Chelsi Smith, the first black Miss Texas USA and former Miss Universe 1995, has died after battle with cancer.
Smith won the Miss Texas USA pageant competition in 1995 and went on to become Miss USA and Miss Universe that same year. She was also Miss Galveston County in 1994.
Reports say Smith fought a battle with liver cancer before passing away.
According to her friend and Miss New York USA 1995, Shanna Moakler Smith died of cancer. She was 45 years old.
Shanna Moakler, also runner up to Smith in the 1995 Miss USA Pageant, shared a tribute to the beauty queen after learning of her death,
“I am heartbroken. Godspeed beautiful. You were my friend and a light. I love and will miss you more then you will ever know. The epitome of a Queen.”
Smith competed in her first pageant — Miss Texas in 1994 — and became the first biracial woman to win the pageant.
In 1995, Smith traveled to Namibia to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant where she won the crown, becoming the first woman from the United States to do so in 15 years.
Indian actress Sushmita Sen on Sunday mourned the death of Chelsi Smith, who was her successor as Miss Universe in 1995.
Sushmita tweeted:
“I loved her smile and that generous spirit. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, Chelsi Smith. Miss Universe 1995.”
I loved her smile & that generous spirit!!! Rest in peace my beautiful friend @Chelsi_Smith #MissUniverse1995 Dugga Dugga 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rm63b98Q72
— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) September 9, 2018
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