a trailblazer for greater trans visibility and representation within and beyond the drag community
Tributes Pour In
The announcement of her passing sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
Drag Race royalty and allies quickly flooded social media with tributes:
- Laganja Estranja called her “such a kind, caring soul.”
- Courtney Act simply wrote, “Love you, Jiggles.”
- Pangina Heals said, “A real friend. Thank you for everything.”
- Lea Salonga, Broadway legend and fellow Filipino icon, praised her for “breaking barriers and being unapologetically herself.”
Fans across X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram called her an “icon,” a “trailblazer,” and a “light in dark spaces.” Many cited her appearances on Pose and Drag Race Philippines as life-changing moments where they saw themselves represented with beauty and strength.
One fan summed it up best: “Jiggly Caliente showed us you could be soft, strong, loud, proud, messy, and magical — all at once.”
The Community She Built
Jiggly’s influence went beyond performance. She was an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, trans visibility, and racial justice.
She appeared at a 2024 Capitol Hill press conference. There, she was standing alongside fellow activists to demand protections for LGBTQ+ youth and trans rights. She often spoke about the importance of creating safe spaces — not just in clubs and on TV, but everywhere.
Her presence on Translation, the first all-trans-hosted talk show on a major network, further cemented her place as a pioneer.
A Life Full of Love, Courage, and Authenticity
Jiggly’s story was one of resilience.
She grew up navigating the challenges of being an immigrant, a trans woman of color, and an artist in a world often hostile to all three. She brought those lived experiences to her work — blending humor with heartache, glamour with grit.
Her drag was colorful and campy, but her message was serious: You deserve to be seen. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to shine.
The Loss We Feel
It’s almost unimaginable that someone so full of life could be gone so suddenly.
While the details of her infection and passing remain private, the emotional truth is clear: the world lost a singular, irreplaceable voice.
The spaces Jiggly carved out — for trans women, for Filipino performers, for young queens watching at home — remain. Her loss is a devastating reminder that even our brightest lights are fragile.
As the Drag Race community often says: Legends never die. Jiggly Caliente’s name, her laugh, her fierce spirit — all of it — will live on.
Final Thoughts
Today, the world is a little less bright. But in celebrating Jiggly Caliente’s life, we honor the love, the courage, and the art she gave us.
She was a drag queen, an actress, a singer, a trailblazer, a sister, a friend.
Most of all, she was — and forever will be — a star.
Her humor, compassion, and willingness to be vulnerable made her not just admired but beloved. Even in the face of personal challenges, she stood tall for her community, embodying hope and resilience.
As we remember Jiggly Caliente, we also recommit ourselves to the values she lived by: kindness, courage, visibility, and joy. She may be gone, but the world she helped build — brighter, braver, and more beautiful — is here to stay.
Rest in power, Jiggly. You will be missed, but you will never be forgotten.
