Former Miss USA winner’s death leads to larger conversation about modeling industry and suicide prevention

March 22, 2022

By Ely Baeza
Staff Writer

Cheslie Kryst, who won the 2019 Miss USA beauty pageant at the age of 28, was pronounced dead on Jan. 30 after she jumped from the building in which she lived in New York City. 

Kryst moved around a lot when she was a child. After graduating high school in 2009, Kryst went to the University of South Carolina and Dark Moore School of Business where she was on the track and field team and participated in mock trials.

Sophomore Fabiana Chavez said Kryst’s last Instagram post, which read “May this day bring you rest and peace,” deceived her followers because of its seemingly positive message. 

“[H]er last Instagram caption portrayed her being in perhaps a happy mood,” Chavez said. “[The post] seems morbid [considering] the events that happened after.”

Chavez said she believes Kryst took her own life because of the pressure she was facing.

 “She felt she had to be perfect for her mother and for the world,” Chavez said.

Kryst, who was both a model and practicing lawyer, faced harassment online and in person because of her race and gender.

“If anything can be said about Ms. Kryst’s tragic death, it is that people who are seemingly put together, successful and ambitious can also be in need of support and can be at risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health risk factors.”

Towards the end of her life, Kryst was shamed for being too old for beauty pageants. This shaming had been going on for years. When Kryst won Miss USA in 2019, she was harassed by people online who said she was not pretty enough or too old to win, even though she was only 28 at the time. 

School psychologist Mr. Leiva, who is part of LHS’s anti-bullying-specialist supporting staff, said Kryst faced pressure because modeling is a highly competitive business that demands perfection. 

“This may contribute to all kinds of stressors even for those people in the industry who have found success,” Leiva said. “Artists may struggle with upholding their positive self-image and may negatively internalize the public image of social opinion.” 

Leiva said he would advise people who feel pressured to uphold a perfect image to refocus their efforts towards achieving balance in their lives.

Kryst’s death prompted insensitive comments online regarding suicide. 

Leiva said individuals who criticize the actions of any person who commits suicide lack an understanding of mental health risk factors. 

“To criticize Ms. Kryst by calling her weak suggests that a person who is perceived by others to be strong is not at risk of committing suicide,” Leiva said. “If anything can be said about Ms. Kryst’s tragic death, it is that people who are seemingly put together, successful and ambitious can also be in need of support and can be at risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health risk factors.”

School psychologist Mrs. Jaegge said when a person dies by suicide, it has a traumatic and indelible effect on those they leave behind.

“Not only do families grieve for the loved one they lost, but they also are left with questions and considerable guilt about signs they may have missed,” Jaegge said.

She said a celebrity’s suicide can have a widespread impact. 

“Some may grieve, while others might feel triggered if they have lost someone to suicide or if they have struggled with suicidal ideation,” Jaegge said.

She said suicide creates a permanent outcome for a temporary problem.  

Jaegge said those who are thinking about suicide or would like emotional support should reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line, which can be accessed by texting “HOME” to 741741.