Become smarter in just 5 minutes
Morning Brew delivers fast, insightful updates about the business world, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley, every day.
Problems with the Miss USA organization seem to be growing to such an extent that not even the choreographed group numbers can distract onlookers.
This week, Miss USA 2023 Noelia Vogt and Miss Teen USA 2023 Umasofia Srivastava both relinquished their crowns, announcing it in Instagram posts. A week earlier, Claudia Michelle, Miss USA’s social media director, publicly resigned from her Miss USA title, citing a toxic workplace for her and the title holder.
Vogt publicly cited his mental health as the reason for his resignation, while Srivastava said his “personal values are no longer fully aligned with the direction of the organization.” In his resignation letter, seen by NBC, Vogt said Miss USA maintains a toxic environment of “poor management at best and bullying and harassment at worst.” The group did not respond to NBC’s request for comment on the letter.
Michelle said the group’s leadership would restrict the two women’s social media posts (although eagle-eyed pageant fans may have noticed that the first letters of Vogt’s resignation post read “I’m silent”). I noticed that it was spelled “to do”).
The past few years with the Miss USA organization have been as eyebrow-raising as the early episodes. toddler and tiara.
- In 2022, wealthy Thai businessman Ang Jakrajtatip bought the brand (including its sister pageant, Miss Universe) from his company JKN Global Group for $20 million, and the organization She became the first woman to own one.
- In 2023, then-Miss USA president Krystle Stewart resigned from her position following allegations of fraud in the 2022 pageant. Stewart’s husband, Miss USA Vice President Max Sebrecht, also resigned after several contestants accused her of sexual harassment.
- Within hours, Stewart was succeeded by fashion designer Leila Rose, who currently owns the Miss USA franchise.
- Just one week before the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, it was revealed that JKN Global Group had filed for bankruptcy.
The rapid resignations of the two titleholders have brought new scrutiny to Miss USA and to Mr. Rose, whom Mr. Vogt has accused of abuse.
What’s next? The organization said it supports both former titleholders’ decisions. Several Miss USA 2023 contestants called on the organization to release Vogt’s NDA so they could share their experiences.-Hmm
