contributed to pageant history when she was crowned Miss USA on Thursday: For the first time, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America are all black women.
Kryst, who in the pageant, is a lawyer who practices civil litigation and to help get reduced sentences for incarcerated people.
Miss Teen USA 2019, , was crowned Sunday. The high school senior from Connecticut plans to attend college and pursue a degree in nursing. Miss America 2019 , who won her competition in September, hailed from New York.
Both Kryst and Garris were applauded for during their pageants.
“There were a few naysayers saying, ‘You look better with straight hair,’ or ‘You should put in extensions and straighten your natural hair,’” Garris , later adding, “I feel more confident and comfortable with my natural hair.”
Both Miss USA, , and Miss Teen USA, , were black in 2012. But that year, Laura Kaeppeler, was not.
At Thursday’s final Miss USA event, Kryst expertly answered a question on whether the against sexual harassment and assault had “gone too far.”
“I don’t think these movements have gone too far,” she said. “What Me Too and Time’s Up are about are making sure that we foster safe and inclusive workplaces in our country.”
“As an attorney, that’s exactly what I want to hear,” she added. “That’s exactly what I want for this country.”
