Drag star of RuPaul's TV reality show Sahara Davenport found dead

Former contestant on RuPaul’s reality show Drag Race Antoine Ashley, better known by his stage name, Sahara Davenport, has passed away Sunday night.
The cause of Davenport's death has not been made public, but various people close to the performer have confirmed the news.
The Logo network, which aired the Drag Race show, released a statement in response to Davenport's passing:

Untimely death: Antoine Ashley, right, known as drag performer Sahara Davenport, left, has passed away

'Logo is profoundly saddened by the passing of Antoine Ashley who fans around the world knew and loved as Sahara Davenport. He was an amazing artist and entertainer who'll be deeply missed by his Logo family. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, especially his boyfriend Karl, in their time of need.'
Hundreds of fans and colleagues took to Twitter to express their grief at Davenport’s passing. His boyfriend and season three Drag Race contestant Karl Westerberg, known as Manila Luzon, simply wrote: ‘I love him so much.’
RuPaul twitted: ‘Shocked & heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport. Never occurred to me that we'd ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal.’

 

Fellow season two contestant JuJu Boston paid tribute to Davenport on Facebook, writing: ‘A beautiful angel has been added to Heaven. Rest in peace my sweet friend. We will miss you, Sahara Davenport.’
There appears to be some confusion as to Davenport's real age. The LGBT magazine Queerty lists his age as 28, while multiple reports say he died at 27. However, in a New York Times profile from 2009, Davenport was described as a 29-year-old, which means that he was 32 at the time of his passing.

Rising star: Davenport competed on season two of RuPaul's show Drag Race on Logo, where he came in seventh

Budding career: After his stint on Drag Race, Davenport released two dance singles, Pump with Me and Go Off

Davenport, originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, was a classically trained dancer who first became interested in drag performance while studying at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in dance.
He decided to move to New York City, telling the New York Times, 'I had to build my name here by doing talent nights, talent competitions and networking and meeting all the working girls and figure out how to work this animal of New York City. The New York scene is so much bigger than in Dallas.
‘In Dallas it’s just a strip. It’s like, a block. What has helped me: There aren’t a lot of girls who dance, who are as refined in dancing. That is what draws people to see me. The dance, and the prettiness.'
He made a name for himself after getting a part on ABC's One Life to Live, A&E's 15 Films About Madonna and Voom HD's Magnificent Obsessions.
Davenport also appeared in music videos, including David Guetta and Chris Willis' Getting' Over.
However, his big break came when he had made it onto season two of Drag Race, which aired in 2010. He came in seventh, but his time on the show helped jump-start a successful though brief career in music.

Loved one: Davenport, right, is survived by his boyfriend and season three Drag Race contestant Karl Westerberg, known as Manila Luzon, left

The drag performer went on to release two singles, Pump with Me and Go Off, which rose to No 35 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, according to TV Guide. Davenport and Luzon also released a cover version of Baby It's Cold Outside’ last December.
Rich Ferraro, a spokesman for the organization Gay and Lesbian Alliance Agaisnt Defamtion, told E! Online: ‘In addition to being a talented performer, we also remember the great work of Antoine Ashley, known to many fans as Sahara Davenport, in support of LGBT youth organizations and GLAAD.
'This is a saddening loss and our thoughts are with Sahara's friends, partner and family.’