Miss USA Resignation Controversy Explained: Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava Resign – Is This Due to 'Toxic Work Environment,' Challenges in Pageant Industry

The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants recently faced unprecedented upheaval as both reigning queens, Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava, voluntarily relinquished their titles. This rare occurrence, with both stepping down just three months before the end of their reigns, has cast a spotlight on the pageant's image and operations, raising significant questions about its internal dynamics. UmaSofia Srivastava Gives Up Miss Teen USA 2023 Crown Just 2 Days After Miss USA Noelia Voigt Relinquished Her Title Citing Mental Health.

In her resignation letter, leaked partially to the press, 24-year-old Voigt cited a "toxic work environment" within the Miss USA Organization that severely impacted her physical and mental health. She disclosed undergoing treatment for anxiety, experiencing symptoms like heart palpitations, shakes, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, sleep disturbances, and hair loss.

However, Voigt's public announcement, made through a cryptic Instagram post days earlier, hinted at a new chapter in her life without explicitly addressing the reasons for her resignation. Similarly, seventeen-year-old Srivastava shared her own Instagram post, stating that her personal values no longer aligned with the organization's direction.

Voigt's Instagram post, intriguingly, contained a hidden message where the first 11 sentences' capital letters spelled out "I AM SILENCED." This revelation sparked speculation about undisclosed issues, possibly related to the statements in her leaked resignation letter, constrained by a nondisclosure agreement.

Noelia Voigt's Instagram Post After She Had Won Miss USA 2023 Title

The Miss USA Organization responded to the resignations by emphasizing the well-being of its titleholders as a "top priority" and announced plans to appoint successors. However, they did not directly address the allegations of a toxic workplace. Many state titleholders from the 2023 Miss USA pageant have expressed support for Voigt and called for her release from the NDA to speak about her experiences.

UmaSofia Srivastav Too Gave Up Her Title of Miss Teen USA 2023

The resignations follow a pattern of controversy within the Miss USA Organization, including previous owner Donald Trump's notoriety and the critical documentary "How to Fix a Pageant." For those familiar with the pageant world, these resignations confirm suspicions of internal issues within the organization.

Additionally, the Miss USA Organization faced another resignation earlier in May when social media director Claudia Michelle stepped down, alleging workplace mistreatment. Michelle's claims included unauthorized use of social media accounts and mistreatment of Srivastava and her family. Her resignation, along with those of Voigt and Srivastava, highlights a troubling pattern of workplace toxicity within the organization.

The consecutive resignations of Voigt, Srivastava, and Michelle have brought the Miss USA Organization's internal workings under intense scrutiny, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from within and outside the pageant community.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 12, 2024 01:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).