A RuPaul's Drag Race star from County Durham died by suicide after struggling with fame, an inquest was told.
George Ward, known by the alter-ego and drag name Cherry Valentine, was found hanged in his North London flat by his friend in September. The 28-year-old, who was a qualified mental health nurse, had been "struggling" with fame after appearing on the BBC Three programme, an inquest heard.
George, who was from Darlington and had helped the NHS with vaccinations once the Covid pandemic hit, also starred in his own BBC documentary in 2022, titled Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud. The documentary showed his return to the Traveller community after rekindling his relationship with his family who he said had "disowned" him when he first came out.
