A Community Mourns Detroit Artist Justin Alesna After His Unexpected Death at 36
Friends, artistic collaborators say he lit up the stage, but also their lives
Justin Alesna will be remembered as “one of the funniest divas in Detroit” by friend and creative colleague Baddie Brooks.
“He always had something funny and iconic to say. Justin lit up every single room he entered,” Brooks tells Pride Source.
Alesna’s sister, Jasmine, shared the news of his unexpected death on social media on Aug. 20, writing, “Hello everyone. It is with a heavy heart that I have to report my brother, Justin Alesna, has been found. He is no longer with us.”
Alesna was 36 when he died.
Since then, countless people have posted their own tributes to him online. Many discuss his talent. But nearly all mention how much his heart will be missed.
“What is helping me in this time is just realizing how many people love Justin,” Brooks says.
Throughout his native Detroit, Alesna was known as a creative force. Whether it was choreographing and performing in music videos, theater productions or personal projects, friends say that everything he did was done with passion.
Brooks worked closely with Alesna, requesting his artistic collaboration on a few projects. One of those was the music video for her song, “Nails.” She says Alesna, who appears in the video, came up with the intro. He’s featured saying, “It contains dancing, having fun and good-ass acrylics.” He also performed as a backup dancer for her Ann Arbor Pride set on Aug. 3.
Brooks says they bonded over makeup, wigs, dancing and sometimes even Coney dogs.
“It was something as simple as enjoying Coney Island together,” she said, reminiscing about one of her last memories with her friend.
Brooks and Alesna also had a running joke that they were “creatively married.” One of the last times he tried to contact her, she missed his phone call.
“But he left me this funny voicemail saying, ‘You need to answer your husband!’ We’d always joke around about that,” she says.
“He had the capability to put a smile on anyone’s face.”
Kiley James says Alesna was a “huge fashionista” and “the kind of person you wanted to get to know.”
The two worked together at the gay nightclub Menjo’s in Detroit over 10 years ago. James, a DJ, says Alesna would come support him at different venues.
“That has meant a lot to me,” says James. “He went out of his way to support local artists and performers and was always community-oriented, especially in Metro Detroit and with the queer community.”
Alesna was slated to portray Angel in an upcoming production of “Rent” by Stagecrafters. In a memorial post on their Facebook page, the community theater group reflected on what Alesna was like both onstage and off: “Justin brought joy everywhere he went. He was a free spirit who made everyone feel loved. He would walk into a room and the energy would change; it would become much more vibrant and alive with spirit.”
“Now, he is truly our Angel,” the post concluded.
Alesna also helped create the Suttle Dance Company in Detroit, according to a tribute posted on the non-profit's Instagram.
“He shared his love of dance with us all but also his generous open heart, his amazing goofy humor, his wisdom, his unwavering love and so much more,” reads the caption.
“It feels unreal to believe he is gone.”
While his loved ones are left to recount their memories amid their grief, many say leaning on their shared community is what is helping.
“You never know who you have an effect or impact on, and I know that Justin impacted so many lives,” Brooks says. “Seeing the collective grief that everyone is outpouring, shows that. He was an inspirational dancer, an inspirational actor, an inspirational makeup artist, an inspirational creative, but that wasn't all that he was. He was a pillar of positivity for the community. And I think that this loss affects all of us.”
Maddie Mae, a friend who was also a backup dancer at the Ann Arbor Pride performance, says Alesna’s influence went far beyond just his creativity.
“He always was warm-hearted and comforting. It didn’t matter who you were, you were greeted with open arms,” Mae says.
When she had to miss a rehearsal, Alesna was quick to help her nail down the choreography and feel comfortable with the routine. She says it was thanks to him she looked good on stage and felt good inside.
“He left an impression on me and everyone he was around,” she recalls.
Alesna’s memorial will be held on Monday, Aug. 26 from 12–4 p.m. at Mercy Crematory in Hazel Park, where loved ones can gather to share stories and memories in his honor.
“Please join us in his last hurrah. As we know, not all [family is] linked by blood alone. Please come and give back some of the love and light he brought into the world,” the post from his sister reads.
“What makes a community is when you’re there for those around you,” Mae says, “and that’s what Justin can teach us, especially now.”