With the release of former Miss USA Noelia Vogt’s resignation letter, the other (high-heeled) shoe has come off, and it’s not pretty.
The Venezuelan-American beauty, who announced Monday that she would vacate the throne, accused leaders of the Miss USA organization of “actively building a culture of fear and control.”
“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization, with poor management at best and bullying and harassment at worst,” she wrote in a detailed resignation letter. . “This started right after I won the Miss USA 2023 title.”
Vogt accused Miss USA CEO and President Leila Rose of being uncooperative and “often callous and unnecessarily aggressive” during their interactions, specifically mentioning her social media activity.
“For never discussing it with me even though I was trying to do my job, and because it wouldn’t cause any problems if it was related to a public-facing position, for example.” , being constantly threatened with disciplinary action, including loss of pay, is incredibly unpleasant. There’s more to it than just not meeting her personal preferences,” she wrote.
Vogt also said the organization “neglected its responsibility to provide chaperones and companions” to events she participated in as Miss USA. This caused her to fear for her safety, and in one instance, she claimed, “led to her being sexually harassed at the 2023 Sarasota Christmas Parade.”
Vogt, who was awarded the title on September 29, 2023, cited mental health as the reason for relinquishing the title earlier this week. She said her experience as Miss USA took a toll on her physical and mental health, eventually leading to her being diagnosed with anxiety disorder.
Social media sleuths later deciphered the first letters of every sentence in Vogt’s online statement, which spelled out the words “I remain silent.”
The Miss USA organization, currently owned by Thai transgender entrepreneur Ang Jakaphon Jakrajtatip, was quick to react to this surprising defection in a statement on social media, saying in part: Because I prioritize myself at this moment. ”
But Vogt wasn’t the only controversial pageant beauty jumper that Donald Trump owned before he became U.S. president.
Two days later, 17-year-old Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava also announced her resignation, saying in a statement that her “personal values are no longer fully aligned with the direction of the organization.”
Even people within the organization resigned due to similar circumstances.
Claudia Engelhardt, social media director for Miss USA, announced her resignation on Instagram on Saturday, saying:[disavows] Toxic workplace behavior and bullying of any kind. ”
Savannah Gankiewicz, Miss Hawaii USA and first runner-up in the 2023 Miss USA pageant, was named as Vogt’s successor on Thursday.
Savannah said in a joint statement with Miss USA: “I fully support and respect Noelia’s decision to resign. I stand in solidarity with her efforts to raise awareness of mental health.”
The 73rd Miss USA pageant is scheduled to be held on August 4th.
