Miss USA pageant faces scrutiny as two winners resign citing mental health and disrespect

The recent resignations of both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in quick succession have drawn intense scrutiny to the parent organization of these pageants. This heightened focus is primarily due to the reasons cited by these young women, which include concerns about mental health and discrepancies in values.

Miss USA Organization Under Scrutiny Amid Resignations

Shortly after an employee of the Miss USA organization resigned, highlighting “workplace toxicity” and alleging mistreatment of the two titleholders, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA also stepped down within a few days. This organization, established in 1952 and formerly owned by Donald Trump, has come under scrutiny due to these developments. 

Claudia Michelle’s Resignation and Allegations

On May 3, Claudia Michelle, the social media director for Miss USA, announced her resignation on Instagram. She stated that she had worked for two months without pay, lacked adequate support staff, and felt that the management showed disrespect towards the titleholders. Ms. Michelle mentioned working closely with Miss USA Noelia Voigt, a 24-year-old Venezuelan American who won the crown in September. She observed a decline in Ms. Voigt’s mental health, which was also a concern mentioned by Ms. Voigt when she resigned on May 6th.

Ms. Michelle also noted that she personally witnessed disrespect towards Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who is 17 years old, as well as her family.Ms. Michelle strongly condemned workplace toxicity and bullying in any form and said “I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind.” She also  criticized “the unprofessional and inappropriate” manner in which she felt the management spoke to Ms. Voigt and Ms. Srivastava.In her Instagram post, Ms. Voigt, who represented Utah in the Miss USA pageant, announced her resignation, stating“Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth.” 

Ms. Voigt described her tenure as Miss USA as “incredibly meaningful” emphasizing her charitable efforts and the significance of being the first Venezuelan American to win the title. However, she also expressed and said  “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”.

Similarly, Miss Teen USA released a statement echoing this sentiment regarding Srivastava’s resignation.The Miss USA organization said “We respect and support Noelia’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority.” 

The Miss USA (USA) pageantry in recent years witnessed controversies and scandals consisting of claims of favoritism towards particular participants, which were often reported in the media. Despite the fact that the organization acknowledged the claims as empty and baseless, the president, former Miss USA Crystle Stewart, tendered her resignation.

During that time, Max Sebrechts, who was the organization’s vice-president and also Crystle Stewart’s husband, resigned due to sexual harassment complaints by the ex-contestants. Noelia Voigt’s resignation marked the first time a Miss USA titleholder stepped down outside of being crowned Miss Universe.

Ms.  Cheslie Kryst, an ex-Miss USA winner in 2019 tragically committed suicide in January 2022. In her later released memoir, she talks about the ups and downs associated with keeping her weight down as well as the insecurities she had been struggling with that resurfaced after winning the crown and the online abuse that accompanied it. 

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