Janice R. Andrews
Surprisingly, last week, both Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava and reigning Miss USA Noelia Voigt opted to resign from their positions, alleging a divergence of principles with the parent organisation and mental health issues. The Miss USA organisation is now in a state of turmoil as a result of these abrupt departures, and discussions over the welfare of pageant competitors have been ignited.
Noelia Voigt, 24, created history by becoming the first American woman from Venezuela to win Miss USA and by being the second contestant from Utah to do so. Voigt announced her resignation on Monday in an emotional Instagram post, stressing the need of putting one’s own needs and mental health first. Voigt’s mother expressed concerns about her daughter’s welfare as well, pointing out a discernible shift in her demeanour over time. Internet detectives went so far as to conjecture that Voigt’s resignation letter concealed the words “I AM SILENCED,” which raised concerns about possible hidden problems within the company.
Derby Chukwudi, Miss New Jersey 2023, emphasised the significance of giving mental health for all competitors first priority while expressing support for Voigt’s choice. Chukwudi also urged the Miss USA organisation to be transparent, asking them to free Voigt from confidentiality commitments and guarantee transparency for contenders in the future.
The 17-year-old New Jersey native UmaSofia Srivastava created history by being the first Miss Teen USA of mixed Mexican and Indian ancestry. On Wednesday, Srivastava announced her resignation, citing a difference between her personal convictions and the organization’s direction. In her statement, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her authentic self instead of the image she felt compelled to uphold, hints at underlying discontent with the Miss Teen USA organisation.
The fact that there isn’t a reigning Miss USA or Miss Teen USA titleholder after 72 years of pageants is highlighted by the resignations of Voigt and Srivastava. Concerns regarding the culture of the organisation were also brought up by Claudia Michelle, the former director of social media, who cited incidents of disrespect towards Srivastava and her family and emphasised the significance of dealing with workplace toxicity.
The pageants have been the subject of criticism before. The organization’s reputation has suffered recently due to allegations of sexual harassment directed at pageant officials and of cheating in the 2022 Miss USA competition.
Following the resignations, the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant organisers reaffirmed their dedication to putting titleholders’ welfare first and showed respect for the contestants’ choices. The successors are yet to be named, but plans are in place to transfer responsibility to them.
There are still concerns regarding the competitors’ welfare and the organization’s future course as the pageants navigate these unsettling times. The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants are facing a pivotal time of introspection and change due to demands for accountability and openness.
