May 11th 2024.
It was a shocking week for the Miss Universe Organization as both reigning winners of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, Noelia Voigt and UmaSofia Srivastava, announced their resignations within days of each other. This left the prestigious pageant without its top two titleholders for the first time in 72 years, causing many to question their practices and bringing attention to past controversies and scrutiny.
Noelia, who was crowned in September 2023, made history as the first Venezuelan American to win her title. In a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, she revealed that stepping down was a tough decision but one that she felt was necessary for her mental health and well-being. She expressed her hope that her journey would continue to inspire others to prioritize self-care and use their voices to advocate for themselves and others.
The former Miss Utah and University of Alabama student also thanked her fans for their unwavering support and encouraged them to never compromise their physical and mental well-being. In a statement, the Miss USA Organization thanked Noelia for her service and wished her the best in her next chapter. They also assured that they are currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities and will soon announce the crowning of the new Miss USA.
UmaSofia, who was crowned in the same month as Noelia, announced her resignation on Wednesday through a post on her own Instagram account. The 17-year-old stated that her personal values no longer fully aligned with the organization's direction and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her state as a first-generation Mexican Indian American. She also shared her plans to apply to colleges and work on a multi-lingual children's book.
In a statement, the Miss Teen USA Organization expressed their respect and support for UmaSofia's decision to step down and emphasized their commitment to the well-being of their titleholders. A spokesperson for the organization could not be reached for further comment.
The Miss Universe Organization, which oversees both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, also could not be reached for comment. However, they expressed their gratitude towards the former titleholders and assured that plans are in place for the transition of responsibilities to the successor. Despite the unexpected turn of events, both Noelia and UmaSofia have left a lasting impact and will always be remembered as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2023.
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