Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant and a correspondent for the entertainment news program “Extra,” has died at age 30. When Kryst was crowned, it marked more than a personal triumph: It meant that for the first time, three women of color were the reigning Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America.

"By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness."

Cheslie Kryst, the trailblazing former Miss USA who took her own life at age 30 in January 2022, was working on a memoir prior to her tragic death exploring her private struggles with depression. Kryst made history as the oldest woman ever crowned Miss USA in 2019 at age 28. Kryst was battling intense inner pain.

She was smiling and bubbly and happy, and that was her true self, but there was still a lot of pain that she felt. Simpkins her mother - shared that when she first learned Kryst was gone, part of her thought she would die from a broken heart. While grieving, she faced criticism from some on social media, asking why she was unaware of her daughter's struggles or why she wasn’t able to save her, given their close relationship. Her daughter had fought for many years, and no one was to blame. As a mother, “you want to fight every battle, and you want your children to know, ‘I got your back,'” she said. “But mental illness is a fight you can’t fight for your child.”

Anxiety can trigger depression and other behavioral physical and mental health issues. It is especially hard if you are dealing with other personal, work, relationship, or family-related issues. It is okay to ask for help.