Lorena Xtravaganza

Lorena Escalera (October 14, 1986 – May 12, 2012), known professionally as Lorena Xtravaganza, was a Puerto Rican transgender performer known for her impersonations of Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. She was given the last name Xtravaganza for her membership of a celebrated group called the House of Xtravaganza. A fire department spokesman said that firefighters using thermal imaging equipment found the body on a bed.

Though the fire has been deemed suspicious, investigators have found no evidence of accelerant. The police were still awaiting a determination on the cause from fire marshals. Escalera's roommates said that when work was done on the electrical system, they created holes around the electrical outlets and filled them with cardboard. The whereabouts of the two visitors were not known, though a neighbor said he was told by the passer-by that two men were arguing in front of the building at the time of the fire.

Media coverage The New York Times article covering Escalera's death was criticized by GLAAD for being "trans exploitation".