Serial resignations. The winners of Miss USA 2023 and Miss Teen USA returned their crowns this week citing “mental health” reasons, following the resignation of an American beauty pageant director who reported a “toxic” work environment for these young women.
“Lack of respect” and “toxicity”
This new controversy around this contest created in 1952, in the hands of businessman and former president Donald Trump until 2015, began last Friday. The head of social media for the Miss USA organization, Claudia Michelle, announced her departure in a message on Instagram.
He mentions by name the 24-year-old American of Venezuelan origin Noelia Voigt, crowned Miss USA 2023 in September, and her compatriot of Indian and Mexican origin, UmaSofia Srivastava, elected Miss Teen USA 2023 at age 17.
“I have had the privilege of working closely with Noelia and unfortunately I have noticed an attack on her mental health since our first meeting,” writes Claudia Michelle on her Instagram account.
“I was also on the front line to witness the lack of respect towards Uma and her family,” he denounces, considering that “the mental health and happiness of Noelia and Uma have been affected” and refusing to “remain silent.” .
Claudia Michelle also says to “reject toxicity and bullying in all its forms in the workplace” mocking the “unprofessional and inappropriate” way in which “current management talks about winners.”
“Prioritize your mental health”
As a result, Noelia Voigt announced on Instagram on Monday that she would give up her Miss United States 2023 title, citing her “mental health.”
“I realize the shock this can represent for many. Never put your physical and mental well-being at risk. Our health is our wealth (…) Prioritize your mental health, defend yourself and others by speaking without ever being afraid. of what the future holds for you,” the young woman pleads.
Noelia Voigt is followed, on Wednesday, by her youngest daughter, Uma, Sofia Srivastava, who still announces on Instagram that she has “decided to resign because (her) personal values no longer fully correspond to those of the leadership of the organization” Miss USA .
The latter assured on the social network “to respect and support Noelia’s decision to leave her duties (because) the well-being of (our) winners has always been a priority.”
The Miss United States pageant has been plagued with controversy for about ten years, Forbes magazine recalled on Thursday, but it is the first time in seven decades that a winner resigns for a reason other than being crowned in the Miss Universe pageant.
Source: BFM TV
