Nancy Lu and Rich Johnson
14 minutes ago
(NewsNation) — Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and the organization’s social media director all resigned this month, in what is reportedly a coordinated move.
Social media director Claudia Michel said the group’s treatment of titleholders was “unprofessional and inappropriate.”
“I reject toxic behavior and bullying of any kind in the workplace,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigned on Monday. The 24-year-old from Utah said she wants to focus on mental health. The Miss USA organization quickly issued a statement of support, saying it respects her decision.
On Wednesday, Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava resigned, saying her “personal values were no longer fully aligned with the direction of the organization.” The 17-year-old high school senior from New Jersey became the contest’s first Mexican-American winner.
The New York Post, citing sources, said Srivastava’s relationship with the Miss USA organization had become so strained that her parents refused to let Miss USA president Leila Rose speak to their daughter.
Vogt’s resignation letter thanked his supporters and expressed his pride in being the first Venezuelan-American to win the honor, but fans read the first sentence of every sentence in Vogt’s letter. He pointed out that the letters spelled out “I am silent.”
The newspaper’s sources said the organization micromanaged the women’s lives, frequently and forcefully reminding them of their non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and the organization’s right to approve each appearance. Sources also said the women were not allowed to post directly on social media.
“Our overarching goal at Miss USA is to celebrate and empower women. Our participants are , making a real difference, not just in this country but around the world.”
