The star also competed in the third series of the All Stars version of the series. Rest in Power. Two-time "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant Chi Chi DeVayne has died at the age of 34, TheWrap has confirmed. Aug 21, 2020, 04:25 PM EDT. Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033. Chi Chi's lip sync to Dreamgirls' And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going is also considered iconic in Drag Race history. Fans of Chi Chi have since taken to social media to pay tribute. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Chi Chi was constantly discouraged from going public about her condition for fear it would limit bookings. She was 34 years old. Zavion Michael Davenport (September 24, 1985 August 20, 2020), better known by the stage name Chi Chi DeVayne, was an American drag queen and reality television personality who came to international attention on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Ill never forget our first hang at a terrible lobster bar off Bourbon Street. "Her laugh alone was enough to win my heart, but there was so much to her that won me over," she wrote on Twitter. As the disease progressed, all of the on-stage gymnastics Chi Chi was known for slowly began to slip through her fingers. RuPaul's Drag Race star, ne Zavion Davenport, died this week following a battle with pneumonia. People are battling anxiety and depression right now. View our online Press Pack. the reality star continued. Rest in Power. Such I caring, empathetic and beautiful soul. Another wrote: "The legacy that chi chi has left in our community is everlasting. Some types are relatively mild and may eventually improve on their own, while others can lead to severe and life-threatening problems. As I sat across the table, I remember how perplexed he was by my sparkly pink socks. RuPaul, the host of the eponymous reality show, remembered DeVayne in a statement provided to USA TODAY on Thursday. Chi Chi DeVayne, a beloved star of the hit VH1 reality series "RuPaul's Drag Race," has died. RuPaul has paid tribute to Chi Chi, saying that he was heartbroken to learn of her death. La drag queen estadounidense Chi Chi DeVayne, ms conocida por su participacin en el programa de televisin "RuPaul's Drag Race", falleci el jueves a los 34 aos de edad. Family members confirmed DeVaynes death on Instagram, but did not disclose the cause. Her drag mothers were Kourtni DeVayne and Lady Phat Kat. Ill be back soon.. With so many people sitting at home, some people have no jobs People are really struggling. Now Chi Chi filmed herself when she was back in a hospital bed battling pneumonia. pic.twitter.com/pOLjEN5pPJ. Drag queen Chi Chi DeVayne, best known for appearing on two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. "[12], DeVayne was interviewed on RuPaul's podcast RuPaul: What's the Tee? The Southern drag queen with an effervescent personality, one-of-a-kind fashions and impressive dance skills was a contestant on the eighth season of the show and the third season of the spin-off, RuPauls Drag Race All Stars.. Chi Chi DeVayne, a competitor on two seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race," has died at the age of 34. "I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul," he said in a statement, posted on the show's Twitter account. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Dialysis is a procedure to remove excess water and toxins in the blood from kidneys not performing normally. Chi Chi DeVayne death: How did the RuPauls Drag Race star die and what is scleroderma? "Im heartbroken to hear about the loss of our beloved Chi Chi De Vayne," "Drag Race" judge Ross Matthews wrote on Twitter Thursday. She was truly a legendary queen. (She was also constantly on watch to see who was stealing her mail it was almost compulsive!) "Our season is super deserving of that Emmy because it's for outstanding reality competition, right? "She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. She spoke openly about her struggles, becoming an advocate for Scleroderma awareness, and she vowed to switch up her drag, adapting to the limitations of her own body. Chi Chi lived with a rare condition called Scleroderma. "Keep me in your prayers," she said in a video message to her fans. Kyne reveals all, Chi Chi DeVayne dead: Fans have paid tribute to Chi Chi on social media. This causes scarring and thickening of the tissue in these areas. Earlier this year, DeVayne revealed she had been diagnosed withscleroderma in an interview onHey Qween. [7] On July 17 of that year, he was rushed to the hospital with hypertension and scleroderma-related kidney failure. Zavion (Chi Chi went by both names and flipped between she/her and he/him comfortably) looked boyishly conservative in a backwards hat and high tops, but it was his timid demeanour that surprised me most. "Well, knowing that she is so similar to me in so many qualities, it just means I'm doing the right thing. ", "In Memory of Chi Chi DeVayne and Her Everlasting Legacy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chi_Chi_DeVayne&oldid=1141950824, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 18:48. DeVayne's death, which was confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, comes after she was recently hospitalized . Read about our approach to external linking. [11][27] He died on August 20, 2020, at the age of 34. Drag Race: The most political, troubled