Lorena Escalera (October 14, 1986 – May 12, 2012), known professionally as Lorena Xtravaganza, was a Puerto Rican transgender performer known for her impersonations of Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez.[1] She was given the last name Xtravaganza for her membership of a celebrated group called The House of Xtravaganza.[1]
Lorena Xtravaganza | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lorena Escalera October 14, 1986 |
| Died | May 12, 2012 (aged 25) |
| Cause of death | Asphyxia by strangulation and suffocation |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation(s) | Performer, make-up artist, model |
| Years active | 2004–2012 |
Escalera posthumously rose to mainstream attention after her murder in 2012. She was found unconscious and unresponsive in her Bushwick apartment. Escalera's apartment was set on fire after she had been strangled then suffocated.[2]
Biography
editLorena Escalera was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York City when she turned eighteen years old. Escalera had been working as a make-up artist in Puerto Rico but wanted to come to New York City to broaden her career as a performer and model.[1] Once arriving, Escalera joined the renowned performance house, The House of Xtravaganza, which were featured in the popular 1990 documentary, Paris is Burning.[1] She began walking balls and competing for prizes as an Xtravaganza; picking up the name La'reina Xtravaganza from fans. Xtravaganza also had a career as a model; although it is not known to the public what she modeled for.
Death
editOn May 11, 2012, Escalera brought two men to her apartment, at 43 Furman Avenue in Bushwick, according to police reports.[2] At about 4 a.m., a fire broke out in the apartment. A passer-by ran into the four-story building and began banging on doors, according to a neighbor. In the ensuing chaos, everyone except Escalera seemed to emerge from the building. Firefighters arrived, as did officers from the 83rd Precinct. When the blaze was extinguished, at 4:37 a.m., Escalera was discovered, "unconscious and unresponsive" and paramedics declared her dead at the scene. A fire department spokesman said that firefighters using thermal imaging equipment found the body on a bed.
Though the fire has been deemed suspicious, investigators have found no evidence of accelerant. The police were still awaiting a determination on the cause from fire marshals. Escalera's roommates said that when work was done on the electrical system, they created holes around the electrical outlets and filled them with cardboard. The whereabouts of the two visitors were not known, though a neighbor said he was told by the passer-by that two men were arguing in front of the building at the time of the fire.[3]
Media coverage
editThe New York Times article covering Escalera's death was criticized by GLAAD[4] for being "trans exploitation".
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Transgender Star Lorena Escalera's Murder Still Unsolved a Year After Death". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Transgender Performer Dies In Suspicious Brooklyn Fire". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ Baker, Al; Schweber, Nate (12 May 2012). "Woman Dies in a Brooklyn Fire That Is Deemed Suspicious". New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ McQuade, Aaron (14 May 2012). "NY Times Trans Exploitation Completely Unacceptable". GLAAD. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 22 Oct 2012.