25-year-old drag queen dies mid-performance in Pennsylvania. ‘Bright and rising star’
Tributes have poured in for a drag queen who died mid-performance in Pennsylvania.
Valencia Prime, a 25-year-old transgender woman, performed as a drag queen known as “Philadelphia’s Plus Size Dancing Diva,” according to her Instagram.
Prime collapsed onstage and died during a performance at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar on Monday, Sept. 12, the Philadelphia venue owner told NBC News.
“We mourn the loss of a very bright and rising star in the performance community and a person who was always full of life and positivity,” the venue posted on Instagram. “We say goodbye to Valencia Prime, but we will not forget the light you brought to the stage.”
Prime’s mother was among those devastated by her sudden death.
“(Twenty-five years) ago, I gave birth to my 2nd child,” Christiana Marcus-McRae posted on Facebook Sept. 13, “and today, I’m making funeral arrangements.”
Prime hosted her own show — Prime Time — at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, sharing a flyer on Instagram.
“For those of you that didn’t know her,” Prime’s friend wrote on Facebook, “she was a bright and beautiful star, (whose) selflessness and kindness had been felt from all those who came in contact with her. I mourn for my friend, but also for the loss the gay community has suffered. She was a pivotal influence.”
Another mourner wrote, “There’s an empty void that just won’t be able to be filled…Everyone here will miss you enormously.”
“Valencia Prime was a talent and a delightful person,” another person wrote on Twitter. “Rest in power, babe.”
A cause of death has not been publicly revealed.
The venue posted to Twitter saying it will host a memorial show in honor of Prime on Monday, Sept. 19, with the performer’s mother set to be in attendance. It will be free of charge but donations are encouraged to raise money for her family.
This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 1:55 PM with the headline "25-year-old drag queen dies mid-performance in Pennsylvania. ‘Bright and rising star’."
