Drag performer Jiggly Caliente, known for RuPaul's Drag Race and Pose, dead at 44

The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 28, 2025 12:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

Bianca Castro-Arabejo, known for her enactment arsenic resistance performer Jiggly Caliente connected RuPaul's Drag Race, died Sunday astatine property 44, conscionable days aft her household reported that she'd been hospitalized with an infection.   

Castro-Arabejo, who became a justice connected Drag Race Philippines in 2022, had scrapped plans to look connected the upcoming play aft a caller hospitalization for a "severe infection" and a limb amputation surgery, her household said successful a connection connected her Instagram page.

She died aboriginal Sunday, her household said successful different statement, adding that she was surrounded by household and friends. 

"A luminous beingness successful the worlds of amusement and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit and unwavering authenticity," her household said Sunday.

"She touched countless lives done her artistry, activism, and the genuine transportation she fostered with fans astir the world."   

Castro-Arabejo archetypal deed the surface arsenic portion of the formed for the 4th play of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012. She rapidly became a instrumentality favourite for her vivacious property and memorable interactions with justice RuPaul, who developed a recurring catchphrase for whenever they spoke: "May I telephone you Jiggly?"

After placing eighth successful her archetypal run, she appeared connected the sixth play of RuPaul's Drag Race Allstars in 2021, wherever she placed 12th. 

"Her talent, truth and interaction volition ne'er beryllium forgotten, and her bequest volition proceed to slay — always," said a connection from RuPaul's Drag Race posted connected X. "We're holding her family, friends and fans adjacent successful our hearts during this hard time."   

Castro-Arabejo was besides known for her portrayal of the quality Veronica Ferocity connected FX's deed series Pose, appearing successful 12 episodes crossed its three-season run. She besides had appearances connected TV sitcoms similar Broad City and Search Party. 

Born successful the Philippines, Castro-Arabejo immigrated to New York. She started moving successful resistance astir 20 years ago, appearing successful competitions and pageants. She came retired arsenic a trans pistillate successful 2016. 

'Laughter was endless'

Fellow resistance performers and others who worked with Castro-Arabejo person been sharing photos and memories of her since the quality broke. 

Manila Luzon, different Filipina American resistance prima who came to prominence connected RuPaul's Drag Race, said connected societal media that Castro-Abejo had been her champion person for 25 years and that she was "heartbroken" to perceive of her passing.  

"I'm truly gunna miss each our agelong telephone calls, your endless barrage of hilarious Reels successful my DMs, your cooking, and particularly ALL YOUR SHADE!!!" she wrote. 

Drag Race justice Michelle Visage shared a photograph of her and Castro-Arabejo connected Instagram successful the aftermath of the news, writing:"My jiggles…. The laughter was endless, our talks were special, your vigor was contagious. You were and stay truthful precise loved. This satellite has mislaid an angel and we privation you to soar high…. I emotion you truthful overmuch honey."

Fellow Drag Race Philippines judge Jervi Wrightson, besides known arsenic Kaladkaren, besides posted a tribute to Castro-Abejo, who utilized to beryllium adjacent to her connected the panel. 

"I conscionable mislaid my favourite seatmate. Drag Race Philippines volition ne'er beryllium the aforesaid without you," Wrightson wrote. 

Across her career, Castro-Arabejo was vocal astir the power of her upbringing successful her enactment and its value for practice successful the industry.

In 2018, she released a hip-hop medium called T.H.O.T. Process, including a way wherever she raps successful Tagalog. 

During a 2023 occurrence of world amusement Bring Back My Girls, which reunites antithetic performers from the Drag Race franchise, Castro-Arabejo said her enactment arsenic a justice was important due to the fact that of her heritage.   

"When it comes to my culture, I unrecorded and respire that I americium Filipina," she said. "I americium a arrogant migrant woman." 

Castro-Arabejo shared that she was a trans pistillate successful 2016 connected a podcast, partially due to the fact that she said she received letters from fans who were struggling with their ain sex identities.

"I wanted to travel retired due to the fact that I was acceptable to travel out. I person been surviving arsenic a trans pistillate for truthful long, but I conscionable ne'er told the assemblage and the fans that," she said successful a 2018 Billboard interview.

"I was really transitioning portion I was connected the show, I conscionable ne'er talked astir it. I didn't privation it to beryllium my storyline, due to the fact that being a trans pistillate is not what defines me."