Miss USA Noelia Voigt took to Instagram on Monday to announce she would be stepping down from her position to prioritize her mental health, but some fans noticed a hidden message in her statement.
Voigt, the first Venezuelan-American to be named Miss USA, won the crown in September 2023, but the 24-year-old from Utah said in her statement on Instagram she would be resigning to focus on her "mental well-being."
She captioned her statement:
"I realize this may come as a large shock to many."
"Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth."
"A million thank you’s to all of you for your constant and unwavering support."
"Time to write the next chapter. I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s next 🤍"
Her statement began:
“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 learning more about ourselves."
“My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe (held in November). Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
Voigt went on to express her gratitude for the friendships she's made throughout her journey as well as for the platform that allowed her to advocate for others.
She finished her statement:
"Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain."
While many in the comments applauded Voigt for prioritizing her mental health and taking the steps necessary to focus on her well-being, some fans noticed a secret message hidden in the statement.
They pointed out that the first letter from each sentence of Voigt's statement spells out:
"I AM SILENCED"
@noeliavoigt/Instagram
In a now-viral TikTok, creator AnnaNoel (@annanoellll) broke it down, captioning her video:
"Breaking news!"
"We need to listen to women who are being silenced"
She went on to explain that Voigt was "trying to tell us something important" with the hidden message, adding:
"(I) absolutely do not think this is a coincidence. ..."
"Her putting this in there was so someone would find out and someone would be able to listen closely."
You can watch below.
Needless to say, those first learning of the message were a bit shook.
@annanoellll/TikTok
@annanoellll/TikTok
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Interestingly, Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle announced on Instagram on Friday that she, too, was resigning.
She wrote in her caption:
"I've unfortunately made the decision of stepping down from my role as Social Media Director for Miss USA."
"Getting to work with @noeliavoigt and @umasofias has been such a pleasure, they are the definition of true titleholders."
"I have made my official statement on the second slide and hope you take the time to read."
She also added in the caption:
"I don't believe in taking sides, I believe in telling the truth.🤍"
In her statement, Michelle addressed Voigt's mental health:
"I have had the privilege of getting to work with Noelia closely and have unfortunately seen a decline in her mental health since we (first) met."
"I feel like her ability to share her story and her platform have been diminished."
The statement continued:
"I feel the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate."
"I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind."
She finished:
"I believe their voices and their stories should be heard and not silenced."
In response, the Miss USA Organization issued a statement to USA TODAY.
It stated:
"We are troubled to hear the false accusations made by a former Miss USA employee."
"Miss USA is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment, and we take these allegations seriously."
"Indeed, we have and will continue to prioritize the well-being of all individuals involved with Miss USA."
We don't think we've heard the last of this...