This week, Noelia Voigt, the reigning Miss USA, and UmaSofia Srivastava, the Miss Teen USA, both resigned from their positions, citing conflicts of values with the parent organization and mental health issues.
What’s happening with Miss Noelia Voigt USA
Voigt, who would have competed in the Miss Universe pageant later this year and won the Miss USA title in September 2023, gave an explanation of her decision on Monday in an Instagram post, saying that she “values the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health.”
Subsequently, Srivastava said on Wednesday in a similarly styled Instagram post that she was giving up her title of 2023 Miss Teen USA too soon, citing a change in her personal convictions that did not correspond with the organization’s purpose.
The two abrupt exits occur at a difficult time for Miss USA, as Claudia Michelle, the organization’s social media director, stated in yet another Instagram post that she would be leaving on May 3rd, citing unfavorable working conditions and what she described as a “decline” in Voigt‘s mental health.
Noelia Voigt: Who is she?
Voigt, 24, was the second competitor from Utah to win the Miss USA title and the first American lady from Venezuela.
In her resignation article, she stated, “Deep down, I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me. I saw how your light dimmed and how your personality changed. Our hearts were broken by it.
Because the first 11 sentences in Voigt’s statement spelled “I AM SILENCED,” internet detectives surmised that she was attempting to express more with her remark.
After Voigt announced his resignation, a number of competitors from Voigt’s class shared their own quotes on Instagram. The majority of the Miss USA class of 2023 members support Noelia Voigt’s choice to leave, Derby Chukwudi, the 2023 Miss New Jersey, stated on Wednesday. “We all stand behind Noelia Voigt,” according to Chukwudi.
UmaSofia Srivastava: Who is she?
The first Miss Teen USA winner of mixed Mexican and Indian heritage was Srivastava, a 17-year-old from New Jersey. Srivastava announced in her resignation statement that she would carry on advocating on behalf of the Bridge of Books Foundation and the Lotus Petal Foundation.
When she praised “those who support me for who I am and have always been, not for who I’ve momentarily become,” she also seemed to be subtly criticizing the Miss Teen USA organization.
Why do the decisions about quitting have such weight?
This marks the first time in the pageant’s seventy-two-year history that neither Miss USA nor Miss Teen USA has won a title.
Michelle, the former director of social media, stated in her resignation statement that she was free to talk about her experiences because she had not signed any nondisclosure agreements or contracts.
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She also mentioned what she believed to be Voigt’s deteriorating mental state, claiming that Srivastava and her family had received “disrespect” (though she did not say from whom) and criticizing the organization’s general culture.
The author expressed her disapproval of workplace toxicity and bullying, writing, “I feel that the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate.” “I can’t keep quiet about it because I think Noeila and Uma’s happiness and mental health have suffered.”
The pageants have been involved in such scandals before. Some Miss USA competitors even alleged as recently as 2022 that R’Bonney Gabriel was the winner of a rigged pageant. Following that allegation, Miss USA President Crystle Stewart was placed on administrative leave by the Miss Universe Organization while an internal inquiry was conducted.
Later, in August 2023, Stewart announced his resignation. In 2022, Max Sebrechts, her spouse and the vice president of Miss USA, was compelled to resign due to claims that he had harassed competitors sexually the year before.