George Ward, better known as Cherry Valentine, has passed away at 28 years old.
The beloved drag queen competed in the second season of Drag Race UK in 2021.
"It is with the most heart-wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically passed away," Valentine's family said in a statement.
"As his family, we are still processing his death and our lives will never be the same. We understand how much he is loved and how many lives he has inspired and touched. All we ask is for your patience and your prayers in this time. We love you Georgie."
In reaction to the devastating news, queens from the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise have shared their condolences on social media.
Valentine's fellow season two sister A'whora says she can still feel her "long spiked fingernails digging into her hand."
"I’ve never met anyone in my life who was more kind, more genuine, more caring who you could tell had so much time to give not because they had to, but because they wanted to!" says A'whora, "from after parties at mine after every night out, sleeping over and waking up to your full face in my pillow and stencil brows stuck to your hand, it’s the small memories of endless tequila shots and pulling off each others wigs that I won’t ever forget!"
In addition to drag, Valentine was a qualified mental health nurse.
She worked the frontline as a vaccination administrator during the COVID pandemic.