Who Was Cheslie Kryst?
Image Courtesy: Axios Charlotte
The morning of January 31st, the heartbreaking news of Cheslie Kryst’s death swarmed the internet. It is always alarming to see young people with bright futures ahead of them pass away; you can’t help but think, “They were so young, why them?” Unfortunately, an autopsy has confirmed that Kryst’s passing was a suicide. It is shocking to see a young person die, but by suicide, sometimes you don’t even know how to feel. Kryst’s memory will go on to be a blessing, as she contributed so much good to such a cruel world.
Inspired by her mother, Kryst began competing in beauty pageants as a teenager. She won her first pageant competing for the Miss Northwestern title while in high school, then competed in the Miss North Carolina pageant for the first time in 2014, eventually placing as runner-up the following year. Chasing her dreams, Kryst decided to go for the Miss USA title in 2016 and 2017. Upon not receiving the results she desired, the public was shocked to hear that Kryst would go after the title one last time at the age of twenty-eight years old (the last year women are eligible to compete). Sure enough, the beautiful Cheslie Kryst prevailed and finally won Miss USA. When hearing “Cheslie Kryst,” the average person automatically correlates the name to her victory at the 2019 Miss USA pageant, and while this title is an astonishing accomplishment, Kryst’s success is not restricted to pageants won.
Image Courtesy: Fort Worth Business Press
Cheslie had beauty AND (more importantly) brains. Kryst spent her college years at the University of South Carolina, graduating cum laude with a marketing and human resource management degree. Cheslie was extremely well-rounded, participating in mock trials and the track team. Being a self-driven woman, Kryst continued to follow her dreams at the Wake Forest University School of Law.
Image Courtesy: Instagram @chesliekryst
Honorably, helping free inmates who received unnecessarily excessive sentences was a significant part of her career and it is heartening to know that there are selfless people like Kryst who genuinely care about reforming the criminal justice system. In a 2019 Hollywoodlife podcast, Kryst shared that she was working alongside her attorney and step-father to free prisoners with unreasonable sentences. One of her clients was Edward Watson, a man sentenced to life for drug and weapon charges. Recently, the Charlotte Observer revealed that Watson was released from prison this past December thanks to Kryst’s diligence, but her list of accomplishments doesn’t end there; Kryst also became a television host for ExtraTV. While at Extra, she had the opportunity to interview the cast of Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, and work the Oscars as an Extra correspondent.
Evidently, Kryst was far more than just a pretty face; she had brains, beauty, personality, and a sincere heart. As an outsider, you could say that she almost had it all. How could someone who seemed to be flourishing the way Kryst did feel so lonely on the inside? It goes to show that depression can affect ANYONE. Depression is not something people “decide” to have; it’s an everyday mental battle that eats individuals up. There are young people out there, like Cheslie Kryst, who thrive on the outside yet struggle in silence every moment of their lives. It’s crucial to remind those around you that depression is not something they need to fight alone; it can be the difference in someone’s day, week, or even life. Kryst’s tenacity and goodwill will not go unnoticed.
Image Courtesy: Strike FAU
In Cheslie’s honor, the least we can do is check on our peers. It is up to us to ensure that everyone realizes their value and understands the potential that stands before them. You are loved, and you are not alone.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
800-273-8255
Strike Out,
Lili Jahromi
Boca Raton
Lili Jahromi is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine. She spends an unnecessary amount of her time idolizing Lady Gaga, sharing intimate moments with her friends, and beachin’ it with her b*tches. You can reach her at jahromilrose@yahoo.com
