Former Miss USA Lept To Her Death From 60-Story Luxury NYC Apartment

A former Miss USA winner who had a thriving career as a lawyer was identified as the woman who jumped off a high-rise building in Manhattan on Sunday, Jan. 30, causing an outpouring of tributes to the much-beloved woman.

Cheslie Kryst, a 30-year-old former beauty queen, was found dead in the street right next to the 60-story Orion luxury building in Manhattan at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. The former Miss USA leaves behind her earthly possessions to her mother, who herself was Miss North Carolina in 2002, according to the New York Post.

“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” Kryst’s family said in a statement on Sunday. “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.”

“Our hearts are broken,” the company running "Extra" said in a statement. “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.”

Beyond her 2019 win as Miss USA, she was also Miss North Carolina for three consecutive runs, and she earned an MBA and Juris Doctor law degree at the Wake Forest University School of Law, after which she practiced law in North and South Carolina, Variety reported.

Kryst competed in the Miss Universe pageant in 2019, where she placed in the top 10 of the rankings; after that, she worked as a New York correspondent for the TV show "Extra," for which she earned two Daytime Emmy nominations for her work.

“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,” her family said in a statement. “But most importantly as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor, and colleague — we know her impact will live on.”

Kryst has spoken out previously about having issues with her mental health, admitting that she talks to a counselor regularly to ensure that she has great strategies to use when she feels down with her feelings and emotions.

“I do a lot to make sure that I maintain my mental health,” she said. “And the most important thing that I did is talk to a counselor. She’s really easy to talk to. She gives me great strategies especially if I’m sad or happy or have a busy month ahead of me.”