Cheslie Kryst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheslie Kryst
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Kryst as Miss USA 2019
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| Born |
Cheslie Corrinne Kryst
April 28, 1991 Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | January 30, 2022 (aged 30) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (BS) Wake Forest University (JD; MBA) |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Title | Miss North Carolina USA 2019 Miss USA 2019 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss USA 2019 (Winner) Miss Universe 2019 (Top 10) |
Cheslie Corrinne Kryst (born April 28, 1991 – died January 30, 2022) was an amazing American television reporter, model, and beauty queen. She was crowned Miss USA 2019. Cheslie was also a lawyer. She worked as a correspondent for the TV show Extra from October 2019 until she passed away. Her work on Extra earned her two nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards.
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Early Life and Education
Cheslie Corrinne Kryst was born on April 28, 1991, in Jackson, Michigan. Her mother was African-American, and her father was Polish-American. Cheslie had four brothers: Asa, Chandler, Jet, and Brooklyn. She also had a sister named Page.
Her mother, April Simpkins, also competed in beauty pageants. She was crowned Mrs. North Carolina US when Cheslie was a child. Cheslie's family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, when she was young. They later settled in Rock Hill, South Carolina. There, Cheslie went to Northwestern High School.
The family then moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina. Cheslie transferred to Fort Mill High School and graduated in 2009. Both cities are near the larger city of Charlotte.
After high school, Cheslie moved to Columbia, South Carolina. She attended the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. In 2013, she graduated with honors. She earned a degree in marketing and human resource management. While there, she was part of an honor society. She also joined the Gamecocks women's track and field team. She was also on the mock trial team.
After her first degree, Cheslie went to Wake Forest University School of Law. This was in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She earned two advanced degrees in 2017: a law degree and a business degree.
Law Career and Fashion Blog
After graduating, Cheslie became a licensed lawyer. She could practice law in both North Carolina and South Carolina. She started working at a law firm called Poyner Spruill LLP. She focused on complex civil cases.
Cheslie also started a fashion blog called White Collar Glam. This blog helped women learn how to dress professionally for office jobs.
Pageantry Journey
Cheslie started her journey in beauty pageants as a teenager. She won Miss Freshman at Northwestern High School. Later, she won Miss Fort Mill High School.
After a break, Cheslie tried to win the Miss North Carolina title twice. The first time, she placed in the top ten. The second time, she was the first runner-up. This means she was almost the winner.
Becoming Miss USA 2019
In 2016, Cheslie competed in Miss North Carolina USA 2017. She finished as the fourth runner-up. She tried again the next year and placed in the top ten.
Finally, in 2019, she competed in Miss North Carolina USA again. This time, she won the title! She represented the Metrolina area.
As Miss North Carolina USA, Cheslie earned the right to represent North Carolina at the Miss USA 2019 competition. This event was held in Reno, Nevada. She won the competition! She became the third woman from North Carolina to win the Miss USA title.
Cheslie was 28 years and 4 days old when she won. This made her the oldest woman to be crowned Miss USA. She broke the previous record. After winning Miss USA, Cheslie crowned Laura Little as the new Miss North Carolina USA.
In 2019, something special happened. For the first time ever, all four major US beauty pageants were won by women of African ancestry. These winners were Zozibini Tunzi (Miss Universe), Nia Franklin (Miss America), Kaliegh Garris (Miss Teen USA), and Cheslie Kryst (Miss USA).
As Miss USA, Cheslie took a year off from her law career. This allowed her to focus on her duties as Miss USA. She represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2019 competition. This was on December 8, 2019. She finished in the top ten.
Her national costume was inspired by four famous American women. These included Rosie the Riveter, the Statue of Liberty, Maya Angelou, and Lady Justice. Cheslie's reign as Miss USA was supposed to end in spring 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the longest-reigning Miss USA. Her reign lasted 557 days. It ended on November 9, 2020. She crowned Asya Branch as her successor.
Television Hosting Career
In October 2019, Cheslie became a reporter in New York City for the TV show Extra. She had been a special reporter for them in September 2019.
In 2020, Cheslie was nominated for an award. It was for Outstanding Entertainment News Program at the 47th Daytime Emmy Awards. This was for her work as a New York correspondent for Extra. She was nominated for the same award again the next year.
Passing Away
Cheslie Kryst passed away on January 30, 2022. Her mother, April Simpkins, shared a statement. She said that Cheslie had been dealing with "high-functioning depression."
See also
In Spanish: Cheslie Kryst para niños
