Chi Chi DeVayne, known for her appearances in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” died following a recent hospitalization for pneumonia.
Zavion Davenport aka Chi Chi DeVayne was born on September 24, 1985, and died on the 20th of August 2020. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Chi Chi died amid a battle with pneumonia, although the exact cause of death has not been revealed.
Her death comes after the Drag Race star was hospitalised last week with the lung disease.
She had also been in and out of hospital following suspected kidney failure.
DeVayne also lived with scleroderma, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks organs, blood vessels and tissues.
On Aug. 15, DeVayne took to Instagram to tell fans that she was back in the hospital, asked everyone to pray for her. She said:
“Hey guys, I’m back in. Keep me in your prayers, I’ll be back soon.
“Currently battling pneumonia so I’ll be MIA for a few more days.”
DeVayne described it as a chronic, incurable illness that causes the skin to tighten and thick scar tissues to form around internal organs, impairing their ability to function.
The illness caused the entertainer to lose weight and hindered her ability to perform at her peak dance level, she said.
“It’s hard when you go from being at the top of your game and then … something like this hits,” she said.
DeVayne was a fan favorite on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” competing on season 8 and season 3 of the show’s all-star edition.
DeVayne’s family shared a post announcing her death on the star’s Instagram account.
“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,’” the post read.
The family said plans for final arrangements were still forthcoming and shared “his final words to his family and fans, ‘Never give up!’”
On social media, host and executive producer RuPaul wrote;
“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne.
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.”
On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy – from our family to hers.”
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