The Miss USA pageant is in chaos once again. This is the first time in 72 years that the pageant does not have a Miss USA or Miss Teen USA titleholder. Both women resigned this week. Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigned on Wednesday, two days after Noelia Voigt gave up the Miss USA crown.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Srivastava explained that she has decided to resign because she feels that her personal values no longer completely match the organization’s direction.
Srivastava said that she had been thinking about this decision for a long time and intends to keep advocating for education and acceptance without giving up.
“I am excited for the rest of the year as I complete 11th grade as a member of the National Honor Society and begin applying to colleges,” she said. “I appreciate the people who accept and support me for who I truly am, rather than just liking me for how I am right now.”
One of the top comments on the post was from Voigt, who wrote: “I love you! I am very proud of you, my angel. Voigt surprised many people in the pageant community by stepping down as Miss USA on Monday. In her resignation letter, she emphasized the importance of prioritizing one’s own well-being and mental health when making decisions.
“I feel that this is just the start of a new phase in my life,” she said in her statement. “I want to keep motivating others to stay strong, take care of their mental health, speak up for themselves and others, and not be scared of the future, even if it seems uncertain.”
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The CEO and president of Miss USA, Laylah Rose, said in a statement on Wednesday that their main goal is to celebrate and empower women.
“From the beginning, my main goal as the leader of this organization has been to motivate women to constantly come up with new dreams, be brave enough to pursue them, and maintain their integrity throughout the journey,” Rose said. “I have the same high expectations for myself and I am taking these accusations seriously. I want to assure you that the most important thing to me is the well-being of everyone involved with Miss USA.
Voigt’s replacement has not been chosen yet. However, the organization mentioned to BI on Monday that they are currently considering how to transfer responsibilities to the new person.
Srivastava and Voigt both resigned shortly after Claudia Michelle stepped down as the social-media director for the Miss USA organization. She mentioned that the way the organization treated both titleholders was one of the reasons why she chose to quit.
“I don’t believe in choosing one side over another. Michelle wrote on Instagram, “I believe in being honest.” “I think Noelia and Uma’s mental health and happiness have been negatively affected, and I feel the need to speak up about it.”
She said, “I will always support and stand for the brand that uplifts and empowers its women.” The brand represents the titleholders. Miss USA and Miss Teen USA would not exist without them. I think it’s important to listen to their voices and stories instead of trying to silence them.
Both Srivastava and Voigt achieved significant milestones in their pageant careers. Srivastava was the first person of Mexican Indian descent to win the Miss New Jersey Teen USA competition, while Voigt was the first woman of Venezuelan American heritage to become Miss USA.
In 2022, the contestants of Miss USA said that the pageant had been unfairly manipulated to benefit Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel. She later won the Miss Universe title in January 2023.
During the scandal, it was discovered that Max Sebrechts had quietly resigned from his position as the vice president of Miss USA. This came after allegations arose that he had sexually harassed contestants during the 2021 pageant. Sebrechts stated that he did not commit the accusations in a statement sent to BI at that time.
In August, Crystle Stewart, who is the wife of the person mentioned, resigned as the president of Miss USA. She was then replaced by someone named Rose.
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