New York:
The resignation of the reigning Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in the space of a few days has brought the pageants' parent organization under scrutiny — especially as the young women cited mental health and differences in values as reasons.
The pair stepped down just days after an employee of the Miss USA organization — which was founded in 1952 and was for a time owned by Donald Trump — resigned, citing “workplace toxicity” and claiming the two titleholders were abused.
Claudia Michelle, Miss USA's social media director, resigned on May 3, saying in an Instagram post that she had worked for two months without compensation, was not properly staffed and felt management did not respect the winners.
Michelle said she had worked closely with Miss USA Noelia Voigt — a 24-year-old Venezuelan American who was crowned in September — and had seen “a decline in her mental health” — a problem Voigt mentioned when she resigned Monday. .
About Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who is 17, Michelle said she had “seen firsthand the disrespect towards Uma and her family.”
“I reject any form of workplace toxicity and bullying,” Michelle wrote, decrying the “unprofessional and inappropriate” way she felt management spoke to Voigt and Srivastava.
In her own Instagram post, Voigt – who represented the western state of Utah – said she was resigning, noting: “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth.”
She called her time as Miss USA “incredibly meaningful,” highlighting her charity work and being the first Venezuelan American to win the title.
But she also said she hoped to “inspire others to stand strong, prioritize your mental health, stand up for yourself and others by using your voice, and never fear what the future holds.” '
Internet sleuths have even pointed out that they believe it is a coded message: the first letters of each sentence in Voigt's statement read: “I AM SILENCED.”
Srivastava — a self-described “first generation, Mexican Indian American” from New Jersey — said Wednesday that she was relinquishing her crown because her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
In response, the Miss USA 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.”
Miss Teen USA has issued a similar statement about Srivastava.
Miss USA Controversy
The Miss USA pageant has seen a number of controversies and scandals in recent years, with several allegations that certain contestants received preferential treatment, according to media reports.
The organization later found that these claims were unsubstantiated, but Miss USA president, former titleholder Crystle Stewart, resigned.
Her husband Max Sebrechts, who had been vice president of the organization, left amid a swirl of sexual harassment allegations from previous participants.
Voigt's resignation marked the first time a defending Miss USA champion had relinquished the post since the competition's inception for a reason other than being crowned Miss Universe, an associated pageant.
Cheslie Kryst, who was crowned Miss USA in 2019, died by suicide in early 2022.
In her memoir, published posthumously last month and acquired by People magazine, she wrote about “long-standing insecurities” that resurfaced when she won the title and faced online abuse.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)