GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resign from their positions
_2024_05_09_08_17_53.jpg)
Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava have both resigned from their positions.
In an Instagram statement, Noelia said that she “made the very tough decision" to surrender her Miss USA 2023 title because it was best for her and her mental health.
“As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves. My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe,” she said.
Noelia also said that she is thankful for her friends, family, fans, and coaches, as well as the state and local directors. She also thanked UmaSofia and the opportunities that the Miss USA title has given her.
“Never could I have imagined the journey that my childhood dream would take me on. Constant and consistent hard work and dedication all lead me to where I am today, and I hope that over the last seven years of competing in pageantry and sharing my journey with you all is something that inspires you to never give up on your dreams, whatever they may be,” she said.
The Utah beauty queen also said that she would continue working to make a positive difference, even without the Miss USA title.
Meanwhile, UmaSofia said that after months of grappling with the decision, she resigned as Miss Teen USA 2023 due to her personal values, she said in an Instagram statement.
“After careful consideration, I've decided to resign as I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” she said.
The New Jersey queen thanked her family, state directors, batchmates, and fans for all the support since winning the title.
“I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself,” she said.
UmaSofia likewise said that she will continue working on her advocacy for education and acceptance through her multilingual children’s book, “The White Jaguar,” which she worked on even before pageantry. She added that seeing the book’s impact on kids and adults “is what has forged my legacy.” She also said that she is looking forward to a new writing project.
“This work has always been my TRUE purpose,” she said.
“I look forward to the rest of the year as I finish 11th grade as part of the National Honor Society and start the college application process, knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and my hard work alone,” UmaSofia added. “Most importantly, thank you to those who support me for who I am and have always been, not for who I've momentarily become."
Both pageant bodies wished the former queens all the best in their new chapters.
"The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time,” they said.
They added that they are currently "reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor," and will soon announce the crowning of a new Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
—JCB, GMA Integrated News
