‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Dead at 27

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Dead at 27

Sahara Davenport Dies

Antoine Ashley, known as Sahara Davenport of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame, has passed away.


The 27-year-old classically trained dancer started performing drag in his Dallas hometown while still a college student. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and moved to the Big Apple appearing in drag at a host of nightclubs.


A season two contestant on RuPaul’s reality competition show, Ashley and his boyfriend Karl Westerberg, also a contestant, but on season three as Manila Luzon, released a cover version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” last year.

Ashley released a single this year titled “Go Off.” It reached No. 35 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart.


RuPaul expressed his condolences via Twitter on Tuesday morning, “Shocked & heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport. Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal.”

No cause of death had been provided at press time. –yvette caslin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join our Newsletter

Sign up for Rolling Out news straight to your inbox.

Read more about:
Also read