Miss Teen USA Uma Sofia Srivastava steps down from her position, just days after Miss Teen USA resigned.

CNN
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Miss Teen USA resigned on Wednesday, sending more shockwaves through the pageant community just days after Miss Teen USA announced she would relinquish her crown.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Miss Teen USA Uma Sofia Srivastava He said “Her personal values ​​no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”

“After months of struggling with this decision, I have made the decision to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023,” Srivastava wrote in a statement on her personal account. The high school teen from New Jersey won the competition last September, and expressed her pride in being the first Mexican Indian American to take on the role.

“I look forward to the rest of the year as I finish 11th grade as part of the National Honor Society and begin the college application process, knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and my hard work alone.” He added. She said she will continue her advocacy for education and acceptance along with working with the Lotus Petal and Bridge of Books foundations.

The pageant responded with an Instagram post, writing that she respects Srivastava’s decision, considers the welfare of the titleholders a “top priority”, and that a successor will be named soon.

Srivastava and the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Her resignation follows another queen relinquishing her title earlier this week.

On Monday, Noelia Voigt stepped down as Miss USA due to her mental health. When she took the crown in November, Voigt, a Venezuelan-American and Utah native, said she would work to reach out to diverse communities across the United States.

“Deep down, I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and I hope to continue to inspire others to stay resilient, prioritize your mental health, stand up for yourself and others using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it seems uncertain.” .

“Never compromise on your physical and mental health. Our health is our wealth,” she wrote.

Ha mail It sparked speculation from fans that Voigt was sending a hidden message about her non-disclosure agreement, with the first letter of the first 11 sentences of her statement stating “I’m silent.”

A spokesperson for the Miss USA organization told CNN in a statement on Monday that they support Voigt’s decision to step down from her duties and that “the well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself in this matter.” time.”

The organization added that it is reviewing plans to “transfer responsibilities to a successor” and that it will announce the new Miss USA soon.

The resignations, along with the resignation of the organization’s social media director Claudia Michele last week, have raised questions among fans about the culture of beauty pageants and whether aspects of it need an overhaul.

Michelle has been more vocal about the alleged problems in the organization. On Instagram mail She wrote that she disavows “workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind.”

Miss Universe and Miss USA did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Some of Voigt’s fellow Miss USA pageants shared a post claiming that a “majority” of the Class of 2023 supported her decision to leave and asked the Miss USA organization to exempt Voigt from her NDA requirement “so she can be free to speak about her experiences.” ”