Cuban drag queen Mariloly dies in Miami

Cuban artist Danilo Dominguez, known in the art world as Mariloly, died on Sunday. The Cuban art community in Miami is mourning the loss of this prominent icon of transformation in exile.

Media reports, citing family and close friends of the comedian and drag queen, indicate that she died at a rehabilitation center in South Florida.

After suffering a fall, Domínguez was admitted to the hospital, and in the following weeks, her condition worsened significantly. Those who visited her in her final days noted that she had difficulty identifying those around her.

In an interview with journalist Daysi Ballmajó years ago, the comedian and drag queen commented that she always wanted to be an artist, and it was Miami that gave her the opportunity to be on stage.

He also spoke with Ballmajó about his father, who had been imprisoned as a political prisoner in 1962, placing him, his mother, and his brother in an uncertain and vulnerable position.

His life in Cuba was one of complete discrimination due to his sexual orientation. Officers would detain him for three or four hours at the police station and tell him, "You have to walk properly. You can't walk like you do, because that's not how a man walks."

 “They wanted me to come out with a mustache and a cigar, and that wasn't going to happen,” the artist commented.

During the Mariel boatlift in 1980, Danilo showed up at a police station dressed as a woman and expressed his desire to leave. When asked what his name was, he replied, "Helen of Troy." That's how he ended up in Miami, where he adopted the name Mariloly.

Mariloly established herself in Miami's most prominent theaters and nightclubs, earning the public's respect and admiration.

Mariloly's impact on Miami's drag and comedy community is significant. She was an inspiration to emerging trans and drag artists, who see her as a pioneer of Cuban drag in the diaspora.