Sahara Davenport

Sahara Davenport
Born Antoine Ashley
(1984-12-17)December 17, 1984
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died October 1, 2012(2012-10-01) (aged 27)[1]
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place Silver Spring, Maryland
Occupation Drag queen, dancer, make-up artist
Partner(s) Karl Westerberg
(2006–2012; Ashley's death)

Antoine Ashley (December 17, 1984 – October 1, 2012), better known by the name Sahara Davenport, was an American drag queen, singer, reality television personality, and classically trained dancer. Davenport was best known as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[2]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Davenport joined the cast of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2010. She was pegged as "The Dancer" when in the first episode she had to "lip-sync for your life" against her former college classmate, Shangela Laquifa Wadley.[3] In the second episode, Davenport became a team leader when she and Pandora Boxx won the mini challenge. Sahara won the second episode elimination challenge by leading her team to earn the most money by pole dancing and selling Cherry Pie gift certificates on the streets of Los Angeles.[4] In the fourth episode, Davenport gave a humorous impersonation of Whitney Houston in the Snatch Game challenge.[5] In the Wedding Dress episode, she was in the bottom two again, but remained safe because of her lipsynch performance to Martha Wash's "Carry On".[6] Sahara was eliminated in the sixth episode for not conveying enough of a "rock 'n' roll" attitude and being too much of a lady.[7]

Music

In 2011, Davenport released her second single "Go Off." A remix EP was later released on January 31, 2012, and featured a remix by Manny Lehman.[8] "Go Off" debuted at number fifty on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs,[9] before peaking at number thirty five.[10] The music video for "Go Off" features cameos by Drag Race contestants Manila Luzon and Jiggly Caliente.[11]

Personal life and death

Prior to her death, Davenport resided in New York City[12] with her boyfriend Karl Westerberg, a fellow drag queen who goes by the stage name Manila Luzon and who was a contestant and runner-up on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Davenport died of heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on October 1, 2012 at age 27.[13] On the show, Davenport discussed her use of "designer drugs", such as ketamine, and how her drag mother had to help her out of her addiction.

Discography

EPs

Title Year
"Pump with Me" 2010

Singles

Title Year Peak Chart Position
U.S. Dance
"Pump with Me" 2010 -
"Go Off" 2011 35

References

  1. ↑ Molloy, Tim (2 October 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Sahara Davenport Dies". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  2. ↑ LOGO On-line. http://www.logotv.com/shows/rupauls_drag_race/season_2/series.jhtml#!
  3. ↑ Lawson, Richard. Gawker. http://gawker.com/5462382/rupauls-drag-race-wigs-in-the-wind
  4. ↑ Pascua , Michael. The Celebrity Cafe. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  5. ↑ O'Wisdom, Pearl. poptimal.com. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-06. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  6. ↑ Jacob D. Reality TV Calendar. http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/rpdr2/recaps/ep05-p1.html
  7. ↑ Benet, Bebe Zahara. Metro Star News. http://www.metrostarnews.com/MetroStar-Rupaul-Drag-Race-Sahara-Davenport%20_week-6.html
  8. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Go Off (The Remixes) by Gomi & Sahara Davenport". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Spargo, Chris (29 March 2012). "Sahara Davenport Scores First Billboard Hit". New Now Next. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "NEW VIDEO: Sahara Davenport & Manila Luzon". New Now Next. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  12. ↑ Avery, Dan. Next Magazine. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  13. ↑ Spargo, Chris. "Sahara Davenport's Family Releases Official Statement". NewNowNext. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
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