Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava announced her resignation, explaining a mismatch in personal values with the organization. This announcement comes just days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt stepped down to prioritize her mental health. Their back-to-back departures have prompted further scrutiny of the pageant culture and the support available to titleholders.
Srivastava, a high school junior from New Jersey, announced her decision on Instagram, stating, “After months of grappling with this decision, I have made the choice to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023.” She added that her personal values “no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” a sentiment that echoes Voigt’s own departure. Voigt emphasized her mental health in her announcement, stating, “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth.”
The resignations coincide with allegations of bullying and mismanagement within the pageant organizations. Claudia Michelle, a former social media director for Miss USA, highlighted the detrimental impact of the current management on titleholders’ mental health, accusing the leadership of speaking about their titleholders in “unprofessional and inappropriate” ways.
This unrest within the pageant community is not isolated. Former Miss Montana and pageant coach, Dani Walker, expressed concerns about the lack of priority given to mental health: “How have we not prioritized mental health among titleholders in light of what happened to Cheslie Kryst?” she questioned, referring to the tragic death of the former Miss USA in 2022.
The culture of silence is another troubling aspect, with Voigt hinting at being muzzled by non-disclosure agreements. Her cryptic message “I am silenced” was spelled out using the first letters of each sentence in her resignation post, signaling deeper issues within the organization.
Pageant insiders and fans are calling for significant reforms. As one source close to the events noted, “There is an urgent need for intervention at the leadership level.” The Miss Universe Organization, which oversees these titles, faces increasing pressure to address these issues transparently and reform its practices to ensure the well-being of its participants.
