Ex-Miss USA Dies In Jump From Hell's Kitchen Building: Police

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — Relatives and colleagues are mourning the loss of Cheslie Kryst, the Miss USA winner, television correspondent and attorney who took her own life Sunday by leaping from her Hell's Kitchen apartment building, according to police.

Kryst, 30, was found about 7:15 a.m. in front of her home at the 60-story Orion Condominium on West 42nd Street and Ninth Avenue, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, and police determined that she had jumped, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Before her rise to fame, Kryst had received a master's degree in business and a law degree from Wake Forest University, and worked as an attorney in North Carolina. After being crowned Miss USA in 2019, Kryst began serving as a correspondent for the entertainment show "Extra," receiving two Emmy nominations for her work.

"Our hearts are broken," reads an Instagram post from the TV show that appeared Sunday. "Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our 'Extra' family and touched the entire staff."

The program also released a statement from Kryst's family, who wrote of their "devastation and great sorrow.

"Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength," the family said. "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."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. Its website offers services including a live chat.