Following her recent announcement to relinquish the Miss USA 2023 title, Noelia Voigt’s formal resignation letter has been made public.
According to a letter obtained by NBC News on May 9, Voigt alleged that the pageant’s CEO mishandled a sexual harassment incident and promoted a toxic work environment.
“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment,” Voigt, 24, wrote in the letter. “This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023.”
On May 6, Voigt shared an Instagram post revealing her decision to step down from the prestigious title, citing a need to prioritize her mental wellbeing.
Voigt posted a detailed message on social media, followed by a caption that read in part, “I understand this news may be surprising to many. Remember to always prioritize your physical and mental health, and never compromise your wellbeing.”
The post also read, “In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health. As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves. My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe. Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
She went ahead to extend her appreciation to her fans, friends, coaches, former directors, and UmaSofia Srivastava, who would soon find herself walking a similar path.
Just two days later, on May 8, Srivastava also announced her resignation in a comparable Instagram post, mirroring Voigt’s decision to prioritize her wellbeing.
“Lifelong friendships and connections that I had the opportunity to make along the way while attending different events, and competing at state pageants, Miss USA, and Miss Universe are invaluable things I will be forever grateful for,” Voigt continued in her post.
Voigt reflected on her time as Miss USA, highlighting her most rewarding experience as working with Smile Train and championing important causes such as anti-bullying initiatives, dating violence prevention, and immigration rights advocacy. She also proudly noted her historic milestone as the first Venezuelan-American woman to hold the title, acknowledging the significance of her impact and legacy.
“Never could I have imagined the journey that my childhood dream would take me on,” she continued in the text photo. “Constant and consistent hard work and dedication all lead me to where I am today, and I hope that over the last seven years of competing in pageantry and sharing my journey with you all is something that inspires you to never give up on your dreams, whatever they may be.
“Eternal gratitude fills my heart when I think about the platform I was given to make a difference, the feeling of achieving a lifelong dream, and connecting with people all over the world, just as I said I would do on the Miss USA stage,” Voigt added. “Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and 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 the letter, Voigt accused Laylah Rose, the CEO and President of Miss USA, of consistently failing to maintain open lines of communication, and when she did interact, her demeanor was often ‘abrasive and unprofessionally harsh’, causing Voigt significant distress and discomfort.
Furthermore, Voigt detailed a personal experience of sexual harassment that occurred during a work event in Florida, highlighting the lack of support she received from Laylah Rose when she courageously shared her story. Instead of empathy and action, Voigt was met with dismissal, compounding her distress and sense of isolation.
“We cannot prevent people saying things to you at public appearances, it is, unfortunately, part of the role you’re in as a public figure,” Rose allegedly told Voigt, the letter says.
The letter also accuses Rose of spreading negative remarks about Voigt within the organization, falsely characterizing her as lacking interest in her duties.
“I have heard that comments have ranged from her describing me as difficult to work with for various untrue reasons, to weaponizing my mental health struggles brought on by my experience as Miss USA 2023, calling me ‘mentally ill’ in a derogatory way, to expressing that she hoped I would get hit in the face by a baseball at an event where I would throw out the first pitch at a baseball game,” Voigt wrote in her letter.
Although Voigt remained dedicated to the Miss USA organization, the toxic environment took a devastating toll on her wellbeing, causing her mental and physical health to deteriorate significantly.
“I am now diagnosed with Anxiety and have to take two medications daily to manage the symptoms due to consistently being on edge, worrying about what Laylah will pop up with and choose to harass me about daily,” the letter said.”
Voigt was crowned Miss USA in September 2023, making history as the first Venezuelan-American woman to hold the title.
Prior to being crowned Miss USA, Voigt held the title of Miss Alabama Collegiate in 2020. She then went on to achieve first runner-up at Miss Alabama USA for two years in a row, in 2022 and 2023, demonstrating her consistent excellence and paving the way for her eventual Miss USA win.
In November 2023, she represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador.
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