The mother of former Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst, opened up for the first time since her daughter’s death on Sunday.
“I have never known a pain as deep as this,” April Simpkins wrote in a statement, obtained by TMZ. “I am forever changed.”
Simpkins revealed that her daughter suffered from “high-functioning depression” before her death. “While it may be hard to believe, it’s true. Cheslie led both a public and a private life,” she wrote. “In her private life, she was dealing with high-functioning depression which she hid from everyone — including me, her closest confidant — until very shortly before her death.”
Though Kryst only disclosed this information to Simpkins and no one else, her mother said her life was filled with beautiful memories and that her loved ones would miss her.
“While her life on this earth was short, it was filled with many beautiful memories. We miss her laugh, her words of wisdom, her sense of humor and mostly her hugs. We miss all of it — we miss all of her,” Simpkins wrote in a statement with EXTRA. “She was a vital part of our family, which makes this loss even more devastating.”
“Cheslie — to the world, you were a ball of sunshine wrapped in smiles. We talked, FaceTimed or texted one another all day, every day. You were more than a daughter — you were my very best friend. Talking with you was one of the best parts of my day. Your smile and laugh were infectious,” Simpkins said.
Simpkins closed her statement, saying, “I love you, baby girl, with all my heart. I miss you desperately. I know one day we’ll be together again. Until then, rest easy and in peace.”
Kryst, an attorney and former Miss USA 2019, died on Sunday, Jan. 30, from an apparent suicide in New York City, Sis2Sis reported.
She reportedly jumped from a luxury 60-story building at 350 W. 42nd St. in New York City around 7:15 a.m. eastern time, police said.
The 30-year-old was also a correspondent for EXTRA TV. “Our hearts are broken,” the company said in a statement. “Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show. She was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff. Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends.”
