Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died
NEW YORK — Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst jumps to her death from a New York City highrise on Sunday.
Police said they are investigating the death as a suicide.
Officers were called to The Orion condo building in Midtown Manhattan just after 7 a.m. ET Sunday where Ms. Kryst was found dead at the scene.
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie. Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined,” her family said in a statement.
“Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on ‘Extra.’ But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague—we know her impact will live on,” the statement said.
Ms. Kryst, 30 years old, was crowned Miss USA in 2019 and worked for ExtraTV since September 2019.
“Our hearts are broken,” ExtraTV said in a statement. “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.”
“She was one of the brightest, warmest, and most kind people we have ever had the privilege of knowing. Our entire community mourns her loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family right now,” the Miss Universe pageant shared on Twitter.
A former civil litigation attorney, Ms. Kryst worked on pro bono cases with the Buried Alive Project, seeking reduced sentences for people convicted of drug offenses.
Ms. Kryst lived in the 60-story Orion building, which sits on West 42nd Street a few blocks from Times Square.
In March 2021, she published an essay in Allure magazine discussing the pressure on people to be successful and also aging. “I now enter year 30 searching for joy and purpose on my own terms and that feels like my own sweet victory,” Ms. Kryst wrote.
“I wasn’t searching to collect more awards or recognition during my reign. Rather, I fed the passion that made waking up each morning feel worthwhile: speaking out against injustice,” she wrote.
Ms. Kryst attended the Wake Forest University School of Law and School of Business from 2013 until 2017 where she received both her J.D. and M.B.A., according to her LinkedIn profile. She got her Bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.
People mourned Ms. Kryst’s passing on social media, including former and recent winners of the Miss USA pageant.
“You were the definition of what being Miss USA meant and more importantly the woman I wanted to become,” the current Miss USA, Elle Smith, said in an Instagram post. Ms. Smith said she put Ms. Kryst’s picture on her vision board for last year “because you were the first Miss USA who made me believe in myself.”
Such incredibly sad news about #CheslieKryst
Depression creates deep despair & an overwhelming illusion that there’s no way forward in life
Remember: looking good & doing good things doesn’t = feeling/thinking “good”
Check on YOU, too
National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 pic.twitter.com/913b4ZVAnY
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 31, 2022
Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. , tweeted about Ms. Kryst’s death, calling the news “incredibly sad” and encouraging people to check in on themselves.
