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Antoine Ashley (better known as Sahara Davenport on RuPaul’s Drag Race) has died.
“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” – the network said in a statement posted on Facebook Tuesday.
Alongside 11 other contestants, Ashley competed for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar on the hit show’s second season in 2010 – but his talents spanned far beyond the realm of reality television.
A classically trained dancer, Ashley started performing in drag while attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Upon earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, Ashley left Dallas for New York City where he appeared in drag regularly at various bars and nightclubs.

Sahara Davenport.

RIP, Sahara Davenport. You’ll be missed.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant has sadly died at the age of 27, prompting an outpouring of grief from the show that made him famous.
“Shocked & heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport” – tweeted RuPaul. “Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal.”
No word yet on the cause of death. But Logo, the network that airs the reality series, mourned the loss of a drag queen sensation.
Davenport (aka Antoine Ashley) was born in Dallas and became interested in drag while studying classical dance at Southern Methodist University. After moving to New York City, he made a name for himself performing at various gay bars and nightclubs as well as appearing in ABC’s One Life to Live and A&E’s 15 Films About Madonna.
Davenport also appeared in music videos, including David Guetta and Chris Willis’ “Getting’ Over.”
But it was his stint competing on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race for which Ashley is perhaps best remembered despite being eliminated in episode six.

While in New York, Sahara began working for Screaming Queens Entertainment, a company “which hires drag queens out as ‘ambience girls’ for corporate events and bar mitzvahs.” Her favorite outfit was, of course, a “red-sequined cat suit that looks like a flying squirrel.”
During that time she also began dating season 3 Drag Racer Manila Luzon. The two lived together in Harlem. Sahara shone in Drag Race season 3 by impersonating Whitney Houston in the Snatch Game and leading her team to earn the most money through burlesque dancing and selling their sweet cherry pies on the streets of Los Angeles — werque!
She twice saved herself from elimination during rounds of “lip-synch for your life,” but all the pirouettes and ballet kicks in her repertoire could not save her after screeching and stumbling through a rock performance of RuPaul’s “Lady Boy.”
The judges said she was too ladylike and not sufficiently rock-and-roll. But she proved them wrong by releasing two singles after competing in Drag Race: “Pump With Me” and “Go Off.” Here’s how Davenport described her track “Go Off”:
“’Go Off; is that moment in life when you decide to give yourself the power to do whatever it is you want to do, but at your maximum potential. Whatever it is, dance the house down, pick up a hot guy, or even slap the bitch who stole your last boyfriend. It’s definitely about letting down walls and showing your loudest colors.”
Last night Drag Race alums began tweeting about Davenport’s passing, although it’s not been disclosed how it happened:
Stacy Layne Matthews – “Just lost one of my Drag Race sisters….. RIP Sahara Davenport!!!!!!! I love you sis!!!!!!”
Jujubee – “A beautiful angel has been added to Heaven. Rest in peace my sweet friend. We will miss you, Sahara Davenport.”
Tatianna – “I’m at a complete loss for words. Rest in peace Miss Sahara Davenport. You were a beautiful person, performer, and sister. I will never forget you or the experiences we had together. Love you always.”
Michelle Visage, a Drag Race judge, confirmed the Twitter reports: “It’s true and I have no words. Have to sign off for now kids, can’t handle this. XOXO”
Manila Luzon – “I love him so much.”