American drag queen and reality star Chi Chi Devayne passed away at 34 on August 20, 2020. This sad news was confirmed to be accurate at a report shared by Entertainment Weekly on her passing day. The same article said DeVayne’s family had shared a post on her Instagram account later in the day, stating that the family is going through tremendous sorrow due to the passing of their beloved Chi Chi. They also shared her final words for her fans and family: “Never give up.” The immediate family is currently working on the final arrangements and memorial for DeVayne’s repose.
As reported in The Guardian, DeVayne was first diagnosed with Scleroderma in 2018. It is a long-lasting disease that causes hardening and tightening of the skin, affecting connective tissues, and internal organs. Generally, it is classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. She was recently confined with suspected kidney failure on July 17 this year and underwent dialysis treatments.
DeVayne had shared an update of her health issues for her followers on social media. As disclosed in DeVayne’s biography in People Pill, it is stated that she had delayed going to the doctor and now suffers the consequences for letting it go too long.
Later this year, she was readmitted with pneumonia and had passed just less than a week after she announced on Instagram that she was back in the hospital.
Billboard revealed a statement by RuPaul Andre Charles following her passing. He shared that the news about the passing of DeVayne had him heartbroken. He added that experiencing her kind and beautiful soul makes him grateful and will miss her dearly but will not be forgotten. He also extended sincere sympathy on behalf of the VH1, World of Wonder, and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Many of DeVayne’s friends and family in the industry have outstretched their sincere sympathies on social media.
DeVayne was born Zavion Michael Davenport on September 24, 1985, in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she became a regular drag performer. DeVayne chose to keep her biological family private. On March 7, 2016, she came to international recognition on the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: a reality competition TV series in America produced by World of Wonder. During episode two of that season, she won and appeared on the All-Star Edition of the said reality TV series on its third season.
Chichi was hands down one of my favorite queens to work with. I first met her right after filming s9. We smoked the fattest blunt & she gave me amazing advice I’ll never forget. All my memories with her from the Xmas tours will be in my heart forever. Rest in power sweet angel
— Farrah Moan (@farrahrized) August 20, 2020
Rest in Power Chi Chi Devayne - thank you for your heart, your joy, and your incredible passion for drag - pic.twitter.com/rnAhrQQFHN
— Marti Gould Cummings (@MartiGCummings) August 20, 2020