April Simpkins, the mother of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst has revealed her daughter battled ‘high-functioning depression before she leaped from a Manhattan apartment building to her death battled high-functioning depression.
Kryst, 30, was found on a sidewalk next to her luxury apartment building The Orion in Hell’s Kitchen on Sunday morning. The beauty queen who lived alone in the complex’s ninth floor was last seen in a common area on an open terrace on the 29th level.
Taking to Instagram to pay tribute to her daughter, Simpkins said Kryst’s bubbly and vivacious personality masked inner struggles.
She wrote:
I have never known a pain as deep as this. I am forever changed.
Today, what our family and friends privately knew was the cause of death of my sweet baby girl, Cheslie, was officially confirmed. While it may be hard to believe, it’s true. Cheslie led both a public and a private life. 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.
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. 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.
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.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Dress for Success, an organization that was dear to her heart. If you or anyone else is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255.
Thank you all for continuing to respect the privacy of our family while we grieve.
Her father, 62-year-old Rodney Kryst, said earlier this week that he believed she was depressed due to ‘family disfunction.’
‘She was sad,’ he told the New York Post.
He also said she was ‘pure’ and didn’t suffer from substance abuse problems.
Before her death, she shared one last photo of herself on Instagram and wrote in her caption: ‘May this day bring you rest and peace.’
