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.
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.”
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
“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 values “the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health.”
“Deep down I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me,” her statement continued. “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.”
In a statement sent to Business Insider on Monday, a spokesperson for the Miss USA organization said it respected Voigt’s decision to step down.
“The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time,” the statement read.
The Miss USA organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Srivastava’s resignation.
Miss USA
Voigt’s successor has not yet been named, although the organization told BI it was “currently 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.”
“I will always stand for and support the brand that uplifts and empowers its women,” she added. “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.”
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 also revealed that Max Sebrechts had quietly stepped down as the vice president of Miss USA following allegations he sexually harassed contestants during the 2021 pageant. Sebrechts denied the allegations in a statement sent to BI at the time.
His wife, Crystle Stewart, stepped down as president of Miss USA in August 2023 and was replaced by Laylah Rose, who remains the organization’s current president.
Srivastava, Voigt, and representatives for the Miss Universe organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
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