Miss Teen USA resigns 2 days after Miss USA gave up her crown, saying her personal values 'no longer align' with the pageant

• Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigned two days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt gave up her crown.
• Srivastava said her personal values "no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."

Miss USA has descended into chaos once again.

For the first time in its 72-year history, the pageant has neither a Miss USA nor a Miss Teen USA titleholder after both women resigned this week.

Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava announced her resignation on Wednesday, two days after Noelia Voigt gave up the Miss USA crown.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Srivastava said she had made the decision to resign "as I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."

Srivastava added that she had been "grappling with this decision" for months and planned to continue her "relentless advocacy for education and acceptance."

"I look forward to the rest of the year as I finish 11th grade as part of the National Honor Society and start the college application process," she said. "Thank you to those who support me for who I am and have always been, not for who I've momentarily become."

Among the top comments on the post was one from Voigt, who wrote: "I love you! So proud of you my angel."

Voigt shocked many in the pageant community when she resigned as Miss USA on Monday, writing that she strongly valued "the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Noelia Voigt (@noeliavoigt)

"Deep down I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me," her statement added. "My hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain."

Miss USA CEO and president Laylah Rose told BI in a statement on Wednesday that "our all-encompassing goal at Miss USA is to celebrate and empower women."

"All along, my personal goal as the head of this organization has been to inspire women to always create new dreams, have the courage to explore it all, and continue to preserve integrity along the way," Rose said. "I hold myself to these same high standards and I take these allegations seriously. Please be assured that the well-being of all individuals associated with Miss USA is my top priority."

Voigt's successor has not yet been named, though the organization told BI on Monday that it was "reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities."

Srivastava and Voigt resigned just days after Claudia Michelle quit as the social-media director for the Miss USA organization. She cited the organization's treatment of both titleholders as one of the reasons she decided to resign.

"I don't believe in taking sides. I believe in telling the truth," Michelle wrote on Instagram. "I believe Noelia and Uma's mental health and happiness has taken a toll and I cannot remain silent about that."

She added: "I will always stand for and support the brand that uplifts and empowers its women. The brand IS the titleholders. Without them, there is no Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. I believe their voices and their stories should be heard and not silenced."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Claudia Michelle (@missclaudiamichelle)

Both Srivastava and Voigt made history with their pageant careers. Srivastava was the first Mexican Indian contestant to win Miss New Jersey Teen USA, while Voigt was the first Venezuelan American woman to take the Miss USA crown.

In 2022, Miss USA contestants claimed the pageant had been rigged in favor of Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel, who went on to win Miss Universe in January 2023.

As the scandal unfolded, it was revealed that Max Sebrechts had quietly stepped down as the vice president of Miss USA following allegations that he sexually harassed contestants during the 2021 pageant. Sebrechts denied the accusations in a statement sent to BI at the time.

His wife, Crystle Stewart, stepped down as president of Miss USA in August and was replaced by Rose.

Srivastava, Voigt, and representatives for the Miss Universe organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Do you work for the Miss USA organization or have an experience to share about pageants? Reach out to this reporter at akonstantinides@businessinsider.com.