The iconic drag queen from "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 4 and actress in "Pose," Jiggly Caliente, has suffered a devastating loss, as her family announced that her leg was amputated following a "serious health setback" over the past month. Early Thursday, Jiggly's family, referring to her by her real name, Bianca Castro, shared a heartfelt social media statement revealing that she had been hospitalized "due to a severe infection" and had ultimately lost "most of her right leg" as a consequence.
The family's message continued, noting that because of these circumstances, Bianca would not be appearing in the upcoming season of "Drag Race Philippines" nor participating in any public engagements in the near future. They emphasized that her recovery would be extensive and requested privacy for her to focus on healing. Fans were encouraged to uplift her with messages of hope and love on her social media channels during her recuperation.
"Bianca's family and drag house are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support, strength, and prayers that have been extended to her," the statement concluded.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Jiggly and the production company of "Drag Race Philippines," World of Wonder, for further comment.
Over the years, Jiggly, who came out as trans in 2016, has become a beloved figure in the drag community, thanks to her memorable looks and quotes on "Drag Race" season 4, including her legendary "baked potato" postapocalyptic couture outfit. She even landed a guest spot in a 2018 "Saturday Night Live" sketch. In 2022, she remained a part of the global "Drag Race" family by becoming a permanent judge on "Drag Race Philippines," a role that Entertainment Weekly exclusively reported at the time.
Jiggly returned to the "Drag Race" competition as a contestant on "All Stars 6" in 2021, where she was eliminated in second place. During her "All Stars 6" exit interview, Jiggly expressed her aspirations for a Hollywood career after securing a small role in FX's "Pose." She stated, "I want to earn my place as an actress in this industry. If I have to audition, I'll continue to do that. If it's a call, sure, I won't turn that down, but I want to earn it. I want to be known as a legitimate actress. I want to pursue that more. Not just Ryan Murphy, I want to be in a Marvel movie!"
To date, "Drag Race Philippines" has aired three seasons, all of which Jiggly has judged. Season 4 is set to premiere in the future, but it remains unclear whether Bianca will be able to return to her judging duties given her current health situation.
