Drag Race star Manila Luzon delivers tearful eulogy at Jiggly Caliente’s funeral: ‘I’m so proud’

Manila Luzon has paid a touching tribute to her friend and RuPaul’s Drag Race sister, Jiggly Caliente, who died in April aged 44.

Jiggly Caliente, whose real name was Bianca Castro, died as a result of a “severe infection” that caused the loss of her leg.

In a video posted onto X/Twitter on Friday (16 May) Manila is seen giving an emotional eulogy to her dear friend who she’d known for 20 years.

“We supported each other, we helped each other along, we read each other constantly and we annoyingly dreamed big together,” she started combining humour with poignancy.

She recalled that “It all started back at The Web, the gay Asian club here in New York, just down the street,” where Jiggly wanted Manila to get the Miss Gay Asia America crown.

“It was my first pageant,” Manila explained. “The judges had other plans, I got runner up, not the first time.” referencing her runner up finish on Drag Race season three.

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Manila joked about Jiggly’s love of pageants and how “The girl would get in full glam just to watch Miss Universe on TV.”

Manila also discussed Jiggly winning Miss Universe Latina even though “she wasn’t even technically Latina.” She joked: “But she’s Filipino so there might be some Spanish blood in there, and her last name is Caliente so it counts.”

She then moved on to talk about the pair’s experiences on Drag Race and helping Jiggly film her audition tape for Drag Race season four. This included the pair going into an Apple Store which had a glass elevator in.

“We filmed her in that. It was like the full Beyoncé production level, even if it was giving a glamorous Augustus Gloop going up the chocolate tube in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Manila shared to laughs from the congregation. “But it got her cast!”

The eulogy also referenced the pair’s collaborations on music and music videos as well tours they shared.

“And then a few years ago we got to do our biggest dream together, which was to go to the Philippines and do our drag at the highest level that we could at the time. I was filming Drag Den and she was judging Drag Race Philippines. Now we were supporting the new generations of drag,” Manila went on to say.

She shared how the two had dinner together one night and reflected how far they’d come.

“I never knew that we’d get to do all of this, Jiggly.” Struggling to fight back the tears she said, “I’m so sad that we can’t keep doing and dreaming bigger and bigger things together.

“I’m so proud of everything you accomplished. I’m so proud of the representation you gave for the Filipino and trans communities. And I’m so proud of the woman you became. And I’m so proud of our friendship that we had together.”

Jiggly passed away on 27 April. In a statement posted onto the star’s Instagram her family wrote that she passed away “surrounded by her loving family and close friends.”

It continued, “A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity. She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism, and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.”

Jiggly Caliente first appeared on season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2012. She then returned for All Stars 6 in 2021, having coming out a trans woman in 2016.