It’s a sad day in the pageant world. Last Sept. 8, Miss Universe 1995 Chelsi Smith passed away at the age of 45 after a long battle with liver cancer.
Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen, tweeted a throwback photo of when she passed the crown to Chelsi.
Shanna Moakler, who was a runner-up to Chelsi in Miss USA 1995, paid a tribute to her friend on Instagram. “Her light was so big and so bright. She changed my life.”
Other beauty queens and fans have extended their condolences to the late beauty queen.
Chelsi is known as the first biracial beauty queen to have won Miss Texas in 1995. In a statement, her family proudly said she was one of the only biracial women to have won a triple crown that year.
After her Miss Universe reign, Chelsi became a model, an actress, and a singer. She was also a judge at the Miss USA pageant in 2016.
Rest in peace, Chelsi. Also, our deepest condolences to her friends and family.
Photo courtesy of Miss USA’s Instagram account
For the latest in culture, fashion, beauty, and celebrities, subscribe to our weekly newsletter here
Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Viber
Related stories:
Miss America is removing the swimsuit competition. What will replace it?
Beauty queen Sushmita Sen will return to Manila as Miss Universe judge
Miss Universe judges women’s beauty, not their sexual identity
What happened when body builders hangout with beauty queens