"Drag Race Stars Honor Jiggly Caliente: 'Her Legacy Will Live On'"

 

The drag community is mourning the loss of Jiggly Caliente, the RuPaul's Drag Race star who was instrumental in promoting Asian representation on the show.

Jiggly, born Bianca Castro-Arabejo, was a Filipina-American trans woman who passed away on Saturday at the age of 44, following complications from a severe infection that led to the amputation of her right leg just two days earlier.

Caliente was a judge on the Philippines spin-off of RuPaul’s Drag Race and also appeared in the popular TV series Pose. The official RuPaul’s Drag Race account on X (formerly Twitter) paid tribute, stating, "Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay - always."

Born in 1980 in the Philippines, Jiggly moved with her family to the Queens neighborhood of New York City as a child. She quickly became a fan favorite on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2012, known for her humor and memorable moments with fellow queens.

Beyond Drag Race, Jiggly appeared on TV sitcoms like Broad City and Search Party and played the role of Veronica in Pose. In 2021, she returned to Drag Race for the All Stars season, showing off a more polished and confident look, which she proudly celebrated with the caption, “Did someone order a GLOW UP?” in an Instagram post that included hashtags honoring her Filipino pride.

Fellow Filipina-American Drag Race star Manila Luzon shared her grief, saying, "Rest in peace, little sis. Your mug is still flawless." Luzon, who was a runner-up in season 3, expressed her heartbreak at losing her best friend of 25 years.

Season 3 winner Raja also shared a tribute on Instagram, expressing her sorrow with, "I trust I will have words soon. I'm at a loss."

Drag Race judge Michelle Visage reflected on her bond with Jiggly, saying, "My jiggles... The laughter was endless, our talks were special, your energy was contagious. You were and remain so very loved."

Jinkx Monsoon, winner of both Season 5 and the All-Winners All Stars season, remembered Jiggly's vibrant spirit: "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."

Jiggly shared that her name was inspired by Jigglypuff, a lovable, pink Pokémon character, while "Caliente," meaning "hot" in Spanish, perfectly captured her fiery personality.

On Drag Race Philippines, she was introduced as "RuGirl from Laguna," a nod to her hometown, an industrial province south of Manila.

Marina Summers, a breakout star of the franchise, expressed her sorrow, saying, "Ate Bianca, Jiggly, I hope you know that you are loved." Fellow judge Jervi Wrightson, aka Kaladkaren, added, "I just lost my favourite seatmate. Drag Race Philippines will never be the same without you."

Jiggly’s passing comes just as Drag Race Philippines prepares to air its first All Stars season, Slaysian Royale, which will showcase Filipina queens alongside Asian queens from international editions of the show.