Miriam Rivera, the world’s first transgender reality television star, died Feb. 5 in Mexico under mysterious circumstances. She was 38.
Though Rivera died several months ago, the news emerged Friday. Her husband, Daniel Cuervo, confirmed her death in a February Facebook post.
According to reports, she was found in her apartment and appeared to have hanged herself; however, Cuervo disputes suicide as her cause of death and told Daily Mail Australia he suspects foul play.
Rivera was best known for her 2004 British reality television dating show “There’s Something About Miriam” and her guest appearance on “Big Brother Australia’s” fourth season the same year. The former reality show sparked controversy when contestants filed personal injury lawsuits against the show’s production company Endemol after Rivera waited until the final episode to reveal that she was transgender. The show’s winner, Tom Rooke, initially accepted the prize money of £10,000 and a vacation with Rivera, but later returned his winnings and joined the other competitors in their lawsuits. Endemol settled for an undisclosed amount.
Upon speaking with “Big Brother” host Gretel Killeen about her upbringing in Mexico, she expressed her need for endurance.
“You have to be really strong, I went through a lot. You have no idea what I went through, it’s not even funny,” said Rivera. “But I’m a strong woman!”
In 2007, she suffered a fall from her New York apartment, allegedly to escape an intruder. Rivera was also a part of the New York ball scene, repping the house of Xtravaganza.
Her husband paid tribute to his late wife in his February Facebook post.
“My Adorable wife rest in peace darling until God lets us be together again,” he wrote.
The house of Xtravaganza also posted to Instagram sending condolences.
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
‘Industry’ Co-Creators Mickey Down, Konrad Kay Set New Three-Year Overall Deal at HBO
How Celebrity Reps Are Fighting the Flood of Unauthorized AI Content
‘Babygirl’ Trailer: Nicole Kidman Succumbs to Her Desire in A24’s Sexy and Dangerous Erotic Thriller
‘The Penguin’ Episode 2 Brings in 1.6 Million Viewers on HBO and Max
Generative AI Fueling ‘Exponential’ Rise in Celebrity NIL Rip-Offs: Exclusive Data
Drag Reality Show ‘We’re Here’ Ends With Season 4 on HBO (EXCLUSIVE)
Most Popular
Luke Bryan Reacts to Beyoncé’s CMA Awards Snub: ‘If You’re Gonna Make Country Albums, Come Into Our World and Be Country With…
Donald Glover Cancels 2024 Childish Gambino Tour Dates After Hospitalization: ‘I Have Surgery Scheduled and Need Time Out to Heal’
‘Joker 2’ Ending: Was That a ‘Dark Knight’ Connection? Explaining What’s Next for Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker
‘Love Is Blind' Creator Reveals Why They Didn’t Follow Leo and Brittany After Pods, if They'll Be at Reunion (EXCLUSIVE)
Coldplay’s Chris Martin Says Playing With Michael J. Fox at Glastonbury Was ‘So Trippy’: ‘Like Being 7 and Being in Heaven…
Rosie O'Donnell on Becoming a 'Big Sister' to the Menendez Brothers, Believes They Could Be Released From Prison in the ‘Next 30 Days’
Why Critically Panned ‘Joker 2’ Could Still Be in the Awards Race for Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix
‘That ’90s Show’ Canceled After Two Seasons on Netflix, Kurtwood Smith Says: ‘We Will Shop the Show’
Charli XCX Reveals Features for ‘Brat’ Remix Album Include Ariana Grande, Julian Casablancas, Tinashe and More
Indian King of Comedy Kapil Sharma, Star of Busan Film ‘Zwigato,’ Takes On Global Streaming With Hit Netflix Show (EXCLUSIVE)
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 2 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKFjq2taKeSnsG2rdGinKxloJq8sbjEZqWer6Nkuqq%2ByJqkZqqZq7KzrYydnJqcXZm2pr%2BMq5yapJmpxm7A1WadoqqjqXq1vsCnqmarpJa%2Fbn2RaWprcWdtgHN7