Noelia Vogt (left) and Umasofia Srivastava (right) attended a charity event in New York City on May 8, the week they stepped down as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
Rob Kim/Getty Images, Smile Train
hide caption
toggle caption
Rob Kim/Getty Images, Smile Train
Noelia Vogt (left) and Umasofia Srivastava (right) attended a charity event in New York City on May 8, the week they stepped down as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
Rob Kim/Getty Images, Smile Train
Days after two resignations rocked the pageant world, organizers have found a replacement for Miss USA, but appear to be struggling to do the same for Miss Teen USA.
Miss USA Noelia Vogt and Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava, who were crowned in 2023, announced their early departures last week, two days apart.
Ms. Srivastava said her “personal values are no longer fully aligned with the direction of the organization,” while Ms. Vogt cited mental health reasons in her statement and said the first letter of her sentence was ” I am silent,” he wrote.
Obtained a longer resignation letter from Mr. Vogt. new york times and NBC News accused the Miss USA organization of a “toxic work environment…poor management at best and bullying and harassment at worst.”
Social media director Claudia Michel also resigned shortly before the pair, denying “toxic behavior and bullying in the workplace” in her own public statement, in which she said she was not bound by a non-disclosure agreement. .
Miss Colorado Ariana Lemus resigned in solidarity Friday, writing that Vogt and Srivastava’s “voices are being suppressed by contractual constraints that undermine rights and dignity,” and calling for urgent reform of Miss USA. I asked for
Numerous departures and criticism have brought renewed attention to the organization, raising questions about the treatment of its two major titleholders and their practices in general.
The group prayed for Vogt and Srivastava’s souls in a public Instagram post, but did not respond to NPR’s request for comment even as the fallout from their resignations continues.
In the latest development, the runner-up in last year’s Miss Teen USA pageant said she turned down an offer to replace Shrivastava.
Miss New York Teen USA Stephanie Skinner, a UPenn student, wrote on Instagram this week that she has already committed to living in Thailand this summer in search of “global research career opportunities.” .
The 19-year-old admitted it was a difficult decision to decline the national title, especially considering she had been striving for it since she was 12 years old. But she also said she believed it was the right decision, and she alluded to the circumstances that led to that outcome. in addition.
“We don’t know exactly what happened to Noelia and Uma, but… [sic] “What I do know is that my core values are integrity, honor, kindness, and most importantly, I will always support the empowerment of women,” she said. wrote. We believe we all have the right to have our voices heard. ”
Skinner, whose term ends at the end of June, doubled down in an interview. people Tuesday: “I believe that one thing I will never give up on is my character.”
The new Miss USA will be crowned Wednesday
Meanwhile, organizers are preparing for the induction ceremony of the new Miss USA 2023, Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz.
They announced Friday that Gankiewicz, last year’s runner-up, will be crowned in a ceremony in his home state on Wednesday.
“Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA,” said CEO and President of the Miss USA Organization. Leila Rose said in a statement.
Gankiewicz, who is of Filipino, Polish and Vietnamese descent, is a model, entrepreneur and founder of What Makes You Feel Beautiful, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and girls based in her native Maui. He is also a program director.
In an Instagram post reacting to the news, Gankiewicz said she would use her short time as Miss USA to “rebuild Lahaina, my island town on Maui, which was devastated by a series of wildfires last August.” “We want to draw attention and focus.”
She said the decision to accept the crown was not taken lightly.
“I support Noelia and admire her strength in stepping down and prioritizing her mental health,” she wrote. “Noelia, it was the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with you at such a great moment. We wish you the best of luck in your next chapter.”
Questions remain about the August contest
A number of Miss USA 2023 state title holders, including a former Miss Colorado, expressed public support for Voigt on Instagram, writing, “I asked her to release her from the confidentiality clause in her contract so she can speak freely about herself.” “We ask the organization to do so.” My experience and time as Miss USA. ”
The statement says it has the support of the majority of members of the Class of 2023 and also calls for “full transparency for contestants in the Class of 2024 and beyond.”
Gankiewicz did not share that statement on her Instagram page, but in a separate statement addressed to her “sisters of Miss USA,” she said, “It is our hope that we will come together for the future of the organization and the class of 2024.” I believe it is extremely important for.” onwards. ”
Each state has already begun crowning their respective 2024 title holders, and the process is expected to continue until early July.
Winners from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will compete in the Miss USA pageant, which will be held in Los Angeles from July 27 to August 4. The Miss Teen USA pageant will be held on August 1st.
The Miss USA pageant will be broadcast live on the CW Network, which in late April signed an “exclusive multi-year broadcast partnership” with both the adult and teen versions of the pageant for the next three years. announced.
The network also announced that the 2023 Miss USA broadcast was the network’s No. 1 new special of the year, with more than 1.1 million total viewers watching Vogt’s crowning.
But the future of the partnership that executives had touted just weeks ago suddenly became uncertain.
“In light of last week’s events, The CW Network is evaluating its relationship with both contestants,” the network said. USA Today in a statement Monday. NPR has contacted The CW for more information.
Miss USA gave a nod to the controversy in a statement released last week about Gankiewicz as backlash within and outside the organization continues to grow.
The magazine said, “It is important to remember that all individuals involved in such a high-profile event have their own personal journeys.”
“We are committed to fostering a healthy, communicative, and supportive environment for all contestants, state title holders, national title holders, and staff involved in the Miss USA organization, and that is what I believe in. This is our mission,” he continued. “We seek a return to community, empathy and kindness.”
