Lady Red Couture, drag performer and host of the popular YouTube show 'Hey Qween', passed away today, July 25th at the age of 43. According to her dear friend and 'Hey Qween' co-host Jonny McGovern who broke the sad news on social media, Lady Red was "hospitalized due to complications with her chronic condition, cyclic vomiting syndrome" sometime last week.
McGovern thanked fans for donations and requested privacy for Lady Red's friends and family. He also mentioned plans to set up a fundraiser with Lady Red's sister. He concluded his post by saying, "But for today all I can do is cry and mourn the giant loss of my sister, creative partner and best friend."
Born in Park City, Utah, Corture had been apart of the Los Angeles drag community for twenty years. She helped solidify trans women's contribution to drag. "I am a trans woman that lives as the largest drag queen in captivity — not just another drag queen."
Lady Red was recently featured in Harper's Bazaar showcasing America's most legendary drag queens. "I’ve been around for a long time," she said in the interview. "So anything that sparkles or shines, I’m very good at.”
Lady Red was also known by younger drag queens as Mother Couture. When Harper asked her about her mentoring role, she said, "I call it stealing their energy, because that’s really what it is." The wisdom she instilled in them is this: "I always tell them: Don’t live in muck and mire, because it’s unnecessary. The devil is on his job, so why shouldn’t we be?"
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lady Red's family and friends. May she rest in peace. Check out Lady Red's audition video for season six of RuPaul's Drag Race: