The LGBTQ+ community is mourning the loss of Jasmine International — the Puerto Rican trans icon and beloved drag entertainer also known as Jasmine Jimenez — who passed away at the age of 46. Since her passing, tributes have poured in from celebrities, RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and fans around the world.
Known for her “kindness” and “joy,” Jimenez was a fixture in pageantry, nightlife, and ballroom culture for more than two decades. She competed in major pageants, including Miss Flamingo, Miss Royal Pride of Nations, Southern Charm All American Goddess, Miss Mundo International USA, and the prestigious Miss Continental — where she shared the stage with stars like Alexis Mateo, Naysha Lopez, Roxxxy Andrews, Carmen Carrera, Vanessa Vanjie, Nina Flowers, and Detox. Jimenez’s life intersected with both glamour and tragedy. In June 2016, she performed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando just hours before the mass shooting that claimed 49 lives.
Her career took her across the globe, with performances in Mexico, Thailand, Japan, and the Dominican Republic, and in legendary New York venues like Krash, El Morocco, Splash, Copacabana, and Club Evolution. She was a celebrated presence from Las Escuelita Nightclub in NYC to the GaYbor District in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Pride and the GaYbor District Coalition remembered her as “a beacon of light in our community.”
Her drag mother, Esme Russell, shared:
“Jasmine was an exceptional human who was not only beautiful and talented, she was kind, generous, and compassionate. I was proud to be her drag mom…I will miss her very much. God always seems to take the good ones.”
Drag Race alum Alexis Mateo wrote,
“Thank you for bringing joy to my life and to remind me that friendship is as pure as your heart. Rest in Peace my little angel. I will always love you.”
Dominique Jackson, Sasha Colby, Vanessa Vanjie, and designer Jeffrey Kelly also paid tribute.
Archival videos from The Luna Show and Dolls & Divas Archive have also resurfaced, capturing Jasmine’s fierce stage presence — including her iconic performance of Toni Braxton’s “Spanish Guitar” at Krash.
For many, Jasmine International’s legacy is clear: beauty, talent, and a heart that brought light wherever she performed.
