Our queen #CheslieKryst has passed away this morning at age 30. As today went on more details about her death have emerged. She took her own life. This is hard to write because I have also suffered from depression/anxiety for years. If I had not spoken up & begged for help, honestly, I wouldn't be here today either. It's an uncomfortable conversation but it needs to be had. Stories like this should be shared more from people of all walks of life. You're not alone in this. Depression looks like this too. Smiling, beautiful, with flowers & a crown. So many of us are walking around with so much pain in our hearts & minds. It can be too much to bear. This was her way of ending that pain. I've learned that this is an illness. At it's worst, depression can put you in an alternate universe. We see the same world as everyone else does but it's also different, sometimes hard to explain. What other people see as simple, is harder for us. What other people see as lighter, is darker. What others see as hopeful, is hopeless. The despair creates an illusion that the pain will never end no matter how hard you try. I know she tried. Cheslie Corrinne Kryst hailed from Charlotte, NC. She was a tv correspondent, model, attorney & won the title of #MissUSA 2019. She made history along with 3 other women. It was the first time that all 4 major beauty pageants were won by women of #African ancestry. #ZozibiniTunzi of #SouthAfrica was #MissUniverse, #NiaFranklin from NY was #MissAmerica & #KaleighGarris from CT was #MissTeenUSA. It was a major win for #WOC. Cheslie followed in her mother's footsteps, she was crowned #MissNorthCarolinaUS when Cheslie was a child. Cheslie's mother is #Black & her father is #Polish. After her win, she was a correspondent for Extra, which gave her 2 Daytime Emmy nominations. She was also an advocate against hair discrimination & spoke up about how women, especially Black women, were treated in corporate America. She was a true champion & the universe will miss her. Check on your strong friends, your quiet friends, your happy friends, your busy friends, your creative friends but always make sure to check on YOU. 🏴🇵🇱 #RIPCheslieKryst #twsuicide https://www.instagram.com/p/CZYNHJ7Mzfx/?utm_medium=tumblr
