Former Miss USA & Extra correspondent Cheslie Kryst died by suicide on January 30, 2022 at 30 years old.
In addition to being a pageant winner and attorney, one of her lifelongs dreams was to become a published author. With the help of Cheslie’s mom, April Simpkins, her dream will be fulfilled this spring with the release of her memoir, “By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness.” The book will be published on April 23 by Forefront Books.
In the book, Cheslie shares her story of striving and accomplishing so much, including an MBA, law degree, a Miss USA win, and working for “Extra.” The second half of the book is written by April, who tells her story starting on the morning Cheslie died.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXucyhcu9DA/?img_index=1
April shared with Extra, “These are her own words… Cheslie for most people who saw her on TV or saw her at events, she was smiling and she was bubbly and she was happy, and that was her true self… but there was still a lot of pain that she felt and I do feel like the book stands right between that place of what people saw in her smile and her private battle with depression and that is why we use that phrase ‘the space between her smile and mental illness.’”
She added, “We don’t know what’s going on in the lives of many people, but what we can extend is kindness, a listening ear, and a safe space. and I hope that when people read this book that they promise themselves to seek help when they need it, that they work to create a safe space so that their friends can share, and that they learn how to really listen.”
You can pre-order the book here, and the net proceeds from sales will go to the Cheslie C. Kryst Foundation.