Antoine Ashley, a singer, dancer and drag queen who competed on the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" using the name Sahara Davenport, has died, Logo said. He was 27.
No cause of death has been released.
"Logo is profoundly saddened by the passing of Antoine Ashley who fans around the world knew and loved as Sahara Davenport. He was an amazing artist and entertainer who'll be deeply missed by his Logo family. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, especially his boyfriend Karl, in their time of need."
As Davenport, Ashley's songs included the dance anthems "Go Off!" and "Pump With Me." Ashley also wrote, produced and starred in the solo stage show "Sahara with a Ha!"
A classically trained dancer, the Dallas native moved to New York after college to become a choreographer. In New York, Davenport appeared in such bars and clubs as Barracuda, Vlada, Escuelita, Therapy, XL, The Monster, and Splash.
Besides "Drag Race," Davenport appeared on A&E Network's "15 Films about Madonna," Voom HD's "Magnificent Obsessions," and on ABC's "One Life to Live" — as well as on the pilot of "Judge Karen" as an angry Beyonce impersonator who sues aggressive photographers.
Ashley also appeared in artist Kalup Linzy's video-performance piece "Melody Set Me Free," which was shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
