Rupaul's Drag Race and Pose Star died at 44

Her family said racing star Bianca Castro-Arabejo performed, his Caliente, who died at the age of 44.

The performer found fame in the fourth season of Drag Race in Rupaul, and part of her leg was amputated Thursday after suffering a “severe infection.”

Caliente has served as a judge in the show's Philippine spin-off and appeared in the popular American TV series Pose.

“It is sad that we announce the death of Bianca Castro-Arabejo, which is well known in the world and many are cherished by the Cartes that many have cherished,” her family wrote in an Instagram statement.

They said she was “surrounded by her loving family and close friends” for hours on Sunday morning.

Caliente’s family pays tribute to her “infectiousness, ferocity and unwavering authenticity”, adding that she leaves behind a legacy of “love, courage and light.”

“She has moved countless lives through art, activism and real connections with fans around the world,” they said.

“Although her physical presence disappeared, the joy she shared and the space she helped create will remain forever.”

Drag Queens pays tribute to Filipino-American performers online.

Laganja Estranja, who appeared in the sixth season of the American reality TV show, said Caliente was a “good, caring soul.”

Rupaul's Drag Race UK Star Baga Chipz describes Caliente as “one of the kindest, sweetest souls I've ever seen”.

Cheryl the Queen, who also participated in the British version of the show, wrote: “We will always love you, always be shaky.”

Tia Kofi of Drag Race of England and the World said Caliente was “the guy I came to ask for advice, I looked up and gave me support when I needed it most, and I couldn’t lie, always there, for a good gossip!”

Rally judge Michelle Visage said in her tribute: “Laughter is endless, our conversation is special, your energy is infectious”.

She added: “You have been and are still very loved. The world has lost an angel and we want you to soar.”

Born in the Philippines in 1980, Caliente moved to Queens in New York City with his family as a child.

When she appeared on the show in 2012, she quickly became a fan favorite of Rupaul's Drag Race and had an unforgettable interaction with other Queens.

In a particularly memorable moment, during a fight with Caliente, contestant Lashauwn Beyond created the title “This is not Rupaul’s best friend contest”, which was later repeated frequently in later series.

Caliente continues to pursue acting careers, appearing in plots from sitcom Broad City and Search Party.

She played the role of Veronica in the TV series Pose, which chronicles the New York LGBT ball culture in the 1980s and 1990s.

Caliente, who appeared publicly as a transgender person in 2016, later returned to the Drag Race Universe for the sixth series of the 2021 Rupaul Drag Race All Stars and judged three series of the spin-off show Drag Race Philippines.

Before her death, the family of the drag performer said Thursday that she suffered a “severe health setback” that resulted in “most of her right leg” losing.