Cheslie Kryst, who was Miss USA 2019, killed herself on Saturday morning by jumping from the 60th floor of her luxury New York City high-rise. Kryst was a lawyer as well as a correspondent on entertainment show “Extra.” She lived on the ninth floor of the building that she ultimately leapt to her death from. She was 30 years-old.
“Not only beautiful but she was smart — she was a lawyer,” a police insider told the New York Post. “She has a life that anyone would be jealous of. … It’s so sad.”
Kryst was Miss North Carolina when she won the coveted Miss USA crown in 2019. When asked to use one word to describe her generation in the final round, Kryst cemented her eventual victory by using the word “innovative.”
“I’m standing here in Nevada, in the state that has the first female majority legislature in the entire country,” she said. “Mine is the first generation to have that forward-looking mindset that has inclusivity, diversity, strength and empowered women. I’m looking forward to continued progress in my generation.”
Related: Newly Crowned Miss USA 2020 Is A Gun-Loving Patriot Who Sang At Trump Rally
At the time, Kryst made history becoming the oldest Miss USA at the age of 28. Afterward, she continued her career in law while also becoming a correspondent for “Extra.”
Her colleague Billy Bush describing her suicide as a “complete shock.”
“Extra” wrote: “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.”
Kryst’s family released a statement saying that the beauty queen was a woman who “inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength.”
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” they said in a statement obtained by Daily Mail. “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.”
“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,” they added. “But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on. As we reflect on our loss, the family asks for privacy at this time.”
Find out more about Kryst’s death in the video below.
In the wake of her death, it has been revealed that Kryst struggled with turning 30 last year, feeling that she was quickly becoming too old to be successful in the youth-obsessed entertainment business. Kryst admitted in an essay for Allure last month that the idea of turning 30 a few weeks later made her “cringe.”
“Society has never been kind to those growing old, especially women,” she wrote. “…Turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes – and it’s infuriating.”
Kryst went on to admit that she struggled with the “the relentless tick of time,” and was obsessed with “20 under 20” and “30 under 30” lists that tied various life achievements to being a successful young person.
Hours before her suicide, Kryst took to Instagram to post a photo of herself along with the chilling caption, “may this day bring you rest and peace.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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