season ever? American drag performer Chi Chi DeVayne, known offstage as Zavion Davenport, died Thursday at 34. Per Variety, season 12 of RuPauls Drag Race was the highest rated season in the shows history. [7], DeVayne competed on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which began airing on March 7, 2016. Chi Chi DeVayne is being remembered by her numerous fans. Julie Newmar, "Chi Chi DeVayne, Popular 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Contestant, Dies at 34", "Chi Chi DeVayne was wounded, but Drag Race helped her heal", "Sashay Away: Chi Chi DeVayne on Country Swag, Southern Drag, and Getting Paid", "You Have to See Chi Chi DeVayne Make the Case For Purple Makeup", "RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 queens and premiere date revealed", "Last Words: Chi Chi DeVayne Reflects On Her Time On 'RuPaul's Drag Race', "RuPaul's Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne dead aged 34", "Chi Chi DeVayne talks life-changing 'Drag Race' experience", "Chi Chi DeVayne launches holiday tour before RuPaul Drag Race All Stars", "Instagram Star Max Emerson's "Drag Babies" Set to Premiere", "Chi Chi DeVayne Dies: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum Zavion Davenport Was 34", "RuPaul and More React to the Death of 'Drag Race' Star Chi Chi DeVayne", "RuPaul's Drag Race royalty Chi Chi DeVayne has been rushed to hospital with suspected kidney failure", "Chi Chi DeVayne 'Overwhelmed' by 'Outpouring of Love' Since Being Hospitalised", "RuPaul's Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne readmitted to hospital following pneumonia diagnosis", "RuPaul's Drag Race stars pay heartfelt, tender tribute to the late, great Chi Chi DeVayne: 'Rest in perfection', "RuPaul's Drag Race Fans Moved To Tears By Beautiful Chi Chi DeVayne Tribute", "Queer as Folk creator on how late Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne inspired reboot", "Check Out Chi Chi DeVayne in the First Trailer for Apple TV+ Series 'Little America', "World of Wonder release The Realness video featuring the late Chi Chi DeVayne", "Ginger Minj serves 'Gummy Bear' realness in new video for her, "LA Revival of 'Women Behind Bars' Release Their First Cinematic Trailer! 480k Followers, 1,143 Following, 541 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Chi Chi DeVayne (@chichidevayneofficial) chichidevayneofficial. 2 min read. DeVayne is the second Drag Race contestant to have died since the shows 2009 inception. It's crazy. She finished in fourth place, but was invited to take part in the spin-off show RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired at the beginning of 2018. "It comes back to us both coming from humble beginnings, and it's hard to see her go, but I know she will live on forever.". U.S. deaths from COVID-19 so far, compared to top 10 U.S. causes of death in 2019. "She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. "She had a natural, God-given light within her & she shared it with all of us on Drag Race. While a number of Chi Chi's fellow Drag Race stars paid their respects at the time, the show included a special video tribute to the All Star contestant during the series 13 finale. Later in 2018 DeVayne was diagnosed with scleroderma, a condition that attacks the internal organs. Do you have a story to sell? As Chi Chi DeVayne, the performer rose to national prominence on Season 8 of RuPauls Drag Race in 2016, returning two years later for RuPauls Drag Race: All-Stars. Earlier this year, she appeared on the Apple TV+ series Little America., She spoke of her interest in branching out into a variety of artistic mediums in a 2016 interview with HuffPost, saying she ultimately wanted to be known as a damn good performer that came from nowhere and took the world by storm., I think people are becoming more receptive to the alternative styles of drag, she said. RuPaul paid tribute to Chi Chi, saying that he was "heartbroken" to learn of her death. She was 34 . Love you, Chi Chi. The talented drag star is thought to have passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Chi Chi DeVayne The RuPaul's Drag Race alum died at age 34 after battling pneumonia, scleroderma and other health problems. She posted on Instagram last week that she was in hospital for a chronic condition - the second time this year. Check out these locals who made it on reality tv shows. She had me in gymnastics, and I was in a dance company in my twenties. DeVayne was one of the most popular contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race TV show. [10] Out dubbed the performance one of the series' best lip syncs. She was 34. [33] Dunn stated that he set the series in New Orleans due to his longtime friendship with DeVayne. |. Rest in perfection. Zavion Davenport, best known as Chi Chi DeVayne, has died at age 34, Zavion's mother, Tina Davenport, told CNN. But also, that desperate desire for connection has made "Drag Race" an even brighter rhinestone in the dark. Following her time on the show, DeVayne embarked on a number of domestic and international tours, and she was featured on several web series about drag. Assault is the leading preventable cause of death, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and associated mental health problems. Yesterday, a source confirmed to Entertainment Weekly, the drag queen has sadly died, aged just 34. [22] In a memorial post, GLAAD called DeVayne "an