Former Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst, died by suicide on January 30, 2022. Kryst was a lawyer who helped to reform America’s justice system. She was also a fashion blogger, and a host on Extra. The New York Police Department has reported she jumped from the top of her apartment building in Manhattan.
Her family has put out a statement saying: “In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie, her great light inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined.”
Kryst started her career as a teenager when she entered the Miss Northwestern Pageant, and in 2019 when she was crowned Miss North Carolina. She then competed in Miss USA and won, becoming the oldest contestant to ever win. Later that year, she represented the United States in the Miss Universe Pageant, where she finished in the top 10.
Kryst was an advocate for mental health and she shared that she talked with a counselor. “When I’m not talking to my counselor, I take time at the end of every single day to just decompress,” she said. “I unplugged. I shut my phone off. I don’t answer messages. I just sit and watch my favorite movie.”
In an interview with ‘The Hilltop’, she discussed the topic of mental health once again. She discussed her mental health. She shared three things she does for her self-care. One, “I try to set a regular schedule so my alarm rings every day at 6:45. Two, I try to set very clear boundaries, so even though I’m at home and I’ve got my computer, my phone with me, I’m done answering emails at 6 o’clock, I’m not responding to messages. It’s over.” Third, she said, “I have a regular workout schedule that keeps my body healthy and my mind sharp.”
Kryst’s legacy will continue on, and inspire black girls after her. She was always one to turn down stereotypes, she shared that pageant girls aren’t supposed to be model-tall and slender, don bouffant hair, and have a killer walk. She was an advocate, she was involved in her community, and she was also vocal on black girl magic.
*If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis please call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, hours are 24/7
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