Why Are We Seeing Resignations In Miss USA?
The national beauty pageant of America Miss USA is facing a tough time. You will be surprised to know that three women who won the prestigious title have resigned in a span of a week. This has raised concerns about why are we seeing multiple resignations in Miss USA. The reason behind the resignation of former Miss USA will leave you in shock. This chaos doesn’t only involve Miss USA but also Miss Teen USA.
Former Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt stepped down from the crown and announced her resignation via social media. Within days of her resignation, former Miss USA Teen 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava and former Miss Colorado USA 2023 Arianna Lemus resigned! Miss USA and Miss USA Teen is earned by Miss USA Organisation. Let’s get into the depth of the situation and the Miss USA Organisation’s stake in this matter.
Why Did Miss USA Resign?
There are a lot of reasons behind the former titleholder’s resignation. A decision like this is not made lightly and doesn’t come out of nowhere. According to sources, the Miss USA Organisation is accused of mismanagement and a hostile work environment. It has been revealed that Noelia Voigt’s title has been negatively impacting her mental health.
Voigt and Barbara Srivastava’s mothers released a statement saying the titleholders are being ill-treated, bullied, and abused. They said that the dream work of their daughters has turned into a nightmare. The mothers have also asked for the resignation of Miss USA CEO and President Laylah Rose.
Claudia Engelhardt said that the current management of the Miss USA Organisation speaks in an “unprofessional and inappropriate” way. In addition, she added that the titleholders are engaged in “workplace toxicity and bullying.” She revealed her own experience and said, “I was disrespected at my own job. And then to see the way that they were treating the titleholders, I was like, you know what? Enough is enough.”
Miss USA Resign Letter
Voigt revealed an official resignation letter on May 6, 2024, via Instagram. The followers noticed that her resignation letter of her is spelt out as “I AM SILENCED”. Although this has not been official or confirmed by the former titleholder.
She penned,
“I realize this may come as a large shock to many. Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health. As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learn more about ourselves. My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe. Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
She also revealed about harassment in the toxic workplace. “There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment. This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023.”
She further revealed, “It’s incredibly jarring to be trying to do my job and constantly be threatened with disciplinary action, including taking away my salary, for things that were never discussed with me and, if it related to a public-facing post for example, were causing no issue other than not meeting her personal preference.” You can check out the former Miss USA resignation letter below.
View this post on Instagram
Srivastava also shared a lengthy statement confirming her resignation. She wrote, “I am grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have cheered me on since I won my state 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.”
Miss USA Organisation Stake On The Resignations
Miss USA Organisation said that they are thankful for the ‘service’ of their former titleholders. The beauty pageant also revealed that they ‘respect and support’ the former Queen’s decision to resign. They only made a comment after Voigt and Srivastava’s resignation. On Voigt’s resignation, the organization said,
“We respect and support Noelia’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time.”
Rose said,
“All along, my personal goal as the head of this organization has been to inspire women to always create new dreams, have the courage to explore it all and continue to preserve integrity along the way. I hold myself to these same high standards and I take these allegations seriously.”
In another message, the organisation talked about Srivastava’s stepping down decision. Rose said,
“UmaSofia, we are wishing you all the best. Thank you for your service as Miss Teen USA. We respect and support UmaSofia’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority.”
Apart from this, other contestants of Miss USA 2023 who competed alongside Voigt said that the organisation should “release Noelia from the confidentiality NDA clause of her contract, in perpetuity, so that she is free to speak on her experiences and time as Miss USA.”
Who Holds The Crown Of Miss USA 2023 Now?
After the resignation, another titleholder of Miss USA 2023 has been announced. A runner-up of Miss USA 2023 Savannah Gankiewicz also former Miss Hawaii USA has been appointed. On May 9, she revealed on social media about being crowned and that the decision wasn’t taken lightly.
She also showed support towards Noelia’s step down due to prioritizing her mental health. Her official statement reads, “Please know that my decision to accept the Miss USA crown was not one that was made lightly. I stand with Noelia and admire her strength to step down and prioritize her mental health.”
Now the Miss USA Teen 2023 runner-up Stephanie Skinner revealed that the organisation reached out to her to offer the title and she declined this opportunity. She said, “It was an extremely hard decision to make. I worked so hard and sacrificed so much for this goal to become Miss Teen USA. And although this title was a dream of mine, I believe one thing I will never give up is my character.”
Conclusion
The Miss USA Organisation still needs to make an official statement on the experience of the resigned titleholders. This is shocking news for all the audiences and followers. The resignation of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA together has never happened in the history of the Miss USA organization.
The audiences appreciate the former titleholders coming out and speaking up about the truth. They have been given all the support. What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to let us know in the comment box below. We will keep you posted on what will happen further.
FAQs
1. What Happened To Miss USA?
Noelia Voigt resigned as Miss USA to preserve her mental health and raise a voice against toxic workplaces and harassment.
2. Who Owns The Miss USA Pageant?
The Miss USA organizers own the Miss USA and Miss USA Teen beauty pageant. The president and CEO is Laylah Rose.
3. Why Are Miss Americas Resigning?
Miss USA and Miss USA Teen are resigning due to a toxic work environment, bullying, poor management, and harassment.
I’m Ellis Philip, a writer who loves fashion. I often write for beauty magazines, sharing my thoughts on how fashion can make women feel powerful. Traveling is my passion, as it lets me discover new beauty products and trends. I enjoy bringing these finds into my writing, hoping to inspire others.
