Miss USA 2019 Chesley Crist died by suicide in New York City last Sunday, at the age of 30.
Police said Krist, who worked as a reporter for the entertainment news program EXTRA, died after apparently jumping from an apartment building in Manhattan early Sunday morning, the Washington Post reported.
Crist’s family confirmed her death in a statement, saying, “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Chesley. Her brilliant light has been an inspiration to others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, loved, laughed and sparkled.”
Crest has been using her social media platform to speak out about mental health and social and criminal justice reform.
Krist was a lawyer in North Carolina when she entered the 2019 contest. Her resume and attendance wowed the judges and earned her many fans, and her victory was a milestone in a historic year that saw women of color win all five major beauty pageants.