Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigns just days after Miss USA resigns

cnn
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Miss Teen USA resigned on Wednesday, causing more shock in the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would give up her crown.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava said her “personal values ​​no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”

“After months of dealing with this decision, I have made the decision to renounce the title of Miss Teen USA 2023,” Srivastava wrote in a statement on her personal account. The New Jersey high school teen won the contest in September and expressed her pride in being the first Mexican-Indian American to fill the role.

“I look forward to the rest of the year as I finish senior year as part of the National Honor Society and begin the college application process, knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and only by me.” hard work,” he said. aggregate. He said he would continue to advocate for education and acceptance along with working with the Lotus Petal and Bridge of Books foundations.

The pageant responded with a post on Instagram, writing that it respected Srivastava’s decision, considered the welfare of the champions “a top priority” and that a successor would be named soon.

Srivastava and the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Her resignation comes on the heels of another queen relinquishing her title earlier this week.

On Monday, Noelia Voigt renounced her Miss United States title, citing her mental health. When she took the crown in November, Voigt, who is Venezuelan-American and from Utah, said she would work to connect with diverse communities across the United States.

“Deep down, I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is to continue inspiring others to stand strong, prioritize their mental health, advocate for themselves and others using their voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain,” he posted on Instagram.

“Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth,” she wrote.

Her post sparked speculation among fans that Voigt was sending a hidden message about a confidentiality agreement, with the first letter of the first 11 sentences of her statement reading “I am silenced.”

A spokesperson for the Miss USA Organization told CNN in a statement on Monday that they supported Voigt’s decision to step down from her duties and that “the well-being of our champions is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself in this moment”. time.”

The organization added that they are reviewing plans to “transition responsibilities to a successor” and will soon announce the new Miss United States.

The resignations, along with the resignation of the organization’s social media director, Claudia Michelle, last week, have raised questions among fans about pageant culture and whether some aspects need an overhaul.

Michelle has been more candid about the alleged problems in the organization. In an Instagram post, she wrote that she rejects “workplace toxicity and harassment of any kind.”

Miss Universe and Miss United States did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Some of Voigt’s fellow Miss USA contestants shared a post claiming that “the majority” of the 2023 class supported her decision to leave and called on the Miss USA Organization to release Voigt from her NDA clause “so that can talk about their experiences. ”