Cheslie Kryst, the former Miss USA 2019, tragically died by suicide at the age of 30 on Sunday.
The beauty queen was pronounced dead in the morning after leaping out of the 60-story Orion building in New York City. She reportedly lived on the ninth floor of the high-rise, but was last seen at around 7:15 a.m. on the 29th-floor-terrace.
Kryst reportedly left behind a suicide note that did not detail her motives, but did explicitly leave all of her assets to her former pageant queen mother, 2002’s Mrs. North Carolina.
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” Kryst’s family said in a statement. “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.”
Former Miss USA and ‘Extra’ TV correspondent Cheslie Kryst has passed away at 30 after jumping from her New York City high rise building. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends during this time. 🙏🏽🤍 pic.twitter.com/5UIgySynMl
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) January 30, 2022
Hours before her death, Kryst posted a photo of herself on Instagram alongside a cryptic caption that read: “May this day bring you rest and peace.”
The 2019 Miss USA winner was one of four Black women, who all won titles of the Miss America, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Universe pageants the same year, for the first time in history.
“People will comment on our social media and be like, ‘Why are we talking about your race? You guys are just four, amazing women,'” she told “Good Morning America” about the accomplishment. “And I’m like, ‘Yes, we are four amazing women, but there was a time when we literally could not win!'”
Kryst had been noticeably absent from her frequent social media update schedule since January 17th, when she seemed pleased that her New Year workout sessions had provided her with Instagram worthy abs.
Her posts from the week prior showcased her fabulous lifestyle, which included videos from an Express modeling shoot on Jan. 14, and an interview with A-list actor Denzel Washington while working as a correspondent for Extra.
“Our hearts are broken,” the network 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.”
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