The 17-year-old beauty queen, who won last year’s Miss Teen USA pageant, announced Wednesday that she is relinquishing her title, saying her personal values are “no longer fully aligned with the direction of the organization.”
In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, Umasofya Srivastava gave a vague explanation for her departure, saying, “I have come to this decision after many months of consideration.”
“I always look back fondly on my days as Miss New Jersey Teen USA. As a first-generation Mexican-Indian American, the experience of representing my state on a national level was fulfilling in itself. ” she said.
Miss Teen USA responded to Srivastava’s resignation on Instagram, thanking her and saying a new queen will be crowned in the future. “We respect and support Uma Sophia’s decision to resign from her position,” the group said in a statement. “The health of our titleholders is our top priority.”
On Monday, Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced she would be relinquishing her crown, citing a need to take a step back and take care of her mental health. Her own Instagram statement sparked a stir in the pageant fandom, especially when eagle-eyed fans noticed that the first letter of her first 11 sentences spelled out “I AM SILENCED.” It was as good as starting a fire.
The Queen’s double resignation comes on the heels of the bombshell resignation of Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle. Michelle announced last Friday that she was leaving the organization, citing what she said was “toxicity and bullying in her workplace.”
“This is a women’s empowerment organization, and my hope in making this statement is to restore some of the empowerment that titleholders have deeply lost this year,” Michelle said.
She noted that she had not signed a nondisclosure agreement and claimed that Vogt’s mental health deteriorated during their time together and that she witnessed “disrespect” shown towards Srivastava and his family. .
“The brand is the title holder,” Michelle said. “Without them, there would be no Miss USA or Miss Teen USA. I believe their voices and stories should be heard and not silenced.”
Miss USA did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment Wednesday night. However, the organization told USA Today in a statement that its leaders were “troubled to hear of the false accusations made by a former Miss USA employee.”
“Miss USA is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, and we take these allegations seriously,” the statement read. “Certainly, we have and will continue to prioritize the well-being of everyone involved with Miss USA.”
A related source revealed. new york post On Wednesday, Vogt and Srivastava, who won the crown last September, said they had been subjected to an unspeakable “toxic work environment” due to what the newspaper called an “ironclad contract”. It was reported.
Citing a convenient insider, the paper reported that during his reign, Voigt was “awake[d]every day” by “hate mail” from contest organizers. “It’s not like ‘Don’t do this,’ ‘Don’t do that,’ ‘Take down that post,'” the source explained.
According to post, Leila Rose, president and CEO of Miss USA. She said she was allegedly harassed by a man at last year’s Christmas parade when Ms. Vogt was representing Miss USA, but Ms. Rose weakened her report, her associates claimed. . “Layla said, ‘She’s in her public role now, so she’s going to have to get used to it,'” she said.
By the end of her tenure as Miss Teen USA, Srivastava’s relationship with Rose had deteriorated to the point that all their communications were routed through Rose’s parents. post.
Rose, a fashion designer and entrepreneur, took over as Miss USA in August 2023, one month before Vogt and Srivastava were crowned. In a statement to post“Our overarching goal at Miss USA is to celebrate and empower women. Our contestants make a real difference in this country and around the world,” Rose said. .
“My personal goal as head of this organization is to inspire women to always create new dreams, give them the courage to explore everything, and maintain their integrity along the way,” the executive continued. . “I hold myself to these same high standards and take these allegations seriously. Please rest assured that the health of everyone associated with Miss USA is my top priority.” .”
People who know Mr. Michel, Mr. Vogt and Mr. Srivastava said they planned their resignations together at a strategic time.
After Vogt resigned, Michel reposted the post with the words “I AM SILENCED” highlighted. In a comment on Srivastava’s resignation post on Wednesday, Vogt wrote: I’m so proud of you, my angel. ”
The Miss USA organization has weathered numerous controversies over the years, including accusations that the 2022 pageant was rigged. (The organization later announced that a “thorough and extensive investigation” found that claim to be false.)
In January 2022, Miss USA 2019 Chesley Christ jumped to her death from a Manhattan high-rise apartment, sparking widespread grief and speculation about her mental health. Hours before her fatal fall, she had posted on Instagram: “May this day bring you rest and peace.”
If you or a loved one is suffering from a mental health condition, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline in 1-800-662-4357. For more immediate crisis response, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 .
