Brynn Carnesecca was an “accomplished pianist, journalist, and the creator of Envelopes of Hope,” read a GoFundMe created by her cousin
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- A former Miss American Fork pageant queen has died by suicide at age 21
- Brynn Carnesecca won the pageant in 2024 and was known by her friends and family as an accomplished pianist and aspiring journalist
- Her mother, Michele Carnesecca, told local news outlet KSL that Brynn was “more than what happened to her”
A former Miss American Fork pageant queen died by suicide on Sunday, July 26, her family confirmed to local news outlet KSL. She was 21.
Brynn Carnesecca was crowned Miss American Fork (a regional pageant within the Miss America Utah pageant sphere) in 2024, and she was also given the title of Miss Congeniality while competing at last year’s Miss America Utah pageant. Her Instagram bio revealed that she had been set to compete in the Miss Provo pageant competition on Aug. 22.
To her friends and family, Brynn was known as a pianist and as an aspiring journalist. Her mother, Michele Carnsesseca, told local news outlet KSL (where Brynn had interned during the summer of 2025) that she wanted her daughter to be remembered for the “amazing life she lived.”
Credit: Brynn Carnesecca/Instagram
“She took her own precious life, but she is more than what happened to her,” Michele said. On Tuesday, July 28, a vigil was held for the late pageant queen at American Fork Amphitheater, where attendees wore yellow to honor her memory and wrote notes in her name.
According to Michele, Brynn had also been published in the American Fork Citizen, the Lehi Free Press, Utah Valley Magazine, Good Things Utah and BYU’s Daily Universe (the student publication at Brigham Young University, where Brynn was set to graduate from in 2028, per her LinkedIn). “She was an incredible writer and reader from a young age,” Michele told the outlet.
The Miss American Fork organization put out a statement on its Instagram, remembering the young pageant queen.
“There are no words to express the heartbreak of losing you, Brynn. Your beautiful smile, your kindness, your passion, and the way you supported everyone around you will never be forgotten,” the caption of the post read.
The organization continued, “You left the biggest shoes to fill for every Miss American Fork who comes after you. I have always looked up to you, and I am so grateful that I got to know you, learn from you, and experience the love and encouragement you gave so freely.”
Credit: Brynn Carnesecca/Instagram
On a GoFundMe for Brynn’s funeral expenses, her cousin, Kassidy Jackman Murdoch, wrote that Brynn had been a “bright light in our family and community.”
“Brynn dedicated herself to sharing stories and spreading kindness. Her passion for helping others was evident in everything she did,” wrote Murdoch. The GoFundMe has since raised nearly $27,000 of its $40,000 goal.
“Our family is heartbroken by Brynn’s unexpected passing. We want to honor her memory in a way that reflects her spirit and the love she gave to so many,” Murdoch continued. “Brynn touched countless lives through her work and her generosity, and we hope to celebrate her legacy with a meaningful memorial.”
On the last post to her Instagram page before she died, friends returned to the comment section to express their sadness.
“Love you always Brynn,” wrote one commenter.
Another said, “Missing you so much, Brynn. 🤍😢.”
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