Cheslie Kryst Death
Enlarge this image. Miss North Carolina Cheslie pictured as she Kryst wins the 2019 Miss USA final competition in Reno, Nev., in 2019. Kryst, a correspondent for the entertainment news program Extra has died at age 30. Jason Bean/A.P. hide caption. Jason Bean/A.P.
Miss North Carolina Cheslie, pictured as Kryst, wins the 2019 Miss USA final competition in Reno, Nev., in 2019. Kryst, a correspondent for the entertainment news program Extra has died at age 30. Jason Bean/A.P. NEW YORK — Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant and a correspondent for the entertainment news program Extra, has died at age 30.
Police said Kryst jumped from a Manhattan apartment building and was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday morning. Her family confirmed her death in a statement. "In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," the statement said. "Her great light inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength.
She cared, she loved, laughed, and she shined. 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," her family said. Kryst, a former Division I athlete and North Carolina attorney, won the Miss USA pageant in May 2019 and competed in the Miss Universe pageant.
When Kryst was crowned, it marked more than a personal triumph: It meant that for the first time, three Black women were the reigning Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America.
In a statement Sunday, the nationally syndicated program Extra called Kryst "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 University of South Carolina mourned the former student-athlete, calling her "a woman of many talents." Kryst also held an MBA from Wake Forest University. Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina recalled meeting with Kryst in 2019 to discuss issues affecting their home state. According to police, Kryst's body was found at approximately 7 a.m. Sunday in front of the Orion building, a high-rise on West 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan.
Her body was found in a Manhattan neighborhood near Times Square. She worked for a law firm and as a correspondent for television's "Extra.". Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst at the NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on June 19, 2019.Bruce Bennett / Getty Images file.
A woman whose body was found on a New York City street early Sunday was identified by police as lawyer Cheslie Kryst, 30, a former Miss USA who also worked as a correspondent for television's "Extra.".
New York police said the body, which was found on West 42nd Street, appeared to have fallen from an elevated position and that Kryst's death was most likely the result of suicide. Her family said in a statement: "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.".
Kryst competed as Miss North Carolina USA when she won the Miss USA title in 2019. She was a top 10 finisher in the next Miss Universe competition.
Although her fame came from her pageant achievements, she was also a lawyer who worked for a firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. On April 28, 1991, Kryst was born in Jackson, Michigan, and went to high school in South Carolina before graduating cum laude from the University of South Carolina.
Kryst told the North Carolina Bar Association's blog in 2019 that she was inspired to enter pageant competition by her mother, April Simpkins, who was Mrs. North Carolina in 2002. "I remember watching her win and going to appearances with her during her reign," Kryst said. "Her title provided her with a platform to advocate for issues that were important to her, and people listened.".
It took Kryst five tries to win the North Carolina title before she went on to take Miss USA. She acknowledged her tenacity by citing a quote widely attributed to Winston Churchill: "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.".
Her time at the Charlotte offices of Poyner Spruill LLP's office appeared to be fruitful. It elevated her to the position of diversity adviser in 2020 after her pageant sabbatical in 2019. "She is passionate about criminal justice reform and has worked pro bono for clients serving excessive time for low-level drug offenses," the firm said in 2020.
She said in 2019 that she worked as a civil litigator while carving out her own time to reduce the sentences of deserving inmates. The firm also noted that Kryst served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and was an "impact ambassador" for the nonprofit women's support group Dress for Success.
According to her credits, Kryst's work at "Extra" appeared to be occasional. "Our hearts are broken," the entertainment news show 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.".
