Tragic Details About 17 RuPaul's Drag Race Queens

The following article includes mention of addiction issues and suicide.

Hundreds of queens have sashayed onto the international runways of "RuPaul's Drag Race," and many of them have shared their innermost secrets and stories. A number of these stories have detailed dark, and often tragic, memories that have ultimately shaped their paths through life. Whether its over a cocktail in the Werk Room or on the main stage in front of the judges' panels, queens have shown their vulnerability in spades when it comes to digging deeper into their psyche and what makes them unique.

"You have to let those moments live, you have to let them breathe," explained Kenneth Leslie — the executive producer of the "RPDR" behind-the-scenes after show, "Untucked" — to TheWrap. "That's what to me 'Untucked' is about. It's about hearing these human beings and how their lives have gotten them to where they are now."

There have been hundreds of stories of overcoming addictions, reuniting or removing themselves from loved ones, and in some sad instances, experiencing death in their families. Some queens have also tragically lost their lives themselves. But overall, these instances help solidify not only the importance of "RuPaul's Drag Race," but also the personalities that have built its reputation into that of a heartfelt powerhouse. "There's still a limited amount of LGBTQ+ programming," "Untucked" executive producer Tom Campbell told TheWrap. "A bunch of queens sitting around talking about life is a bit of a miracle."

"RuPaul's Drag Race" has become a safe space for both stars and fans to reveal their innermost truths with the world and with themselves. The first example of this came in Season 1 when contestant — and later "All Stars" Season 5 competitor — Ongina revealed her status with HIV. After winning a challenge based on advocating for people with HIV/AIDS, Ongina broke down in tears. "I've been always so afraid to say it ... I've been living with HIV for the last two years of my life," she cried during the episode (via Variety).

With her emotional statement, Ongina became the first queen to disclose her HIV positive status on the show, creating a safe space for future contestants to share their statuses. "It changed my life drastically because it was a weight lifted off my shoulders to be able to finally say it out loud and own it for myself," Ongina shared with TheBody in 2017. "It also became an inspiration for others to live out loud about being HIV positive. I'm happy to have helped people come to terms, like I did, with their status."

Other queens have opened up about their status on the show, including Season 6 and "All Stars" Season 5 contestant Trinity K. Bonet, as well as "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" Season 3's Charity Kase. Both are activists for the HIV positive community worldwide. "We need to see a wide variety of positive people living happy, healthy lives and thriving, [including] straight people and women," Kase shared on Instagram.

Atlanta drag performer Tamisha Iman had a storied reputation before appearing on Season 13 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" ("I raise the bar as an entertainer," she once told The Houston Chronicle). During her time on the show, the pageant queen revealed a cancer diagnosis prevented her initial sashay onto the small screen, as she was originally cast on the previous season.

"I could kick and split, but the radiation was so harsh on my muscles that a split was no longer possible," Iman explained to Entertainment Weekly. "I had an open portion of my body that I had no control over on my stomach ... I was always cautious about that. It wasn't the dancing ability; it was making sure I didn't have an accident or injure myself."

When she eventually starred in Season 13, Iman's health still wasn't completely up to her full ability, which was speculated to be part of the reason that the talented queen was the third eliminated of the season. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream. "When you're presented with a life-and-death situation — because the cancer situation got to a point where it was so bad that I almost lost my life — and you get a moment in your life where your whole existence will be recognized, it's not about validation, but you don't want it to be in vain," she shared with Entertainment Weekly. "You want the world to see what you put into this craft."

Season 2 standout Sahara Davenport — whose given name was Antoine Ashley — tragically died due to heart failure in October 2012. "Shocked & heartbroken," host RuPaul posted to X at the time. "Never occurred to me that we'd ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal." 

Davenport's then-partner, Season 3 and "All Stars" Seasons 1 and 4 competitor Manila Luzon, also released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter regarding Davenport's untimely departure at the age of 27. "To me, he will always be my best friend, my hero, my Diva, and I have always considered myself more than lucky to have him be forever a part of my life. Thank you, hon, for bringing so much beauty to all of us. Your legacy lives on in me and all of us you've touched."

