Miss Teen USA has resigned her title, just days after Miss USA stepped down.
With a statement on Instagram stating that her “personal values no longer fully align” with the pageant organization, UmaSofia Srivastava made the announcement.
It comes after Miss USA Noelia Voigt made an earlier declaration in which she stated that her resignation was due to mental health issues.
The Miss Teen USA organization declared that they agreed with UmaSofia’s choice and that a replacement will be named.
UmaSofia began her statement, “After months of considering my options, I have decided to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023.”
She stated that she “will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly” as the “experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself” .
Her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” UmaSofia continued.
The Miss USA organization has been contacted by BBC Newsbeat for additional information.
Miss USA Noelia Voigt tendered her resignation earlier this week, citing her belief in making decisions “that feel best for you and your mental health”.
“Prioritise 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,” she stated.
Online, fans saw that Noelia’s resignation statement was written with the initial letter of each phrase spelling “I AM SILENCED,” but the last three words were written with the letter “HIP.”
On Instagram, Miss USA expressed gratitude to Noelia and stated, “The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority”.
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Not all of the recent departures from the organization are pageant queens.
Three days before to Noelia’s resignation, Claudia Michelle, the social media director for Miss USA, had announced her own departure from the company, claiming “workplace toxicity and bullying” and asserting that titleholders “should be heard and not silenced”.
“I have had the privilege of getting to work with Noelia closely and unfortunately seen a decline in her mental health since we first met,” she stated.
“False accusations” were made in Claudia’s statement, Miss USA told USA Today, adding that the organization was “committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, and we take these allegations seriously”.
Miss USA has courted controversy in the past about the way participants were treated, including claims of contest rigging that were refuted.