Jiggly Caliente, RuPaul Drag Race star is no more!
RuPaul Drag Race star and judge, Bianca Castro-Arabejo aka Jiggly Caliente is no more. She was 44.
Jiggly, who became a judge on ‘Drag Race Philippines’ in 2022, was hospitalized for a severe infection and a leg amputation surgery. She passed away early Sunday, on April 27, 2025 4:42 AM, as per the statement added by her family on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
The statement also read,
“A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity. She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism, and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.”
Tributes To Late Jiggly
After the news of her passing, fellow drag queens and ‘Drag Race’ family poured tributes. The ‘RaPau’s Drag Race ‘ show took it to X page and shared their statement:
We are devastated by the passing of Jiggly Caliente, a cherished member of the Drag Race family. Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay—always. We’re holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this… pic.twitter.com/wkDXQKfwoy
— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 27, 2025
Jinkx Monsoon, drag queen, also took it to her X page and said Jiggly to be so much person in one little body. I love you Jiggly.
Just like that, Steve Canals, American screenwriter also shared his tribute. He said,
“I came to know Bianca aka @jigglycalienteofficial through Drag Race, but it was while working on Pose that we finally met. I was struck by both her beauty, vulnerability, and humor. Our connection grew over our shared love of X-men. In between takes we’d nerd out about our love of mutants. She believed that being trans was her mutation. It leveled her up. Made her special. Made her powerful. And it did. I would often speak about my deep desire to write and direct an X-movie and she’d make me promise I would cast her. In some other universe, there is an X-movie being made, and you are absolutely my Jubilee. 🎆 Love ya forever Jiggly.”
Also, Bob aka Caldwell Tidicue said, ‘She loved NYC, hip-hop, and men lol. I’ll miss our random calls to talk shit and laugh about stuff I could never share here. We lost a real one today.‘
Jiggly Caliente’s Road To Drag Race
Jiggly aka Bianca Castro-Arabejo was born in San Pedro, Philippines, and later moved to America. She came out as transgender in 2016, and chose her drag name after Jigglypuff, the Pokémon character.
She competed in RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4, where she came eighth. Later, she competed again on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 6, where she came twelfth. According to Digital Spy, she was announced as judge on ‘Drag Race Philippines.’