Gone too soon…

image credit: NBC News

Chi Chi DeVayne, who overawed viewers of RuPaul’s drag show competitions with her dazzling performances and dance moves, died on last Thursday.

Ms Devayne, offstage name was Zaion Davenport, was 34 years old.

Davenport’s family confirmed her death through the star’s Instagram account. The cause of death was not mentioned, though she was going through some health problems.

“It is with tremendous sorrow that my family and I announce the passing of my beloved son, Zavion Michael Davenport, the world-renowned ‘Chi Chi Devayne,” according to his family’s statement.

The statement included: “His final words to his family and fans, ‘Never Give Up!”

RuPaul Charles, the self-named host of the shows whose contestants usually refer to each other with male and female pronouns conversely, said in a statement: “I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all.”

The additional information involving Davenport’s memorial will be made at a later time, said her family.

DeVayne is the second participant from Drag Race to have died since the show began, the first contestant who had died earlier was Sahara Davenport of season 2, who died of heart failure in 2012.

DeVayne rose to fame both for delivering splits and high kicks on the runway and for off the stage moments with fellow contestants.

In her debuting year on the show, she told fellow participants offstage, “I wish that I had the guts to stand up for gay rights.”

Check out her all the best dance moves compilation in this video: