Oldest Miss USA Commits Suicide At 30

Apparently, she hid depression from the world.

She made history as the oldest Miss USA winner in the pageant’s history.

A few days ago, Cheslie Kryst committed suicide.

The 30-year-old (!) jumped to her death from the luxury 60-story Orion condo building at 350 West 42nd Street in New York City.

When a friend told me this over the phone, I couldn’t believe it. It’s so sad.

Society has never been kind to those growing old.

My friend told me, in spring 2021, he read an interview she gave the American women’s magazine Allure.

In this interview, she talked about

• the fear of turning 30 years old and getting older
• overcoming the relentless pressure to achieve

Cheslie Kryst was an attorney, Emmy Award-nominated television presenter, and the winner of Miss USA 2019, still she said to Allure:

Each time I say, “I’m turning 30,” I cringe a little. (…)

Society has never been kind to those growing old, especially women (…).

This statement reminded me of Sarah Jessica Parker from SATC showing her gray hair in public and getting criticized for it.

Here’s my take on this:

I nearly worked myself to death.

Another statement from her interview struck me because for me it's so relatable.

I nearly worked myself to death, literally, until an eight-day stint in a local hospital sparked the development of a new perspective.

While climbing the career ladder, I often felt empty although I accomplished so many things:

• I studied journalism and media communications.
• When I was 24 years old, I started working in one of the world’s leading international agencies. I got tinnitus from thousands of telephone calls in a very loud working environment.
• At 28, I decided to do more: to work full-time and earn an MBA in marketing and dialogue marketing at the same time. It was exhausting. Even on Sundays, I had to work for my studies or the agency.
• At 29, I became a brand manager and sometimes had to work until 4 a.m. in the morning for a presentation.

When I caught Covid last spring, I asked myself for the very first time:

What do I really want in life?

Why do I do what I do?

The world’s most important question is: why?

Cheslie said to Allure:

Why work so hard to capture the dreams I’ve been taught by society to want when I continue to find only emptiness?

For me and my family, this meant that we did everything society and our families applauded us for:

• We had a baby.
• We had well-paid day jobs.
• We moved into a big condo of 160 m².

But suddenly, there was something about our lifestyle that felt deeply, tragically wrong

Our apartment was filled with new furniture, still, we felt empty inside.

Here’s the full story:

This leads to entering a new epic epoch.

When I had to stay in the isolation ward of the hospital with suspected pulmonary embolism, this sparked a new perspective.

I didn't want to die.

I wanted to live the life I truly want to live.

Long story short: I’m so grateful we took the leap of faith.

The most logical thing to do is often to actually take the leap of faith.

For us, this means, we left our big apartment and family behind and moved to a German island.

Living in our small but cozy apartment, going to the beach each day, surfing the crest, and enjoying the good life feels amazing.

It feels like entering a new epic epoch.

Each night I go to bed I feel good.

Here’s my take on this:

Closing Words

In an interview with NBC News Cheslie’s mother revealed that her daughter apparently hid her depression from the world.

She was dealing with high-functioning depression which she hid from everyone (…)

Depression is a beast.

It’s a dreadful loss — not only to her family and close friends but also to the untold numbers of young women who dreamed of being just like her.

My thoughts and prayers are with Cheslie’s family during this difficult time.

Cheslie Kryst. Rest in peace.

(If you or someone you know is in crisis, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for help.)

© Kristina God

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