The Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation has expressed deep sadness at the untimely passing of Tyra Spaulding, a 26-year-old accountant and beloved finalist in the 2023 Miss Universe Jamaica competition.

“Tyra was more than a contestant; she was a vibrant, intelligent, and inspiring young woman whose grace and spirit touched everyone she met,” the organisation said.

“On behalf of the reigning Miss Universe Jamaica, Dr Gabrielle Henry, National Directors Mark McDermoth and Karl Williams, we extend our deepest condolences to Tyra’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time of profound loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them as we remember and honour her remarkable life and legacy,” the organisation said.

Spaulding is believed to have been depressed. In social media video posts, she explained that she was struggling with “overwhelming” thoughts of suicide daily.

“I’m definitely in a battle right now. Half of me wants to stay, half of me wants to go, wants to leave this place. Every day I get up, I think about dying, I think about different ways… It’s a mess. It’s a mess. It is a mess,” she said.

At the same time, she said she’s trying, although each day she thinks about quitting.

In a second video, she said she was feeling better after working out at the gym. “I think it motivated me to do more. You know, there are so many things I’d like to do,” Spaulding said.

She also said she would consider ways of moving on and that she would be making efforts to see how best she could achieve her dreams.

“So long story short, I don’t feel as bad about life,” she said.

Still, she said she didn’t think she had that survival instinct within her. She said she needed to get it out of her mind that suicide was the solution and start looking for “practical solutions to my problems”.

“I feel like that’s where my mind always goes; I can’t do what I want to do, I can’t afford to go where I want to go. Might as well give it up. Perhaps that’s my particular personality type. I don’t know. Probably that’s just how my brain is wired. Perhaps it’s how I was grown.

“I’m still here, though. I’m glad and I’m grateful because given the number of times I have thought about, you know, ending it all.”