The death of former beauty queen Cheslie Kryst has brought back to a spotlight questions about the culture of child and teen beauty pageants, popularized by reality shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras” and its spinoff, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” Often, these contests are fiercely competitive and have been linked to mental disorders. Little academic research has been done on their impacts, but popular writers and TV producers have filled the void with reports that are sometimes biased or unrepresentative.
It is not clear what led to Kryst’s apparent suicide in Manhattan last weekend, and media speculation has ranged from social media trolls to Covid isolation to external or internal pressures. But what is clear is that Kryst, 30, was a North Carolina attorney and former college track star who had already achieved much. She was a Miss USA winner in 2019, marking the first time that winners of America’s three biggest pageants—Miss Universe, World and Teen USA—were all Black women.
Kryst was also a correspondent for the entertainment news show Extra and, according to her mother, April Simpkins, an advocate for mental health. She was an accomplished and well-liked woman, a role model for women of color, and a talented author and speaker.
In fact, it was her ability to overcome challenges and use her platform for good that made her so beloved. It is important to remember that while her beauty and talent were undeniable, she had a deep, personal battle with depression and anxiety that she kept hidden from most of her family and friends.
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