Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava announced her resignation on Instagram yesterday, just two days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt stepped down to focus on her "mental well-being."
Needless to say, people online had lots of questions.
Srivastava shared her statement on Wednesday, writing:
“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.”
The 17-year-old added:
“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 also said she would continue to advocate for "education and acceptance" through The Lotus Petal Foundation, Bridge of Books Foundation, and her "legacy," her multilingual children's book The White Jaguar.
@umasofias/Instagram
Recently resigned Miss USA Noelia Voigt commented on Srivastava's post:
"I LOVE YOU! So proud of you my angel."
@umasofias/Instagram
On Monday, Voigt had taken to Instagram to announce she would be stepping down from her position to prioritize her mental health.
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 health.
She wrote in the caption:
"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 🤍"
In her statement, Voigt said the decision was a tough one, and while she's grateful for the relationships and the platform to advocate for others, she had to do what was best for herself.
The statement finished:
"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 people understood and respected Voigt's position and applauded her for 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"
Not only was that alarming, but Voigt's statement was also shared only a few days after Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle announced that she, too, was resigning.
On Friday, Michelle shared her statement on Instagram, writing:
"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."
She continued:
"I feel the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate."
"I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind."
The statement concluded:
"I believe their voices and their stories should be heard and not silenced."
In her caption, Michelle wrote:
"I don't believe in taking sides, I believe in telling the truth.🤍"
Given Srivastava's resignation was announced within a week of both Voigt's and Michelle's, people on social media are wondering what in the world is going on.
Many also applauded the women for sticking to their values regardless of the sacrifices.
In a statement made to NBC News on Wednesday, Laylah Rose, CEO and president of the Miss USA organization, said, "The well-being of all individuals associated with Miss USA is my top priority.”
“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."
As for Srivastava, she's excited to continue advocating and is "looking forward" to completing her junior year as part of the National Honor Society.
"While this was certainly not how I saw my reign coming to a close, I am excited to continue my advocacy for education and acceptance, start applying to colleges, and share some exciting new projects on 'That’s Fan Behavior' with those of you who plan to stick around."
Best of luck to these ladies!
AMC
