Cheslie Kryst, former Miss USA, and Extra correspondent, passed away at 30 in January. In addition to being an attorney and scholar, Kryst was also a fashionista and a part of Black history.
Despite her untimely passing, Kryst had a mission to put others before herself. Kryst was inspired to make life easier for others, whether fighting for the incarcerated or serving on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas.
The family of Kryst released a statement to Blavity, confirming her passing and asking for privacy during this difficult time.
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie. Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined. 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. As we reflect on our loss, the family asks for privacy at this time.”
In honor of her charitable contributions and humanitarian work, the following highlights Cheslie Kryst’s life and career.
College years
Kryst had her first introduction to pageantry in high school when she won Miss Freshman while attending Northwestern High School.
She would win her second pageant when she transferred to Fort Mill High School before graduating in 2009. The future Miss USA would attend the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, graduating cum laude in 2013 with a degree in human resource management and marketing.
While attending the University of South Carolina (U of SC), Kryst was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and a star athlete of the Gamecocks women’s track and field team.
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Before embarking on a career in pageantry, Kryst resumed her education by attending the Wake Forest University of Law. She graduated with a law degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2017.
Practicing law
As a graduate of Wake Forest University, Kryst embarked on her career as an attorney, becoming licensed to practice law in North and South Carolina. Kryst served as an associate attorney of Poyner Spruill LLP, focusing on complex civil litigation.
According to her biography on the firm’s website, Kryst was committed to criminal justice reform and worked pro bono for clients, serving undeserved time for low-level drug offenses. The Washington Post reports that while Kryst took on pro bono cases of incarcerated people, she once helped a man facing life in prison for a low-level drug crime get released.
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In 2020, Kryst was named Poyner Spruill LLP’s first diversity adviser.
According to the firm’s website, Kryst’s new role would help advance and sharpen the law firm’s diversity and inclusion development. Dan Cahill, Poyner Spruill’s managing partner, said in a statement that Kryst’s knowledge and experiences would bring valuable insight to the firm.
“We are excited to have Cheslie serve the firm in this new role and to remain part of the Poyner team. Her passion, world experiences, and knowledge will offer great insight and direction,” Cahill said. “Our firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is energized about working alongside Cheslie to continue progressing toward and reaching our goals as we commit to fostering a firm culture that is both diverse and inclusive.”
According to Poyner Spruill’s website, Kryst was not actively practicing law.
White Collar Glam
While pursuing her pageantry career, Kryst founded her fashion blog, White Collar Glam, a website she started to provide her readers with workwear fashion inspiration and pointers on appropriate office wardrobes.
On the about us page of her fashion blog, Kryst explains how she competed in the American Association of Justice (AAJ) Trial Team National Championship. She learned the importance of having affordable suits available.
“I was traveling with my teammates for the AAJ Trial Team National Championship. The competition spanned several days, so I brought three suits to wear,” Kryst said. “Unfortunately, the courtrooms we were competing in did not have air conditioning. I sweated through my black suit on the first day. First suit, down. I tried wearing my dark gray suit for the second day of the competition. On the way to the courthouse, my teammates and I were hurriedly crossing a street when I hopped up onto a curb. My tiny hop was enough to rip open the slit on my skirt, tearing it all the way up the back of the skirt. Thank God I was wearing a long overcoat. Second suit, down.”
Kryst then described that after a teammate brought her third and final suit that ended up being too big, she started thinking about the financial struggles of law school students.
“My teammates and I advanced to the final day of the competition when the National Champion would be decided. And there I was without a single suit that fit me,” Kryst said. “I nearly had a nervous breakdown the night before the final competition. It made me wonder: How did I get here? Why was it so hard to find suits I could afford as a broke law school student? What in the world was I supposed to do about the competition?”
Kryst and her teammates would advance to the competition’s last day, where they would win the 2017 AAJ Trial Team National Championship. She would start White Collar Glam soon after.
Miss USA
According to People magazine, before competing in the Miss USA pageant in 2019, Kryst first competed for the Miss North Carolina crown in 2014 and was named runner-up. However, by that point, Kryst had become too old for the Miss America organization, which is open to candidates aged 17 and 26. Kryst would compete in the Miss North Carolina USA pageant in 2016 and place as the fourth runner-up. She would participate in the Miss North Carolina USA pageant two more times, winning Miss North Carolina 2019, representing Metrolina, the metropolitan area of North and South Carolina.
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As Miss North Carolina USA, Kryst competed at the Miss USA 2019 competition in May 2019. Kryst won the Miss USA title, becoming the third woman of color out of five, to win one of the biggest pageants in the country in 2019. At 28 years old, Kryst became the oldest beauty queen crowned Miss USA.
Kryst’s reign was scheduled to end in spring 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the longest-reigning Miss USA titleholder on June 5, 2020. Her reign lasted 557 days until Nov. 9, 2020, when she crowned Miss Mississippi Asya Branch.
Extra Correspondent
In October 2019, Kryst joined the nationally syndicated entertainment news show “Extra” as a special correspondent. In a statement released by the news show, Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey, “Extra” Senior Executive Producer, said Kryst is a moment-making machine.
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Cheslie Kryst is a moment-making machine. She’s not only Miss USA, but she’s also a lawyer with a powerful platform for women,” Gregorisch-Dempsey said. “Between Cheslie and Nate Burleson, we have an unbeatable New York team.”
While working for Extra, Kryst was nominated for two daytime Emmy awards. She worked as a correspondent for the news show until her death.
