A Philadelphia drag queen passed away while performing on stage at a gay club. Valencia Prime, 25, was described as a “fixture on the Philly drag scene,” and fans were shocked and horrified when she suddenly collapsed during her show on September 12 and passed away.
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- Her cause of death has already been released. Authorities say that Prime died due to complications relating to heart disease. While rare at such a young age, sadly, it took the life of “Philadelphia’s Plus Size Dancing Diva.” A medical examiner classified her death as having been due to natural causes.
- Valencia Prime died doing what she loved. She was on stage at the Tabu nightclub in Center City when she collapsed. While people immediately came to her aid, sadly, she passed away shortly later.
- The venue has since released a statement in the wake of Prime’s passing. “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,” they said on Instagram. “We say goodbye to Valencia Prime, but we will not forget the light you brought to the stage.”
- Prime’s friends have also paid tribute to her. “[She] was a bright and beautiful star, [whose] selflessness and kindness had been felt from all those who came in contact with her,” one wrote in a Facebook post. “I mourn for my friend, but also for the loss the gay community has suffered. She was a pivotal influence.”
- A free memorial show will be held at Tabu on Monday, September 19. The free show will welcome Prime’s mother in the audience and provide a place for fans and friends to mourn Prime’s loss. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to cover her funeral costs, with more than $14,000 raised so far.
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