A woman who jumped to her death from a New York City high-rise apartment building has been identified as former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst. The beautiful pageant winner was also a correspondent for the entertainment news program "Extra." She was only 30 years old.
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.
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.
"In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," the statement said. "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."
In a statement Sunday, the nationally syndicated program "Extra" called her "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."
We first reported on Kryst as a part of the 'Black Girl Magic' phenomenon that happened in 2019 when, for the first time ever, three Black women simultaneously held titles from America’s biggest pageants.
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Cheslie, Kaliegh Garris, and Nia Franklin were named Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America, respectively. Kryst even appeared on GMA to highlight the achievement.
It was a celebratory time for Black women in pageants and seemed as though Kryst and the others were riding the wave of stardom and destined for great things.
Besides working in law, Kryst operated a......blog on fashion, White Collar Glam, for women's workwear and volunteered for Dress for Success, a national women's empowerment program that provides support, professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Carli Batson, the reigning Miss North Carolina wrote on social media that "Cheslie's spirit, selflessness and ability to love boundlessly will never be forgotten.
Cheslie has always been such an inspiration to me and so many others. I am still in disbelief. North Carolina holds Cheslie's friends and family in our hearts tonight & forever."
Kryst posted a picture of herself on social media Sunday morning with the caption: "May this day bring you rest and peace."
Mental health experts say this is a reminder that we should check in on our loved ones.
“I think in the past suicide — or suicidal behavior — was just thought of as a white thing,” said Dr. Sheftall, a principal investigator at the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “And that’s not the case.”
For more than a decade, suicide rates have been increasing in Black children and adolescents, and a 2021 study says the sharpest rise occurred among young girls.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that just over 1,800 Black children died by suicide between 2003 and 2017, and while most of the deaths were among boys, especially those ages 15 to 17, the gender gap is narrowing.
The suicide rate of the girls increased an average of 6.6 percent each year — more than twice the increase for boys, the study said. Nearly 40 percent of the girls were 12 to 14 years old, indicating that this age group may need additional attention or different types of interventions.
While we still do not know the full story behind this tragedy, reports are coming in that Kryst left a note leaving all of her possessions to her mother.
Check back often to see updates on this developing story.
