She won Miss North Carolina USA in 2019 and began preparing for Miss USA while working full-time as a complex litigation attorney. Lunch breaks were reserved for Miss North Carolina speaking engagements or practicing with her Miss USA interview coaches. Related storiesThe preparation didn't ease up once Kryst arrived in Reno, Nevada, for Miss USA 2019. Miss USA/Alex Mertz"The Miss USA competition was far more than the television broadcast aired on finals night," she wrote in her memoir. It was a historic year for pageants as Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America were all won by women of color.

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