The former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died Sunday in an apparent suicide.
A New York City Police Department representative told Insider that Kryst jumped from the 60-story building in Manhattan where she lived.
Kryst won the Miss USA title in 2019 while representing North Carolina. She also had a legal career and worked as a TV reporter.
Her family issued a statement confirming her death.
"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. As we reflect on our loss, the family asks for privacy at this time."
A representative for Extra TV, where Kryst worked as a host, said the company was devastated by the news.
"Our hearts are broken," the statement said. "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."
A source told the New York Post that Kryst left a note and said she wanted to leave everything to her mother.
Hours before her death, Kryst shared a post on Instagram with a caption that said "May this day bring you rest and peace."
Kryst was a complex-litigation attorney who worked pro bono with clients serving long sentences for low-level drug offenses. She helped free one client who had been sentenced to life in prison. She also spent years raising funds for the nonprofits Dress for Success and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
In 2019, Kryst was part of a historic moment when Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America all went to women of color.
Kryst told Insider at the time that being part of such a group was "surreal."
"I try to think of pageants as representative of what is happening now, and where we could go," she said. "So I was glad we could set this example, because there were so many women who messaged us afterward and said, 'You've inspired me to compete in pageants.' I just think this is an important moment, and maybe people can carry this inspiration into other areas of their lives."
Kryst also used her platform to speak out about Black Lives Matter as protests against police brutality swept the US after George Floyd's murder in June 2020.
"I've been waiting my whole life to advocate for causes that are important to me," she told Insider in November 2020. "And one of those is Black Lives Matter, it is racial equality, it is criminal-justice reform. And now all of those issues are at the forefront of people's minds."
"I just think, 'Wow, now I can speak out,'" she said. "And not just as Cheslie Kryst, but as the reigning Miss USA. And I think that's a really large message to be able to get across to people."
Tributes to Kryst poured in after her death, with colleagues, celebrities, and other pageant winners posting to social media.
Her law firm, Poyner Spruill, released a statement saying she was "an incredibly valuable member of our law firm community."
"Cheslie Kryst was a light that radiated every room she entered," the statement continued. "She was a passionate advocate both in and out of the courtroom."
Extra TV tweeted a link to a statement, saying, "Our hearts are broken." It added that Kryst "embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice."
—ExtraTV (@extratv) January 30, 2022
The Miss Universe Organization wrote in a post that Kryst "was one of the brightest, warmest, and most kind people we have ever had the privilege of knowing, and she lit up every room she entered."
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming themself or taking their own life, get help. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line — just text "HOME" to 741741. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers resources for those outside the US.
