Cheslie Kryst: Former Miss USA dead at 30 from apparent suicide

(Image credit: Chelsie Kryst / Facebook)

Devastating news coming out of New York City as it’s being widely reported that Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant and a correspondent for the entertainment news show “Extra,” has died at age 30. Police said Kryst jumped from a Manhattan high-rise building and was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday morning. Her family confirmed her death in a statement.

Born in Michigan, Kryst was an attorney practicing in North Carolina before making the move to TV. “She was a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and had worked pro-bono for clients serving excessive prison time for low-level drug offenses,” according to The Huffington Post.

Kryst joined “Extra” as a correspondent in 2019. The producers for that show also released a statement regarding her untimely passing:

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. https://t.co/KkkW7POQoU
— ExtraTV (@extratv) January 30, 2022

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. ~ ABC News

The Orion Building, 350 W 42nd Str.
Image credit: Google Maps

In a now hauntingly macabre final statement, the former Miss USA was on Instagram just hours before leaping to her death, posting, “May this day bring you rest and peace.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cheslie Kryst, JD, MBA (@chesliekryst)

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.