incredible performer and such a bright light". DeVaynes road to stardom began in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. She was an easy person to like: someone who found pleasure in surprisingly down-to-earth things like gardening and her cat, Maddox, whom she would watch on her security cam when she was out of town. At the time, I was working in New Orleans, doing research for the Queer As Folk reboot, for which one of the lead roles was written specifically for Chi Chi. Chi Chi DeVayne dead :Chi Chi's cause of death is yet to be revealed, Chi Chi DeVayne dead: RuPaul's Drag Race star dies aged 34, Chi Chi DeVayne dead: Earlier this week Chi Chi post to her Instagram saying 'keep me in your prayers', Drag Race Canada recap: Who is Anastarzia Anaquway? Interactive tools, including maps, epidemic curves and other charts and graphics, with downloadable data, allow users to track and explore the latest trends . Scleroderma is caused by the immune system attacking the connective tissue under the skin and around internal organs and blood vessels. RuPaul (1/2), "On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPauls Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy - from our family to hers." She had been hospitalised in mid August 2020 amid complications from her scleroderma diagnosis. . In July, DeVayne was admitted to the hospital for a biopsy after suspected kidney failure. She finished in eighth place. Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox. She was diagnosied with scleroderma back in 2018. I love you Chi Chi. closed in 2021. The performer's family confirmed the death Thursday on Instagram but did not . DeVayne's first name, Chi Chi, was inspired by the character Chi-Chi Rodriguez from To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!Julie Newmar, and the surname DeVayne came from the DeVayne drag family of Shreveport. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. The news came days after the performer, known offstage as . By Stephanie Pappas . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestant Sherry Pie disqualified over catfishing allegations. [2] Prior to appearing on Drag Race, Davenport worked two nine-to-five jobs to support himself. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Day 15: Acute kidney and cardiac injury becomes evident. Chi Chi DeVayne, a competitor on two seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race," has died at the age of 34. Last year, at a time when getting into drag had become more of a challenge, the minute she found out my mother went into hospital, she leapt into quick-drag to record a video message to help lift Moms spirits. DeVayne's death was announced on August 20, 2020. Obsessed with true crime shows? May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all. Her talent was incomparable. Drag Race alum Chi Chi Devayne dead at 34. Chi Chi got to shine in the spotlight, only because Zavion was so dedicated to building her in private, while juggling two jobs in the service industry. RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Chi Chi DeVayne is in the hospital with suspected kidney failure. "I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne . (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images) Justin Townes Earle. For the twenty countries currently most affected by COVID-19 worldwide, the bars in the chart below show the number of deaths either per 100 confirmed cases (observed case-fatality ratio) or per 100,000 population (this represents a country's general population, with both confirmed cases and healthy people). The symptoms of scleroderma can usually be controlled by a range of different treatments. She was taken to hospital in July - she told her followers on Instagram it was for kidney failure. DeVayne described it as a chronic, incurable illness that causes the skin to tighten and thick scar tissues to form around internal organs, impairing their ability to function. 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Chi Chi was previously also hospitalised in July with high blood pressure and suspected kidney failure, telling fans she had catheters to her heart and kidneys surgically installed before undergoing dialysis treatment. Drag queen Chi Chi DeVayne, best known for appearing on two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, has died aged 34. "I was hopeful that she would come off this because I have a close friend that's going through a similar situation," Hall, 33, said to TODAY. I've smelled, like, the smell of brains. I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. In a heartfelt and labored message, DeVayne addressed fans: Keep me in prayers. The drag queen, whose real name was . The top global causes of death, in order of total number of lives lost, are associated with three broad topics: cardiovascular (ischaemic heart disease, stroke), respiratory (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections) and neonatal conditions - which include birth asphyxia and birth trauma, neonatal sepsis and infections, and preterm birth complications. Canada's Drag Race judges: Who is judge Deborah Cox? The talented drag star is thought to have passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. She was a star & without her the world has less sparkle. Some types are relatively mild and may eventually improve on their own, while others can lead to severe and life-threatening problems.