Details surrounding the sudden death of former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Sahara Davenport, born Antoine Ashley, have finally been revealed.  A representative for Davenport released a statement yesterday confirming the drag star ”passed away due to heart failure on October 1, 2012, at John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Ashley’s mother, Angela Ashley Reddish, said: ”I thank God for giving me an Angel Antoine Ashley to share with the rest of the world. My family and I would like to thank everyone for their condolences and support. We know that our Angel is now dancing in heaven. May God bless each and everyone.”

Ashley’s boyfriend of six years, Karl Westerberg, who performs as Manila Luzon, also released a statement: “Antoine lived to entertain the world as Sahara Davenport, and the world was in awe over his extreme talent. But his heart is what made us all fall in love with him. To me he will always be my best friend, my hero, my Diva, and I have always considered myself more than lucky to have him be forever a part of my life. Thank you, hon, for bringing so much beauty to all of us. Your legacy lives on in me and all of us you’ve touched.”

RuPaul, Logo and Drag Race judge Michelle Visage also released statements expressing their condolences for the deceased performer via Twitter. RuPaul’s official statement was simple: “Shocked & heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport. Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal.”