TRAGIC LOSS
Who was Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst and how did she die?
Cheslie's mother published her memoir By the Time You Read This posthumously
FORMER MISS USA winner Cheslie Kryst died on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
The pageant queen was 30 years old at the time of her death, and here's everything we know about her.
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Who was Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst?
Born on April 28, 1991, in Jackson, Michigan, Cheslie Kryst was the daughter of April Simpkins and Rodney Kryst.
After graduating from Fort Mill High School in 2009, Cheslie went on to earn her bachelor's degree in marketing and human resource management from the University of South Carolina.
Cheslie later returned to North Carolina, where she graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and a master's degree in Business Administration in 2017.
She went on to practice law in both North and South Carolina, with a focus on civil litigation.
The former Miss USA winner also founded the fashion blog White Collar Glam, which was used to help women dress professionally on the job.
As a teenager, Cheslie was crowned Miss Freshman at her first high school, Northwestern. She also earned the honor of Miss Fort Mill High School after she transferred.
In 2019, she was crowned Miss North Carolina. She went on to compete at the 2019 Miss USA competition, which took place in Reno, Nevada.
After taking home the crown, Cheslie took a one-year leave from her job as a lawyer and represented the United States at the Miss Universe pageant in December 2019.
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Cheslie was not married and was not known to share her relationship status with her fans or the media.
How did Cheslie Kryst die?
Cheslie Kryst died on January 30, 2022.
Around 7:30 am ET that day, the New York Police Department responded to a 911 call at Cheslie's Manhattan apartment.
Medical examiners conducted an autopsy on Monday, January 31, and one day later, she was confirmed to have died by suicide.
Cheslie Kryst’s mom shares heartbreaking tribute at Miss Universe 2023 after Miss USA 2019 took her own life age 30
Before her sudden death, Cheslie posted a photo of herself on captioned: "May this day bring you rest and peace."
"In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," said a from Cheslie's family.
"Her great light was one that sintered others around the world with her beauty and strength.
"She cares, she loved, she laughed and she shined. Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney or fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on EXTRA," the statement continued.
"But most importantly, as a daughter sister, friend mentor, and colleague - we know her impact will live on."
Speaking on Red Table Talk in May 2022, Cheslie's mom revealed this wasn't the first time she had attempted suicide.
"This was not her first suicide attempt," she said. "She attempted suicide before, and it was after that first attempt that she and I grew very close.
"I wanted her to feel comfortable calling me."
April also revealed Cheslie was seeing a counselor and was taking necessary strides toward bettering her mental health.
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What else was Cheslie Kryst known for?
In October of 2019, Cheslie became a correspondent for the New York branch of ExtraTV.
She was in charge of breaking the news that actor Terrence Howard planned to retire following the end of Empire.
Cheslie received a nomination for the 2020 and 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards, both for Outstanding Entertainment News Program.
Following the news of her death, ExtraTV took to their account to share a tribute to the late correspondent, writing: "Our hearts are broken. Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our 'Extra' family and touched the entire staff.
"Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends," the post continued.
Just before her death, Cheslie worked on a memoir called By The Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness.
Her final wish was that her book would be completed by her mother, April.
The book was released on April 23, 2024, with proceeds from the book going toward the , which supports mental health programs for young adults.
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If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on , or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
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