Both women reportedly found workplace conditions unacceptable and prioritized their mental health and personal values over their titles.
Srivastava was crowned in September 2023 at the age of 16, Voigt in November 2023.
The organizations have faced criticism for focus on physical appearance and perceived lack of diversity.
Two Miss USA titleholders, UmaSofia Srivastava (Miss Teen USA) and Noelia Voigt (Miss USA), resigned in May 2024.
Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava and Miss USA Noelia Voigt both resigned from their titles in May 2024, citing personal reasons and misalignment with the organization's direction. The resignations came just days apart.
According to sources, both women were under contractual obligations to maintain a positive public image and not speak out about alleged workplace conditions within the organization. However, they reportedly found these conditions unacceptable and ultimately decided to prioritize their mental health and personal values over their titles.
Miss Teen USA Srivastava was crowned in September 2023 at the age of 16. She announced her resignation on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the support she received during her time as Miss Teen USA and promising to continue advocacy work with The Lotus Petal Foundation and Bridge of Books Foundation.
Miss USA Voigt, who was crowned in November 2023, also made an announcement on Instagram about her resignation. She did not provide further details about her reasons for leaving the organization.
The Miss Teen USA and Miss USA titles are held by young women between the ages of 17 and 25, who compete in state pageants to represent their home states at the national level. The organizations have faced criticism in recent years for their focus on physical appearance and perceived lack of diversity.
The resignations come as a surprise, as both women were relatively new to their roles. It remains to be seen how the organizations will respond and whether they will appoint new titleholders.
Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava resigned from her title less than eight months after winning.
Srivastava announced her decision on Instagram, citing personal values no longer aligning with the organization’s direction.
The New Jersey teen expressed gratitude for support during her time as Miss Teen USA and promised to continue advocacy work with The Lotus Petal Foundation and Bridge of Books Foundation.
Both women were reportedly under contractual obligations to smile and not speak out about alleged workplace conditions, which they found to be unacceptable.
Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava both resigned from their positions, citing mental health challenges and dissatisfaction with the direction of the organization.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The authors quote sources that claim 'harmful workplace conditions' and 'toxic atmosphere', but do not provide any evidence or facts to support these claims beyond the statements of the sources. They also use emotive language such as 'ugly scene', 'thorny crowns', and 'wearing thorny crowns for months'. The authors also quote a source that says Srivastava's parents refused to let Rose speak to their daughter, but do not provide any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, the article implies that Voigt's resignation message 'I AM SILENCED' was on purpose and deliberate, but does not provide any evidence for this claim.
Noelia wakes up every day on pins and needles because of harassing emails from pageant organizers.
All correspondence had to go through her parents. Her parents meet weekly with the Miss USA Organization to try and get things to change with Miss USA but nothing ever gets done. No changes, no nothing.
The Post reports that Voigt and Srivastava have been wearing thorny crowns for months – forced by iron-clad contracts to silently smile despite Charmful workplace conditions.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several examples of appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. The authors claim that Miss USA Organization president Laylah Rose secretly posted as the resigning titleholders, UmaSofia Srivastava and Noelia Voigt, on social media in an attempt to control their public image. This is a clear example of an appeal to authority as the author presents allegations without evidence. Additionally, there are numerous instances of inflammatory rhetoric throughout the article such as
This toxic atmosphere is a serious concern.
There is an urgent need for intervention at the leadership level.
All correspondence had to go through her parents. Her parents meet weekly with the Miss Universe Organization to try and get things to change with Miss USA but nothing ever gets done. No changes, no nothing.
Noelia wakes up every day on pins and needles because of harassing emails [from pageant organizers].
They would threaten her by saying ‘If you don’t do XYZ … ‘ In this case, following social media guidelines from the Miss Universe Organization that, as a social media director, I still had yet to see.
In August 2023, Rose, a fashion designer with the line Laylah Rose Couture, took over the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA licenses. In October 2023, JKN Global Group, filed for bankruptcy.
She was in the car with a man who was harassing her. It became very uncomfortable for her. She told the handler, who was very dismissive. Laylah said, ‘Well you’re going to have to get used to that because you’re in a public role now.
The last straw, sources said, came during Voigt’s last official appearance as Miss USA at the Kentucky Derby on May 5. She had allegedly been approved to attend but was then told she couldn’t go because her handler had been let go. Voigt went anyway.
Bias
(50%)
The article reports on the resignations of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA due to alleged bullying and toxic workplace conditions within the organization. The authors provide multiple sources that support these claims, including statements from insiders and concerned fans. However, there are also instances where the authors use language that could be perceived as biased or sensationalized. For example, they describe the pageant scene as 'getting ugly' and refer to Miss USA Organization president Laylah Rose as a 'puppet master' who secretly posts under the names of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. While these statements may not be factually inaccurate, they do contribute to a negative tone towards the organization and its leadership. Additionally, there are instances where the authors quote concerned fans on Instagram who flagged messages from Voigt that spelled out 'I AM SILENCED.' This could be seen as an attempt to sensationalize the situation by implying that Voigt was being silenced against her will. Overall, while there are clear examples of workplace toxicity and bullying within the organization, there are also instances where the authors use language that could be perceived as biased or sensationalized.
An insider who knows the women told The Post that they decided to quit together and strategically timed their resignations.
Sources say Voigt's troubles began when she was promised a Manhattan apartment by pageant organizers but it didn’t materialize for five months. They eventually arranged for her to live in Florida.
The beauty pageant scene is getting ugly.
The close source claimed to The Post that Miss USA president and CEO Laylah Rose was secretly posting under Voigt and Srivastava’s names.
Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava resigned from her title on Wednesday.
She cited not fully aligning with the organization’s direction as her reason for resigning.
Srivastava described herself as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American and was excited to finish 11th grade and start the college application process.
Accuracy
Miss Teen USA resigned from her title citing not fully aligning with the organization's direction.
Miss Teen USA expressed gratitude for support during her time as Miss Teen USA and promised to continue advocacy work.
Both women were reportedly under contractual obligations to smile and not speak out about alleged workplace conditions.
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