Kaylyn Pryor had been crowned the winner of Mario Tricoci’s 2015 “Mario, Make Me a Model” competition only a few weeks before her life was tragically cut short in Chicago.
According to NBC Chicago, Pryor was standing outside with a 15-year-old boy when a vehicle pulled up and opened fire, hitting them both. Although both Pryor and the boy were rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center, Pryor died, while the boy remains in critical condition.
“We are saddened and broken-hearted to learn of the tragic passing of Kaylyn Pryor. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” Tricoci said in a statement Tuesday morning. “This touches every one of us who knew and worked with her. Kaylyn will be remembered for her kind and generous spirit. She truly was beautiful inside and out.”
Social media has been flooded since her death with message of support, as well as expressions of shock at her sudden passing when her modeling career was only just taking flight.
https://twitter.com/LoloJayyy/status/661389689040031744
So sad that she dies from senseless gun violence when just weeks ago she won this bright promising modeling… https://t.co/KI9P8vvd5b
— Teresa (@sexygalreese) November 3, 2015