Charlotte remembers former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst on what would have been 31st birthday
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The family of the late Cheslie Kryst, a beloved Charlotte attorney turned beauty queen, will celebrate what would have been her 31st birthday with a public memorial Thursday, April 28.
How to attend: The vigil and balloon release is open to the public and will take place from 7-8pm on the football stadium at Fort Mill High School. The exact address is 225 Munn Road E. in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Background: Kryst died by suicide at age 30 on Sunday, Jan. 30. “Cheslie led both a public and a private life,” Kryst’s mom April Simpkins said in a statement shortly after her death. “In her private life, she was dealing with high-functioning depression which she hid from everyone — including me, her closest confidant — until very shortly before her death.”
- Kryst was an influential Charlottean. She worked as a civil litigation attorney before and during her run for Miss USA in 2019. Following her crowning, Kryst moved to New York City and became a correspondent and host for Extra.
What they’re saying: “She was truly the best friend I have ever had,” Simpkins said during Kryst’s memorial in February. She wore a pink pants suit, an outfit she said made her feel close to her daughter. “She is forever my baby girl.”
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At the February memorial, Simpkins left the audience with three calls to action to honor Cheslie.
- “Take care of your mental health,” she said, encouraging people to get help before you’re in crisis.
- Add the suicide prevention hotline to your phone contact book today: 1-800-273-8255.
- Lastly, she said, “honor Cheslie by becoming an ally for a community that needs support. … Be selfless like Cheslie.”
Give back: The family has also worked with four organizations to set up funds and scholarships in Kryst’s memory.
- Dress For Success – The Cheslie Kryst Women’s Advancement Fund
- Wake Forest University School of Law – The Cheslie C. Kryst Social Justice Scholarship
- University of South Carolina – The Cheslie C. Kryst Scholarship Fund
- The Dean’s List – The Cheslie C. Kryst Woman In Media Award
