“Drag Race” alum Monica Beverly Hillz, Jade’s close friend, exclusively tells EW she’ll “do everything in my power to make sure she pulls through.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race season 1 star Jade reportedly hospitalized in critical condition after fatal car crash, queens react

"Drag Race" alum Monica Beverly Hillz, Jade's close friend, exclusively tells EW she'll "do everything in my power to make sure she pulls through."

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul’s Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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June 25, 2026 2:50 p.m. ET

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'Drag Race' season 1 star Jade Sotomayor. Credit:

- *RuPaul's Drag Race *season 1 star David "Jade" Sotomayor was hospitalized after a fatal car crash, longtime friend and fellow alum Monica Beverly Hillz said.

- Monica exclusively tells EW Jade "saved [her] life" and that she'll do "everything in [her] power to make sure she pulls through."

- *Drag Race* queen Dida Ritz also offered support online after news broke of the accident.**

Original *RuPaul's Drag Race* season 1 star David "Jade" Sotomayor was reportedly hospitalized in critical condition following a fatal car crash in Chicago, according to the queen's longtime friend and fellow *Drag Race* alum Monica Beverly Hillz.

After sharing the news in an emotional social media post and additionally posting an image (below) of her holding Jade's hand in a hospital bed, Monica tells * *she hopes fans "send Jade and her family good vibes" as the star recovers in the hospital. (EW could not verify the specific car accident reportedly involving Jade, and has reached out to the Chicago Police Department for more information.)

"Jade and I have been through so much. Jade and her mom saved my life at a time where I didn't have the will to continue living," Monica writes to EW via text. "I'll never forget that. And that's why I'll make sure I do everything in my power to make sure she pulls through."

'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 1 star David 'Jade' Sotomayor.

She adds, "Jade is big on love, and right now all she needs is prayers and love!"

In an earlier post, Monica wrote, "My heart is broken hearing one my chosen sister/ brother was involved in fatal accident and is in critical condition, and is still alive pushing through!"

Monica praised "the good times we had" and looked forward to having "so many more" with Jade in the future.

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"Please please please God please everyone send prayers for jade and all of her family !!! I love you so much David Jade Sotomayor," she continued. "You’re strong and you will get thru this we love you Jade !!!"

In the comments under Monica's post, *Drag Race *star Darienne Lake replied, "All the healing and positive vibes," while season 3 winner Raja commented a series of prayer and heart emojis.

Fellow *Drag Race *alum Dida Ritz also voiced support for Jade online, writing on X, "I want to send love and support to the family of Jade Sotomayor. She was in a serious car accident. I’m keeping her in my thoughts and hoping for her recovery during this difficult time."

Monica Beverly Hillz with 'Drag Race' star Jade in hospital.

Monica Beverly Hillz/Instagram

Jade helped make pop culture history as part of the inaugural season of *RuPaul's Drag Race* back in 2009. She was ultimately eliminated fourth, finishing the season in sixth place overall.

Her time on the show was an entertaining one, as she clashed with fellow contestant Rebecca Glasscock — against whom she mounted an epic lip-sync battle ahead of her elimination.

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Outside of starring in the indie film *Bailiwick *and landing a small role on the popular TV show *Empire,* Jade returned to the *Drag Race *stage on the season 10 finale to perform a medley of RuPaul's signature hits alongside *All Stars 4* contestant Mo Heart.

In addition to Jade, *Drag Race* season 16 and *All Stars 11 *queen Morphine Love Dion was also involved in a serious car crash in 2024, and recently told EW that injuries from the incident impacted her performance on *AS11*.**

- RuPaul's Drag Race Fandom

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Source: “EW RuPaul”