Davenport impressed the judges on "RuPaul's Drag Race" before being eliminated in the sixth week, but she continued to make waves before her death by releasing singles, like "Go Off." The song charted at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot Dance Clubs list in May 2012. "She was just an amazing performer," Luzon shared with ET in 2019. "She was super funny, really quick on the mic and it was always fun for me to watch her perform even before 'Drag Race' ... I was so proud of her and when she passed it was really hard because as a drag queen you think you're invincible."

Despite the abundance of love that "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens receive both on and off the runway, some contestants have been candid about the lack of acceptance they had received from their families. On Season 8, finalist Kim Chi shared with host RuPaul that his mother did not know about his drag career at the time. Chi eventually shared that his mother did learn of his true career thanks to her tracking down where his funds came from. 

"After the show aired, I knew my mom was struggling financially, so I sent her some money," Chi told the "Feeling Asian" podcast in 2022. "And then she calls me, and the first thing she asks is, 'How much money do you make doing this?' And then I told her, and she was like 'Keep living your dream. I fully support you.'"

Other contestants — like Season 15 runner-up Anetra — have also experienced tough situations with their more traditionally-minded families. The queen opened up during a Season 15 episode that her mother had discovered her drag clothes in the closet and first assured Anetra that she should be safe in her own skin. One week later, her mother decided to kick her out of the house, leaving Anetra estranged from her mother and siblings for years. However, the queen did reveal one positive from the situation was reuniting with her biological father.

Season 10 contestant Dusty Ray Bottoms and Season 11 and "All Stars" Season 5 queen Scarlet Envy have each revealed their experiences with conversion therapy in their youth. Bottoms — whose given name is Dustin Rayburn — was featured in the documentary "Conversion," which covered several survivors' stories. "I didn't even know that [what I went through] was called conversion therapy to begin with," Bottoms shared with Out. "It wasn't until I shared my story on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' that I started getting 'me too' messages ... That was literally the first time that I had another person saying, 'I did that. I see you. I understand what you've gone through.' And it was such a huge full-circle moment for me."

Envy has also shared details about her two-year experience with conversion therapy while growing up in Kentucky. "I have a complicated relationship with Kentucky and that's part of the reason why," she said at a "RPDR" viewing party. "It was a problem I thought I had because of the way that I was raised in ... So I had to escape."

Both Bottoms and Envy have actively spoken out their histories with conversion therapy, as well as about recognition and abolishment of the practice. "People are fearful of what they do not understand," Envy shared in a dual interview with The Trevor Project alongside Bottoms. "This lack of empathy is at the core of conversion therapy. Fear will never stop tormenting the closed minded."

Beloved "RuPaul's Drag Race" queen Katya is known for her wacky antics, but beneath her drag character lied a person with an addiction to crystal meth that plagued her on and off for years. Katya has shared that they have experienced a few relapses before, but in 2018, she put herself on a "drag hiatus" that particularly worried fans. 

"Hi, my name is not Katya. I am Brian, a recovering drug addict and workaholic," they shared in a since-deleted social media post (via PopCulture). "I need to take some personal time for my mental health to heal and recover. I love you all, and love is more powerful than money." Katya returned to the limelight two months later and eventually resumed her activities, including her one-woman show, "Help Me, I'm Dying," and rejoining her partner-in-crime Trixie Mattel in their online series together.

The performer has shared some details about the relapse since getting help. Katya revealed that the hiatus was actually a voluntary trip to a rehabilitation center in Arizona, which was triggered by a "total psychotic break from reality" she experienced. "I could not tell what was real and what was not real," they shared with co-host Craig MacNeil on their podcast, "Whimsically Volatile." "I thought it was just a drug problem ... This was rock bottom ... You have the bottom of the barrel, I was the sludge underneath the barrel."

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, or is struggling or in crisis, contact the relevant resources below:

• Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.