Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 pageant winner, took her own life in New York on Sunday, the NY Post reported, citing law enforcement sources.Shortly before she fell to her death, Kryst posted on her Instagram, “May this day bring you rest and peace.”After being crowned Miss North Carolina USA in 2019, she went on to be win Miss USA in the overall competition that year, becoming the oldest woman to do so at the age of 28.She represented the United States at the Miss Universe competition later that year, finishing in the top 10.Kryst also worked as a reporter for ExtraTV, and had previously spoken out about mental health issues.“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” her family said in a statement on Sunday.“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. But most importantly as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague — we know her impact will live on.”Police sources told the NY Post that Kryst left a note saying she wanted to leave everything to her mother, but that it did not include an explanation for her actions.“Not only beautiful but she was smart — she was a lawyer,” a police source told the paper. “She has a life that anyone would be jealous of. It’s so sad.”ExtraTV said in a statement, “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, originally from Michigan, was born to a Polish-American father and African American mother.Her family moved to North Carolina when she was young and later to South Carolina, where she attended the University of South Carolina, graduating from the Darla Moore School of Business with a degree in marketing and human resource management in 2013.She began competing in beauty pageants as a teenager, later making two attempts at the Miss North Carolina title before eventually winning.After graduating she practised law in both North Carolina and South Carolina, working as an attorney on complex civil litigation.“My law firm has been so supportive. I’ve heard from our managing partner that they’re going to keep my office open for me, so I’m free to return after I complete my duties as Miss USA,” she told the HollywoodLife podcast in 2019.In the interview, she revealed she also worked pro bono to help free prisoners with excessive sentences, alongside her stepdad and one of the lawyers supported by Kim Kardashian.“Brittany Barnett is one of the attorneys doing a lot of the pro bono work that Kim Kardashian has supported,” she said.“So if you’ve heard about Alice Johnson being released from prison, Brittany is the attorney who worked with Kim and Alice Johnson on that specific case. She and I are currently co-counsel on a North Carolina case that is similar to Alice’s. We are working with people who generally have been sentenced to excessive sentences for low level drug crimes. So, for my step dad and I, our client has been sentenced to life in prison for a low level drug crime.”Kryst had spoken about her mental health in the past, offering tips on how she coped with stress for World Mental Health Day in 2019.“I do a lot to make sure that I maintain my mental health,” she said in a video on Facebook.“And the most important thing that I did is talk to a counsellor. She’s really easy to talk to. She gives me great strategies especially if I’m sad or happy or have a busy month ahead of me. When I’m not talking to my counsellor, I spend time at the end of every single day to just decompress. I unplug, I shut my phone off, I don’t answer messages. I just sit and watch my favourite movies.”She also discussed her mental health in a 2020 interview with college newspaper The Hilltop.“There are three things I’m doing with regard to self-care,” she said.“Number one, I try to set a regular schedule, so my alarm rings every day at 6.45, I know that I’m getting up and I’m starting my day. Two, I try to set very clear boundaries, so even though I know I’m at home and I’ve got my computer and my phone with me, I’m done answering emails at six o’clock, I’m not responding to messages, it’s over. That helps me a lot. Three, I have a regular workout schedule that keeps my body healthy and my mind sharp.”Mental health support
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