The LGBTQ+ community is mourning the loss of Jasmine International, the beloved Puerto Rican trans entertainer and pageant queen, who passed away on Friday, August 8 at the age of 46. Known offstage as Jasmine Jimenez, she leaves behind a legacy of “kindness” and “joy” that touched countless lives.
Over her career, Jimenez competed in prestigious pageants such as Miss Continental, Miss Flamingo, Miss Royal Pride of Nations, Southern Charm All American Goddess, and Miss Mundo International USA. She was celebrated not only for her stage presence but also for her warmth and generosity, forging friendships with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars including Alexis Mateo, Naysha Lopez, Roxxxy Andrews, Carmen Carrera, Vanessa Vanjie, Nina Flowers, and Detox.
In 2018, she appeared alongside Alexis Mateo in a backstage photo with Christina Aguilera during The Liberation Tour.
A survivor of the Pulse tragedy
In June 2016, Jimenez performed at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub just hours before it became the site of one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Speaking later to MSNBC, she recalled narrowly escaping:
“I didn’t even put my hand to the door when I heard the first six shots… By the time I throw all my stuff in the car… the second round came out, and when I looked back, I realised that it was a really bad situation.”
An international career
Jasmine’s career spanned decades, with performances across the U.S. and around the world, including Mexico, Thailand, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. She became a fixture in New York’s Las Escuelita Nightclub, the GaYbor District in Tampa Bay, and other iconic venues such as Krash, El Morocco, Splash, Copacabana, and Club Evolution.
Her artistry extended to ballroom culture, where she was revered for her grace and glamour. As TENz Magazine noted, she made an “indelible mark on the worlds of pageantry, ballroom, and nightlife.”
Tributes pour in
- Esme Russell, her drag mother, called her “kind, generous, and compassionate,” adding, “God always seems to take the good ones.”
- Alexis Mateo wrote, “Thank you for bringing joy to my life… Rest in Peace my little angel. I will always love you.”
- Naysha Lopez remembered Jasmine’s generosity when she mailed her an entire pageant package without hesitation, calling her “the perfect balance of New York grit and Puerto Rican fire.”
- Sasha Colby recalled meeting her during Miss Continental, saying she was “always so kind, funny, and beautiful inside and out.”
- Vanessa Vanjie simply wrote, “Blessed to have had you in my life. Rest in peace my angel.”
- Natasha Alor described her as “one of the mothers of the Puerto Rican trans community” and “a true mother.”
Designer Jeffrey Kelly and organisations such as Tampa Pride and the GaYbor District Coalition also shared condolences, describing her as “a beacon of light in our community.”
A lasting influence
Archival footage of Jasmine’s performances has resurfaced, including a 2009 Luna Show interview and videos from the Dolls & Divas Archive, where she performs “Spanish Guitar” by Toni Braxton at Krash nightclub.
Her influence will continue to be felt in the drag, ballroom, and trans communities she helped shape — a true queen whose elegance, generosity, and joy will be forever remembered.
